Credit Card Benefits You've Probably Never Used

Credit card selection tends to be all about the numbers. We all know how to calculate and compare rewards, interest rates, and fees, so these tend to be the main deciding factors when deciding what to carry in our wallets. However, credit card companies offer all kinds of other benefits that most of us know very little about and can't really quantify for our decision-making.

Two such benefits include purchase protection and return protection, both of which give consumers some degree of protection from their purchases, above and beyond what merchants offer. Like insurance, you never know how important this can be until you need it.

Return Protection

This protection kicks in when a merchant otherwise won't let you return something that you bought. For example, if Macy's has a 30-day return policy and you realize on day 31 that your new cashmere sweater doesn't quite fit you right, your credit card company may be able to help you out.

Purchase Protection

Purchase protection can be even more valuable, since this is what covers your new toy in the event that it breaks or is stolen. Depending on what sort of retailers you're buying from, damage may or may not be covered by their return policy, and theft is certainly not covered. But if you made the purchase with your credit card, your issuer could be more helpful.

What does your credit card cover?

Be sure to check your card's terms to see what exactly is covered, but as a general rule this is what we've found:

American Express cards offer both types of protection.

• 90 days return protection of up to $300 per incident, and limited to $1,000 annually. There are plenty of restrictions listed, but it definitely covers clothes.


• 90 days purchase protection against accidental damage or theft, up to $1,000 per incident and $50,000 annually. It covers purchases worldwide and will either replace, repair, or reimburse them as long as you provide proof of theft, accidental damage, or vandalism.

Visa offers purchase protection on all Signature cards, but return protection depends on the issuer.

• 90 days return protection is offered on some cards, depending on whether you are enrolled in the program. Items can be returned for any reason and you'll be covered for $250 per item and up to $1,000 annually, as long as the Benefit Administrator receives it in "like-new/good working condition."


• 90 days purchase protection is offered to Visa Signature customers and covers $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per cardholder. Items will be replaced, repaired, or reimbursed "at the Benefit Administrator's Discretion... in the event of theft, damage due to fire, vandalism, accidentally discharged water, or certain weather conditions."

MasterCard appears to offer both types of coverage on most cards, but when we searched the agreements of specific cards, we rarely found any mention of return protection. So make sure you verify with your cardholder's agreement.

• 60 days of return protection of up to $250 per item. No annual limit is disclosed, but then again MasterCard also had the least clear disclosures.


• 90 days of purchase protection are offered, and the rules aren't as detailed as with Amex or Visa, but you can assume the rules are similar.

Who's missing from this list?

In our research, Discover was noticeably absent. They do not seem to offer either type of protection on any of their cards, which seems like a drastic oversight. While this won't be a deal breaker for most card users, it's definitely worth bearing in mind if you're comparing cash back credit cards, and trying to decide between the Amex or the Discover (hint: go with the Amex. We like the Blue Cash).

Readers: Have any of you used these types of programs in the past? Do they work as advertised? Or have you had any exceptionally positive or negative experiences with certain credit card types?

 

Follow Tim Chen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nerdwallet

Comments

[exercise4u2]

01:07 PM on 10/25/2010

Here is a new peppy 1-minute video giving people advice on the responsible use of debit, ATM and credit cards.

"Card Tricks Revealed: How Not To Burn Money"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKRHiA0tYCc

[bethel1974]

11:30 AM on 10/07/2010

Great information. As a former employee of AMEX you are correct the Costco AMEX tallies your cash back for the year and you redeem at Costco only. Now for small business owners this could be significant cash back I have seen some pretty large balances. So if they need to get new computers or food for home it is good. The blue cash card is not really promoted by AMEX but it is still serviced by them with the existing customer base. Credit cards have alot of features no one uses such as road side assistance,car rental insurance,concierge service. Even AMEX told us to at least discuss one benefit that they offer to customers when they call to remind them it is there.

[carlsonem]

09:45 AM on 10/07/2010

Doesn't purchase/return protection just play on the compulsiveness of shoppers and intice them to buy more. All of these little benefits are for cajoling the card member to spend more. Besides, i have no real use for these things. I dont wait a month to return something, and i don't break my new "toys" within a week of buying them.

[Lisa Shields]

07:30 AM on 10/07/2010

I gave up plastic.
Credit cards are self propagating money munchers, and while the "smart articles" talk about beating them at their own game, and paying off your balances each month to avoid charges and fees, most people in the current economy don't. Result? Increasing debt, which grows into a 900 pound Gorilla. One day you wake up and realize you have PRE-SPENT your paycheck...a third of it is gone to plastic.

Not me. I took a pledge...I need my money more than they do.

[smp501]

06:41 PM on 10/06/2010

How about they let the customer dump these little goodies in exchange for lower rates.

[Chicagowill]

09:47 PM on 10/06/2010

I pay my balance off each month. That's why I use the Costco American Express Card. I get real cash, not blue dollars, plus return protection.

[Tim Chen]

04:28 AM on 10/07/2010

@smp501: Some credit cards do. Check your local bank branches or credit unions, where you can often find much lower interest rates without all of the frills and perks that you'd rather not pay for.

@Chicagowill: That's awesome that you are able to pay your balance off each month, since that's definitely the best way to take advantage of credit card perks like rewards. However, the Costco Amex pays Costco dollars, not real cash, while the Amex Blue Cash pays actual cash credited to your account statement. Feel free to check out our rewards credit card listings for more information:

http://www.nerdwallet.com/rewards-credit-cards