Take Advantage of Your Credit Card
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An overview
Many don't know about their credit card benefits and perks. Most people don't pay attention to the fine print of their credit card. I do read the fine print and I am going to outline it for you, as well as give you the resources to find out more. If you have an American Express card, this post is for you. Additional lenses for MasterCard, Visa, and Discover will follow.If you cannot wait for lenses on the cards you carry, you can always explore CardOffers.com.
Materials you'll need
Know your card's benefits (the fine print)
Benefits will save you money.
Entertainment
American Express offers all of their cardholders discounted ticket prices, preferred seating, and advance ticket sales for select shows. Their free concierge service available to Platinum cardmembers can actually find hard-to-get tickets.
Shopping
Purchase items with your American Express card and receive:
Purchase Protection: protection against accidental damage or theft of your eligible purchase up to 90 days. Purchase protection repairs, replaces, or reimburses you for the amount charged to the card.
Extended Warranty: your manufacturers warranty will be extended for up to one additional year on eligible purchases.
Online Fraud Protection Guarantee
Return Protection: guaranteed product satisfaction--if the merchant will not accept your eligible item for return, American Express will refund the purchase price
Travel
Perhaps the best benefits offered by American Express pertain to travel. Enroll your card for free into the following programs:
Automatic Flight Insurance: fee starts at $4.99 per covered trip, per person and includes $2 million of accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Premium Baggage Protection: the fee is $9.95 per covered person, per covered trip when you purchase your airline ticket. It provides $2000 for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and up to $500 for necessary items (think: toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) if your baggage is delayed three hours or more.
Premium Car Rental Protection: do not purchase the rental agency's car insurance if you pay for your rental with your American Express. The fee begins at $19.95 and provides coverage for up to 42 consecutive days. The insurance covers you and your passengers and provides up to $100,000 for theft or damage to the car. $100,000 for Accidental Deat or Dismemberment Coverage. Up to $15,000 for medical. $5,000 for personal property theft.
Travel Delay Protection: if alternative transportation is not available by 9 pm of the same day, you will be provided $200 per day for up to two days.
Perks
Perks are freebies your card offers right now!
"Card Perks" section to find the deals your card is offering.
Our favorite perk currently offered:
Spa and Dine at Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada
Preferred Hotels are offering four different Spa+ packages to American Express cardholders across the nation (Spa+Dine, Spa+Golf, Spa+Shop, Spa+Ski). All packages include a complimentary room upgrade when you book your room using your American Express. This particular package at Green Valley Ranch offers two 50 minute Swedish massages or 50 minute facials and a $75 dining credit. Definitely check out the
"Card Perks" section to see where this offer is being honored.
This is Me on Money Talks News
In this clip, I describe the three best credit cards in their category.
The creator of CardOffers.com, Alexander Daskaloff, authored this book.
His credit card rating system is used around the world.
Credit Card Debt:
Whether you are overwhelmed by credit card debt or trying to prevent it altogether, Credit Card Debt has the answers. The author's basic three-step program provides the information you need to reduce interest rates, eliminate fees, and negotiate with credit card companies to keep your credit report clean. Uniquely designed to help you organize, analyze and reduce your debt, this book helps you understand how credit card companies make their money, how credit cards work, and how to use them responsibly.
The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook
"A foolproof way to organize and maintain a personal budget." - Publishers Weekly
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
"Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge." So states Ramsey, author and radio show host, offering a comprehensive plan to get out of debt and achieve financial fitness. Our current financial position represents the sum total of the decisions we've made to this point, he tells us, and we must take personal responsibility for our financial problems. His seven-step plan includes paying off all debts except the home mortgage at an accelerated speed, creating a financial safety net that covers three to six months' expenses, investing 15 percent of income in a retirement fund, and saving for children's college expenses. He effectively shows how regular people can rid themselves of debt and grow their wealth using current income. While many of Ramsey's concepts are not new, his simple approach and client testimonials will resonate with a broad range of library patrons. This is important information in a society buried in debt, with unprecedented numbers of people facing bankruptcy. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader Feedback
GiGiG wrote...
I would love to hear from you and your experience with using your card benefits, perks, as well as useful tips! Thanks.
Posted November 06, 2008
by GiGiG
I would say my story of financial freedom began when I met my now husband, but I'm not. The freedom began when I first accrued debt... (more)
