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 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
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 and Additional Centurion Cards only.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties. Learn More.
Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$550 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
Intro APR on purchases
N/A
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Annual Fee
$550
Balance Transfer Fee
N/A
Rates & Fees
Other
MORE INFO
Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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