Many credit cards nowadays offer Return Protection benefits. This allows you to return any item after it was purchased when the retailer won’t take it back. The beauty of this benefit is that the bank will take it back even if it’s been used, so long as it’s in new condition.
It really cuts down on the amount of time the decision-making process takes when purchasing a product. Instead of debating whether or not to make the purchase, you can just follow through with it and let the bank take it back.
If you really wanted to, you could file a claim for a $5 hat that you no longer want. This benefit generally caps out at $250-$500 so expensive products are out of the question.
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General Information
- Benefit can only be used if the seller won’t accept the return.
- No need to register your item at time of purchase. It’s automatic when purchased with an eligible card.
- Coverage is secondary.
- Purchase must be made ENTIRELY with the covered card. If you split the payment between two cards or pay partially with a gift card, you won’t get any coverage at all. (This may not always be enforced.)
- The bank may ask you to ship it to a processing center to prove its eligibility.
- Be sure to get an itemized receipt at checkout. Some local shops just swipe your card and give you a credit card receipt, not an itemized receipt. You’ll want a full receipt, even if it’s handwritten.
This return protection plan is practical in situations where:
- When buying from a retailer who doesn’t offer returns
- If the retailer only allows returns for a week or a month, the card’s Return Protection can give you longer
- Many items can’t be returned to the store after they were opened/used, the card’s return protection will accept the return
Non-Eligible Items
Here’s a small list of items that are generally ineligible. For the full list, check with your issuer.
- services
- cash equivalents like:
- gift cards
- tickets
- books
- magazines
- jewelry
- watches
- seasonal items
- consumable and perishable items
- computer software
- custom items
- healthcare items
- etc.
Amex
All American Express credit cards, personal and business, have a return protection plan. However there are exceptions, like Blue Business Plus card and SimplyCash Plus.
American Express Return Protection pdf.
For all cards that have the benefit it works as follows:
- Max $300 per claim
- Max $1,000 per calendar year per card (this limit is separate on each Amex account)
- Must file claim within 90 days of purchase
- To be eligible, an item must be in the original purchase condition (not visibly used, defective, or damaged in any way) and must be in working order
To file a claim:
Go to this link and click Enter Claims Center Now to file.
You can also call 1-800-297-8019 to file a claim with a human.
Chase
Only the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ritz-Carlton cards offers a Return Protection benefit. All other Chase cards no longer offer the benefit.
Chase Sapphire Reserve return protection
Ritz-Carlton return protection
For these two card, it works as follows:
- Max $500 per item
- Max $1,000 per calendar year
- Must file claim within 90 days of purchase
- Benefit Administrator must receive the item in like-new/good working condition
- If more than one method of payment was used, documentation linking the entire payment to the Account must be included
- Customers who file a claim within thirty (30) days of the date of the purchase may be asked to submit proof of the store’s return policy
To file a claim:
Call 1-888-675-1461
Citi
Citi generally offers return protection on all their cards. There are exceptions however, like the Costco Citi card. This card does not offer return protection.
Return protection works as follows:
- Max $300 per item
- Max $1,000 per calendar year (per Citi card, presumably)
- 90-day Return Protection
- When returning the item, we must receive it in like-new and good working condition with all the original parts
To file a claim:
Call 1-866-918-4670 within 30 days of when you attempt to return the item.
Visit www.cardbenefits.citi.com to download a claim form for submission.
Discover
Unfortunately, Discover no longer offers return protection following February 2018.
Visa Benefits
Two sets of return protection benefits can be found for visa. One for the Visa Signature and one for the Visa Infinite. Based on this it’s safe to assume that no return protection programs are available for other cards issued by them,
Return protection works as follows:
- Max $250 for Visa Signature, $300 for Visa Infinite
- Return Protection is for 90 days
- The item must be received in like-new/good working condition for your claim to be approved
To file a claim:
Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-888-221-3289 within 90 days of purchase.
Mastercard Benefits
Mastercard has a ‘Satisfaction Guarantee’ benefit. There’s a chance that this benefit is not applied to all available cards.
Mastercard Satisfaction Guarantee pdf.
Return protection works as follows:
- Max $250 per claim
- Max 4 claims per cardholders per 12 month period
- Items must be purchased from a store that provides a return or exchange policy of at least ten (10) days
- Must file claim within 60 days of purchase
- Coverage is limited to the actual cost of the item (excluding taxes, storage, shipping, and handling costs)
- Items must be returned undamaged, in good working condition, and in its original and complete packaging
- You are responsible for all mailing costs
To file a claim:
Call 1-800-MasterCard to request a claim form.
Barclay Arrival+
This card offers return protection. Note that this benefits it administrated through the Mastercard World Elite benefits, so it’s possible that other world elite cards may offer protection.
Mastercard World Elite Benefits for Barclaycard Arrival+ pdf.
Return protection works as follows:
- Max $500 per item
- Max $1,000 per calendar year
- Must file claim within 90 days of purchase
- Benefit Administrator must receive the item in like-new/good working condition
- If more than one method of payment was used, documentation linking the entire payment to the Account must be included
- Customers who file a claim within thirty (30) days of the date of the purchase may be asked to submit proof of the store’s return policy
How to file a claim:
Call the Benefit Administrator at 888-565-8472 within ninety (90) days of the date of purchase.
Conclusion
People generally focus on the rewards rates of card, but it’s always good to have return protection offered by your issuer. In comparison, it seems that Citi has the best return protection plan. It’s well rounded coverage and has an excellent extended warranty, good return protection, purchase protection, and price protection, but the nature of the purchase and which protections you value most will help decide which card is best for your purchase.
We understand if return protection isn’t the most important factor to you when it comes to picking a card. However, if you’re interested, be sure to check out our compiled list of other Credit Card Promotions and Bank Bonuses!
