6 Ways Credit Cards Make Life Easier |
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by: Janna Weiss
Credit cards make life easier in many ways. They allow us to pay for items over time. They let us reserve hotel rooms, plane tickets, and rental cars. Many of them even give us rewards just for using them to make daily purchases. And, of course, they can improve our credit scores to open the door to larger purchases, like homes and automobiles.
But did you know that your credit cards can help in other ways? It’s true. And most card holders don’t even realize what a resource they have in their wallet.
Rental Car Insurance
The next time you rent a car, do a little research first. Your credit card might offer insurance, negating the need to purchase insurance at the rental counter. Call your card services to find out if your card offers this protection. Most Visa and American Express platinum cards do.
Returning Items
We’ve all been the situation where you need to return an item to the store, only to find that the receipt is long gone. Stores don’t like to refund purchases unless you have proof that you made the purchase in their store. If you used a credit card to fund the purchase, all you have to do is whip out a copy of your credit card statement and show it to the retailers. The proof is in the print, and you will be able to return your item with no hassle.
Price Protection
Have you ever found and purchased something, only to see it go on sale the next week? Shoppers hate to feel like they’ve been stiffed out of a good deal. If you have Citi or Chase credit cards, it could be worth your while to see if they offer price protection. Most of these cards will refund the price difference if you can provide proof of the new, lower price within 60 days.
Warranties
If you have an American Express or World Visa card, don’t bother paying for extended warranties at stores. If you used your credit card to buy the merchandise, you might be able to extend the item’s warranty to a maximum of one year – for free. That’s a great way to save a little cash.
Theft and Damage
If you used your credit card to buy an item that was subsequently stolen or damaged, your card might offer you coverage above and beyond what your insurance company will pay. Be sure to document your purchase and the dates and descriptions of the incident. You could get as much as $500 per item, or even $10,000 or more if you have a MasterCard Gold or Platinum.
Credit cards get a lot of flak for getting us into debt. But card holders get themselves into debt by not using their cards responsibly. Know the benefits that your card offers, and take advantage of them!
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