Credit Card Benefits: Return Protection Review

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Return Protection Overview

Many credit cards offers a Return Protection benefit which 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.

This is a cool benefit since it can take a lot of the decision-making process out of buying, which is precisely the purpose of the benefit. Instead of spending a long time debating the purchase, you can just buy and you have 90 days to make the final decision.

Technically, you can even file a claim for a $5 pair of socks, though most people don’t bother filing for small purchases. The benefit maxes out at $250-$500 so it won’t help for expensive purchases.

General Details

• 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.
• 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.)
• Coverage is secondary.
• The banks can ask you to send the item back to a processing center so they can verify eligibility or so they can sell off the item or have it donated to charity. Some card issuers even cover the shipping costs to send in the item.
• 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.

Potential uses of Return Protection:

• 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 is a sample list of exclusions. Check the details in each issuers terms for a fuller list.

Sample exclusions: services, cash equivalents like gift cards, tickets, books, magazines, jewelry, watches, seasonal items, consumable and perishable items, computer software, custom items, healthcare items.

Amex

Amex Return Protection (pdf)

Some Amex credit and charge card have the 90 day Return Protection benefit, personal or business. Beginning January 2020, the Return Protection benefit was removed from most cards. The following cards will retain the benefit: Platinum (personal, business, corporate), Hilton Aspire, Delta Reserve (personal, business), Marriott Brilliant, Plum, Blue Cash Preferred, Everyday Preferred. All other cards no longer have this benefit.

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

How to File a Claim

To file a claim, go to this link and click Enter Claims Center Now to file. Or call 1-800-297-8019 to file a claim with a human.

Chase (CSR, Ritz)

Chase Sapphire Reserve | Ritz

Only the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ritz-Carlton cards offers a Return Protection benefit. All other Chase cards no longer offer the benefit.

• 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

Call 1-888-675-1461 to file.

Citi

Citi Return Protection (pdf) Update: Citi ended the Return Protection benefit entirely on September 22, 2019.

Discover

Discover no longer offers the Return Guarantee benefit since February 2018. For details on how their benefit works until that point, see this post. 

Visa Benefits

Visa Signature | Visa Infinite

I found two set of terms for Visa’s Return Protection benefit. It appears that one is for Visa Signature cards and an enhanced version for Visa Infinite cards. Visa cards which are not Signature probably don’t have any Return Protection at all, and it’s possible that even some Visa Signature cards don’t have it.

• 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

How to File a Claim

Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-888-221-3289 within 90 days of purchase.

Mastercard Benefits

Mastercard Satisfaction Guarantee (pdf)

Mastercard has a ‘Satisfaction Guarantee’ benefit. It’s possible this benefit does not apply on all Mastercards. (Also note, some Mastercards may have their own, separate coverage, such as the Barclaycard Arrival+ and Mastercards issued by Citibank.)

• 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

How to File a Claim

Call 1-800-MasterCard to request a claim form.

Barclaycard Arrival+

Mastercard World Elite Benefits for Barclaycard Arrival+ (pdf)

The Barclay Arrival Plus card also offers the Return Protection benefit. The benefit is administered within Mastercard World Elite benefits; it’s quite possible other World or World Elite cards have the same benefit terms. Arrival+ benefits are identical to those of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Terms (above).

• 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.

Other Banks

Some cards from other banks may have Return Protection coverage as part of Visa and Mastercard benefits.

Quick Comparison

Quick comparison of some key details:

• American Express covers the sales tax too while Mastercard does not. Chase/Arrival+ are ambiguous on this point. Citi terms exclude it; in practice, some report they do cover the sales tax while others say they don’t.
• No issuer covers shipping costs from when you purchased the item, but Amex covers the shipping costs to send them the item (in the event they request you send them the item). Citi also sends you a prepaid label to ship it back. With Chase the shipping cost is on you.
• Chase/Arrival+ covers $500, Amex and Citi $300, Mastercard $250.
• Mastercard requires that the item have a 10 day return policy while all the others will cover for items with no return policy at all.
• Amex, Citi, Chase/Arrival+ offer 90 day protection, Mastercard only offers 60 days.
• Mastercard requires you return the item in original and complete packaging, the other issuers do not have such a requirement.
• Amex, Citi, and Chase/Arrival+ limit the benefit to purchases within the United States (and territories) while Mastercard does not seem to have that limitation.
• The Amex terms seem to be slightly more strict on the condition of the item (“in original purchase condition, not visibly used”) while the other issuers require only that it’s in good working condition.
• Most Amex business cards also have the Return Protection benefit (BBP and SCP are exceptions, as noted). I’m unsure if Citi business cards have the benefit.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to know which Visa and Mastercards are covered by Visa and Mastercard benefits. The cards we know for certain have the benefit is all Amex and Citi cards, as well as the Chase CSR/Ritz and the Barclaycard Arrival+.

• Amex promises to cover your cost to ship the item in to them (in the event they request you send it in), another big plus. Citi also sends a prepaid label.
• Chase/Arrival+ win on more expensive items due to the higher $500 limit.
• It’s yet unclear whether sales tax is covered on Citi, Chase, or Arrival+ coverage. Amex does cover sales tax.

We usually focus on getting the higher rewards rate on purchases, but it’s worth thinking about which card to use for kinds of purchases which need protection. You also have to balance the various protections to see what’s most important. Overall, Citi cards have the best rounded coverage since they offer terrific 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.