TL;DR
Lloyds sends replacement cards automatically before expiry, usually two to three weeks ahead. Cards must be activated through the app or a UK chip-and-pin transaction. Subscriptions billed under the Visa or Mastercard automatic update service often switch over without intervention.
Lloyds Bank has issued a reminder about the rules on replacement debit and credit cards, including the activation process for new cards and how subscription billing rolls over to the new card number. New cards are dispatched automatically before the printed expiry date, usually two to three weeks ahead.
How replacement cards are issued
Lloyds Bank sends a replacement card automatically a few weeks before the printed expiry date. Customers do not need to request the card unless they have changed address and have not updated the bank's records.
Cards lost, stolen or damaged outside the normal expiry cycle are reissued through the mobile app or by calling the card services line. Most customers receive the replacement within five working days.
Activating a new card
Replacement cards arrive locked. Activation goes through the Lloyds Mobile Banking app, which prompts customers to confirm the new card details. Alternatively, a successful chip-and-pin transaction at a UK terminal activates the card automatically.
Card numbers change with each replacement except for the temporary digital number used in mobile wallets. Customers can update merchants directly or rely on the Visa Account Updater or Mastercard Automatic Billing Updater services in many cases.
Subscription billing and what to check
Most major subscriptions, including Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, gym memberships and utility billing, use the Visa or Mastercard automatic update services. When a card is replaced, the new card number is sent to the merchant automatically and billing continues without disruption.
Smaller merchants and one-off recurring payments often do not subscribe to the update service, so customers should check their statement after the new card arrives and update any payment details manually.
Direct Debits and standing orders
Direct Debits and standing orders use the customer's account number and sort code, not the card number. A card replacement has no effect on those payment methods. The Direct Debit Guarantee continues to apply.
Customers moving accounts, rather than just receiving a new card, can use the Current Account Switch Service. The CASS guarantees Direct Debits and standing orders move across to the new bank within seven working days.
Security and reporting issues
Customers who do not receive their replacement card within a reasonable time before expiry should call the lost and stolen card line on 0800 096 9779. The line is available 24 hours and can dispatch a fresh card.
Suspected fraud should be reported to Lloyds straight away. The bank's confirmed fraud line is 0800 917 7017. Customers can also use the in-app fraud reporting form, and forward suspicious text messages to 7726.
Key facts
- Replacement cards usually arrive two to three weeks before expiry.
- Activation through app or chip-and-pin transaction.
- Card number changes with each replacement.
- Subscriptions update automatically through Visa or Mastercard services.
- Lost card line is 0800 096 9779, fraud line 0800 917 7017.
FAQ
When does Lloyds send a replacement card?
Automatically two to three weeks before the printed expiry date. Customers do not need to request it unless they have changed address and not updated their records, or the card has been lost, stolen or damaged.
How do I activate the new card?
Use the Lloyds Mobile Banking app to confirm the new card details, or make a successful chip-and-pin transaction at a UK terminal. Either action activates the card.
Will my subscriptions still work?
Most major subscriptions use Visa or Mastercard automatic update services and roll over automatically. Smaller merchants and one-off recurring payments may need to be updated manually.
What if my card does not arrive?
Call the lost and stolen card line on 0800 096 9779, which is available 24 hours, or use the Lloyds Mobile Banking app to request a fresh dispatch.
