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Unique Non-Cash Reward Benefits of Credit Cards Archived From: Finance

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There are a number of threads that discuss the rewards benefits of credit cards. Now, with the latest legislation its possible that rewards benefits will be sharply curtailed. But very few (except for some old archived ones) that discuss the unique "non-reward" benefits. And now, its possible that the non-cash reward benefits will be the differentiator.

By unique, I mean benefits that are above and beyond the standard ones that all Mastercard, Visa, AMEX, etc cards carry

The purpose of this thread, via QuickSummary, is to to keep an updated list of cards that have valuable benefits that are not reward benefits

As benefits may change quickly in this environment, you probably want to call and verify if you are going to use an important benefit


AT&T Universal Platinum Card

- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (secondary)                15 days US, 31 days international
- Cell phone lost/stolen insurance                               Requires police/security report within 48 hours. 
Cell phone insurance is up to $100. $50 deductible. Limit of initial price of original cell phone, so its not worth much if you got a free /low cost subsidized phone with contract. Does not need to be originally purchased on this card American Express Blue Cash
- Warranty Protection                                            Doubles warranty up to 1 year (up to $10K
                                                                  per use; up to $50k per year
- Retail Purchase Protection                                     Replaces for 90 days for damage or 
                                                                  theft[ (up to $1k per occurrence, up to
                                                                  $50K per year
- Return protection                                              For 90 days, if retailer fails to accept
                                                                  return, up to $300 per occurrence, up to
                                                                  $1k per year 
American Express Platinum Cash Rebate
- Warranty Protection                                            Doubles warranty up to 1 year
Ameriprise World Elite MC I am sure there are many of the same normal MC benefits. However, a HUGE benefit from this CC is the Priority Pass Membership they give. There is a $150 AF tied to this CC (waived if you spend more than $15K / yr on CC. Well worth it though if you travel, as it gives you access to sooo many priority club memberships at various airports throughout the world. If you went through Priority Pass yourself and bought membership, it would cost $399! AMEX Gold personal (from Fidelity)
- event cancellation insurance (e.g., if you use it to buy a concert ticket, 
and the concert is cancelled, or you can't make it due to medical reason, the concert ticket is refunded)
- free roadside assistance ($50@ I believe 4 times a year)
- purchase return protection ($300)
Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards
-Foreign Transaction Fee                                         0%
-Your own picture on the card
CitiDividend Platinum Select Visa for College Students
Extended Warranty                                                Doubles warranty up to 1 year
Retail Purchase Protection                                       Replaces for 90 days for damage or theft
Citi PremierPass

Flight cancellation Insurance (Points too!)
PenFed Visa Platinum (5% Gas Rebate) Card
             
- Cell phone stolen insurance                                    Requires police/security report within 48 hours. 
Cell phone insurance up to $100. $50 deductible. Limit of initial price of original cell phone, so its not worth much if you got a free /low cost subsidized phone with contract. Monthly cell phone bill must be charged to card Does not need to be originally purchased on this card Schwab Bank Invest First Visa Credit Card
- Purchase Replacement for damaged lost or stolen items within   90 days
- Price Protection coverage                                      60 days
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (Secondary)                15 days US, 31 days international
- Foreign Transaction Fee                                        0%
- Warranty Manager                                               Doubles the warranty up to 1 year
- Lost luggage reimbursement                                     $3000 per trip maximum                                 
- Common Traveler Accident Insurance                             $1M (accidental loss of life/limb)
- Concierge Services                                             Locate tickets, flowers, etc
- Identity Theft Protection                                      Contacts the credit bureaus for you
- Travel and Emergency Assistance                                Assistance reboooking flights, getting meds, etc
- Roadside Dispatch                                              Calls tow truck, lock smith, etc
- Visa Signature Dining                                          Zagat ratings access, access to special Fine Wine and Food events

Roadside Dispatch is exactly what it says. They call. You pay. (Not much use unless you don't belong to an AutoClub and are in an area where you don't know who to call) That's true with the Travel and Emergency Assistance and with the Concierge Services.

FIA Card Benefits Information Center

Message edited by: ellory on 2009-07-17 09:29:15 CDT
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Schwab Bank Invest First Visa Credit Card - member guide attached

- Purchase Replacement for damaged lost or stolen items within   90 days
- Price Protection coverage                                      60 days
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver                            15 days US, 31 days international
- Warranty Manager                                               Doubles the warranty up to 1 year
- Lost luggage reimbursement                                     $3000 per trip maximum                                 
- Common Traveler Accident Insurance                             $1M (accidental loss of life/limb)
- Concierge Services                                             Locate tickets, flowers, etc
- Identity Theft Protection                                      Contacts the credit bureaus for you
- Travel and Emergency Assistance                                Assistance reboooking flights, getting meds, etc
- Roadside Dispatch                                              Calls tow truck, lock smith, etc
- Visa Signature Dining                                          Zagat ratings access, access to special Fine Wine and Food events

Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.

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Added AT&T Universal Platinum Card & PenFed Gas Rebate Card, American Express Platinum Cash Rebate Card


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what awesome work Ellory!

Penfed has cell phone insurance.

I like Citi PremierPass for charging flights, as its one of the only cards to carry trip cancelation insurance free. Plus you get flight points.

I like most BUSINESS visa/mc because they have PRIMARY rental car coverage. Citi Professional is one of the best here because it gives 3% rewrds and primary insurance. IIRC Diners Club does too, or at least they used to/

I did an old thread here on the free insurance benefits of cards:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arcmessageview.php?catid=52&thre...


The only bad thing is I think we are going to see lots of changes/benefit reductions in the coming months.


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schwab card gets free towing???

anyone have more info on this? will it be reimbursed or what?


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IIRC no free towing, they just make the call for you and dispatch.

You pay for the services.


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SUCKISSTAPLES said:IIRC no free towing, they just make the call for you and dispatch.

You pay for the services.

yeah, was just about to edit my post... missed the DISPATCHED part.

thanks


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SUCKISSTAPLES said:
I like most BUSINESS visa/mc because they have PRIMARY rental car coverage. Citi Professional is one of the best here because it gives 3% rewrds and primary insurance.

Whats the difference between Primary rental car coverage and the waiver that regular non-business CC have?

What happens if Visa/MC decide to ask for documentation of your business activities with the rental car if you make a claim? Couldn't they invalidate the coverage? I know a lot of people on FWF have biz cards and no legitimate biz. The terms of biz cards state they must be used for biz. I imagine they have a fraud department that might attempt to invalidate a large car rental claim.


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personal cc rental coverage requires you to first file a claim with your auto insurer. of course you could lie and say you have no auto insurance and then they will be primary.

most "business" cardholders on fw consider their business to be something like eBay sales or IT consulting or something of that nature. As such, its extremely simple to ensure your trips have some business purpose - check on a potential client/vendor/item for sale etc.


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SUCKISSTAPLES said:The only bad thing is I think we are going to see lots of changes/benefit reductions in the coming months.I know. That's part of why I did it. By putting it all in the QuickSummary it will make it easier for all of us to update it / keep it up to date


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GREAT topic. We should have a wiki so we can merge all of the info into one post. Come on people, use the technology!


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This is a great topic and in my case, quite timely. I have an upcoming trip to Europe and was looking at different insurance options until I realized that Citi PPE covers a lot of it already. In addition to some trip insurance benefits, the card also offers pricematch (but not on online purchases).


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SUB said:This is a great topic and in my case, quite timely. I have an upcoming trip to Europe and was looking at different insurance options until I realized that Citi PPE covers a lot of it already. In addition to some trip insurance benefits, the card also offers pricematch (but not on online purchases).
That reminds me that I consider Cap1's 0% int'l transaction/exchange fee to be a unusual benefit. I keep a Cap1 card purely for international travel.


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ThePessimist said:SUB said:This is a great topic and in my case, quite timely. I have an upcoming trip to Europe and was looking at different insurance options until I realized that Citi PPE covers a lot of it already. In addition to some trip insurance benefits, the card also offers pricematch (but not on online purchases).
That reminds me that I consider Cap1's 0% int'l transaction/exchange fee to be a unusual benefit. I keep a Cap1 card purely for international travel.

Schwab Invest First has the same feature and is better overall than CapOne


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SUB said:That reminds me that I consider Cap1's 0% int'l transaction/exchange fee to be a unusual benefit. I keep a Cap1 card purely for international travel.

Schwab Invest First has the same feature and is better overall than CapOneAdded both to the QuickSummary. Doesn't have to be me though. All of you can do it too


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thanks,op


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SUB said:Schwab Invest First has the same feature and is better overall than CapOne
The Schwab card is issued by FIA. FIA and Cap1 both suck, albeit in different ways. I wouldn't want to use either one regularly. If you're only using it for travel, and not daily spending, the differences aren't as important.


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AMEX Gold personal (I got it from Fidelity)

- event cancellation insurance (e.g., if you use it to buy a concert ticket, and the concert is cancelled, or you can't make it due to medical reason, the concert ticket is refunded)
- free roadside assistance ($50@ I believe 4 times a year)
- purchase return protection ($300)

edit: updated QS for this


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