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Does your credit card offer Return Protection?
Wait…do you mean purchase protection? Nope! Purchase Protection is a benefit that many credit cards come with that protect users when purchased items are faulty, damaged, or stolen. But, what happens if you simply don’t want an item and the store refuses to take it back? Enter “Return Protection” into the equation.
Many credit cards offer another benefit called Return Protection that will reimburse you for items that a retailer simply won’t take back. Across the board the items need to be in new condition, working condition, and you need to show that an attempt has been made to unsuccessfully return the item to the retailer within 90 days of purchase. Let’s check out a few examples of popular cards that offer this coverage.
*In most cases, even if an item is marked “final sale” you can use this benefit to get reimbursed should you decide you don’t want it. Additionally, if an item gets reduced after you’ve purchased, and a retailer won’t refund you/or accept the return, you could utilize this perk. Both situations require the item to be new/like new and in working condition. If not…odds are you’d need to look at Purchase Protection perks.
A few of the cards that offer Return Protection
American Express
American Express offers Return Protection on a lot of their cards.
Cards that offer Return Protection
What is covered?
Look at your specific Amex card for more details, but generally speaking these are the terms:
- Paid in Full on your eligible Amex Card
- Within 90 days of Purchase
- Up to $300 per claim, $1000 total per year
- Unlimited Claims
What you’ll need to provide for a claim:
- Within 30 days from the date of your initial call, we need to receive the
- A copy of the original store receipt
A copy of the American Express Card record of charge
Any other items deemed reasonable by us to process your request
Once your request has been reviewed and deemed eligible, you may be instructed to send the item to us within 30 days
for further evaluation. Please keep a record of your shipping receipt, as you will need to provide proof of shipping in the
event that your eligible item is not received. - If you are required to send the purchased item to us, we will reimburse vou for that shipping cost.
- A copy of the original store receipt
What isn’t covered?
- animals and living plants;
- one-of-a-kind items (including, but not limited to, antiques, artwork, and furs);
limited edition items; - going-out-of-business sale items:
consumable or perishable items with limited life spans (including, but not limited to, food, perfume, light bulbs,
and batteries); - jewelry (including, but not limited to, loose gems, precious stones, metals, and pearls);
watches; services and additional costs (including, but not limited to, installation charges, warranties, shipping, handling or
memberships); - rare and precious coins;
- purchased used and/or altered items (including, but not limited to, purchases at auction sites and second- hand
stores); - custom-built items;
- compact discs, digital video discs, mini discs, audiotapes, videotapes;
- computer software;
- firmware (including, but not limited to, console games, etc.);
- maps;
- books, magazines or periodicals of any kind;
- health care items and /or medical equipment (including, but not limited to, blood pressure machines and diabetes
equipment, items or supplies used for maternity care); - personal hygiene items (including, but not limited to, all electrical or non-electrical toothbrushes, razors, or any
devices (medical or non-medical) that have been personally used and could be considered a health risk to
others); - formal wear (including, but not limited to, bridal wear, gowns, prom dresses, and tuxedos);
- tickets of any kind (including, but not limited to, transportation passes or tickets and event tickets);
- motorized vehicles (including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes), their parts and
accessories (e.g. car battery) as well as those parts and accessories intended for use with the motorized
vehicles (e.g. a trailer or audio or visual components); - land, buildings and fixtures (including but not limited to, central air conditioner, built-in kitchen appliance and
water heater); - firearms;
- ammunition;
- negotiable instruments (including, but not limited to, promissory notes, stamps, and travelers checks);
- cash and its equivalent (including, but not limited to, gift cards and gift certificates); and
- items permanently affixed to home, office, vehicles, etc. (including, but not limited to, garage door openers and
car alarms); - seasonal items (including but not limited to holiday decorations and costumes)
Capital One
Capital One has been steadily improving their entire credit card ecosystem and debuted their first super premium credit card last year. The Capital One Venture X, my pick for the best super premium card for most people.
Cards that are covered?
Only One the Capital One Venture X
It’s $395 a year, but comes with a $300 annual travel credit in the Capital One Travel Portal, an anniversary bonus that yields 10k miles every year you keep the card, unlimited 2x on every purchase, travel portal bonuses, great lounge access, and not only great purchase protection, but return protection. Let’s check it out.
Capital One Venture X
What is covered?
- Up to $300 per claim, $1000 total per year
- No limit on number of claims
- Must be within 90 days
- Store must refuse to take it back
Examples of items that are not covered
- Animals and living plants
- Boats, aircraft, automobiles, and any other motorized vehicles and their motors, equipment, or accessories, including trailers and other items that can be towed by, or attached to, any motorized vehicle
- Cash, bullion, traveler’s checks, tickets, credit or debit cards, and any other negotiable instruments
- Computer software
- Damaged, or non-working, items
- Formal attire, including but not limited to, cocktail dresses, tuxedos, gowns, and formal accessories
- Items purchased for resale, or for professional or commercial use
- Items purchased outside the United States
- Items that have been altered
- Jewelry, art objects, rare or precious coins or stamps, antiques, and collectible items
- Medical equipment
- Perishables, consumables, and limited-life items, including but not limited to, rechargeable batteries • Real estate and items which are intended to become part of real estate, including but not limited to, items that are hard-wired or hardplumbed, garage doors, garage door openers, and ceiling fans
- Seasonal items, including but not limited to, holiday decorations
How to file a Claim?
Chase
Chase Offers Return protection on three of their cards that are currently available for new sign up, and one that is retired ( however you can upgrade into it, the Ritz Carlton card ). Chase offers the highest per item reimbursement with $500. Note, all of the cards come with with quite high annual fees.
Which cards offer it?
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- United Club Business card
- United Club Infinite card.
- Ritz Carlton Visa Infinite
What’s covered?
- Must be within 90 days of purchase
- Item must be in new/good working condition
- Up to $500 per item, $1000 annual maximum
What isn’t covered
- Animals and living plants
- Boats, automobiles, aircraft
- Computer software
- Formal attire
- Items purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use
- Items purchased outside of the U.S.
- Items upon which alterations have been made
- Jewelry, art objects, rare or precious coins or stamps, antiques, and collectible items
- Medical equipment
- Perishables, consumables, and limited-life items
- Real estate and items which are intended to become part of real estate, including, but not limited to, items that are hard-wired or hard-plumbed, garage doors, garage door openers, and ceiling fans
- Seasonal items including, but not limited to, holiday decorations
How to file a claim?
- Call 888-880-5844 within 90 days
- You’ll be required to send the item to the benefits administrator to receive reimbursement
Barclay
Select cards including the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Which cards are included?
- Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
- Aadvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
What is covered?
- Up to $500 per claim, $1000 per year
- 2 claim per 12 months rolling
- Must be purchased at a store that provides a minimum 10 day return policy.
Bank of America
I’m not a big user of Bank of America cards outside of occasionally carrying one of the Alaska Airlines issued cards which don’t come with Return Protection. However… Bank of America does have one card with Return Protection which is highlighted below.
Which cards are included?
The Bank of American Premium Rewards credit card
What is covered
- Must be paid in full with the eligible credit card
- $250 per claim, $1000 total in a year
- Must be filed within 90 days of purchase
- Must be new/working condition and store must not accept it back.
What isn’t covered
- Animals and living plants
- Antiques and collectible items
- Boats, aircraft, automobiles and any other motorized vehicles and their equipment or accessories
- Broken items, unless damage is the result of a covered occurrence
- Computer software
- Items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use
- Jewelry and watches
- Medical equipment
- Consumables including but not limited to: perfumes, cosmetics and limited-life items such as rechargeable batteries
- Real estate and items that are intended to become part of real estate including but not limited to: items that are hard-wired or hard-plumbed, garage doors, garage door openers, and ceiling fans
- Rented or leased items, or items purchased on an installment plan and for which the entire purchase price was not paid in full at the time of the occurrence
- Traveler’s checks, cash, tickets, credit or debit cards
- Used or pre-owned items
How to file a claim
- Your Visa card receipt
- The itemized store receipt
Citi
None of their cards offer Return Protection
Discover
None of their cards offer Return Protection
US Bank
I don’t carry, nor have I carried a US Bank credit card so I can’t give any personal account as to the user experience, etc. The 2 cards listed below do offer Return Protection, but I couldn’t find any of the excluded items online.
Which cards offer Return Protection:
- US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite
- US Bank Cash 365 American Express
What is Covered
- Must file claim within 90 days
- $300 max per claim, $1000 max per year
How to file a claim:
- Go to www.cardbenefitservices.com
- Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-888-221-3289 within 90 days of the date of purchase to file a claim or get your questions answered.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.