Think Twice Before Cancelling a Card You Often Use for Purchase Protection Benefits
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Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.Lots of folks use credit cards not only because they earn miles, points, or cash back, but because they often come with purchase benefits, like extended warranties and price protection. And we get lots of questions about the ins and outs of credit card perks!
Million Mile Secret Agent Julie asked:
In short, yes!If you buy an item with a certain card, do you have to keep that card open through the extended warranty period to be able to have the item covered?

Typically, to take advantage of ANY of a card’s benefits, like elite status, travel credits, or return protection, your card must be open and in good standing.
You can NOT buy something with a certain card to extend the warranty, close that card, and try to cash in on the perk a year later, for example.
That said, if having a card that offers extended protection gives you peace of mind, it might be worth paying an annual fee to keep that benefit!
Cards That Come With Purchase Protection
Link: Avoid Wasting Money on Extended Warranties Just by Paying With These Credit Cards!
For example, the Citi ThankYou Premier card has a $95 annual fee that’s waived the first year. And when you shop with it, it adds 2 years of warranty protection (up to a maximum of 84 months). And it also gets you access to Citi’s Price Rewind program, which can refund you if the price drops on certain products.
Or consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and is the my favorite for beginners.
When you make a purchase with this card, you’ll get 1 extra year added to a warranty of 3 years or less!
Just remember, always read the terms & conditions of your card’s coverage to check for exclusions, to confirm the coverage amount, and how long you have to file a claim.
For more detailed information about 4 great cards that come with purchase protection (and may other amazing perks!), check out this post. And be sure to read this post to make sure you’re making the most of your AMEX card’s benefits!
Bottom Line
If you want to take advantage of a card’s purchase protection benefits (or any of the card’s perks for that matter!), the card must be open and in good standing. So plan your purchases wisely!
Because sometimes even paying an annual fee is worth it, if it means you can rest assured knowing your purchase is protected!
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Walmart+ members enjoy shopping perks – both online and in-store – at Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Benefit renews annually.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back per calendar year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Learn more.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction, and an Equinox+ subscription is required.
Add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile on the Resy app or website and unlock Global Dining Access by Resy to exclusive tables and events.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
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