Does the OakStone Platinum Card offer cell phone insurance?

No, the OakStone Secured Mastercard® Platinum Credit Card does not have return protection coverage. Return protection is a benefit that offers reimbursement for undamaged, working items purchased with a credit card that cannot be returned to the merchant within a certain number of days of purchase. This benefit is becoming rarer as time goes on, however, as many issuers have dropped it to cut costs.... read full answer

If return protection is important to you, there are still a few good cards that offer it. They include the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, The Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Closing a secured credit card has the potential to hurt your score. But that’s not because it’s a secured card. You run the risk of a slight drop in your score when closing any credit card because it can make your credit history seem shorter and reduce the total amount of credit you have available. And the impact usually is most significant when you close your oldest account.... read full answer

All else being equal, it’s best to keep unused accounts open. But it’s a slightly different story if you’re paying an annual fee or leaving a deposit in the custody of your card’s issuer. That’s especially true if you don’t need your credit score to be in top shape in the very near future. You don’t want to waste money on something you never use, after all, or give your card’s issuer an indefinite loan. And since secured cards typically don’t pay interest on deposits, there are far better uses for your fee and deposit money in the long run. For example, if you placed a $200 deposit on a secured credit card in 2008 and never closed your account, that $200 would still be $200. But if you invested that money in an S&P 500 index fund, you’d have more than $600 today.

Of course, you’d need to use a secured card for a while to improve your credit score enough to qualify for an unsecured card. And if you consistently pay your secured card’s bill on time, the issuer may offer to refund your security deposit. So it’s important to weigh all the different variables before deciding whether or not to close a secured credit card. And that includes how soon you plan to apply for a mortgage, auto loan or other major financial commitment for which your credit will be checked. A bit of temporary credit score damage won’t cost you if you don’t try to borrow until your score rebounds.

Here’s what you need to know about closing a secured credit card:

• If you close the card, your average account age decreases and your total credit utilization increases. This may lead to a temporary credit score drop.
• If you don’t close the card, it will continue to report positive information to the credit bureaus each month, even if you don’t use it and there’s no balance.
• If your card charges an expensive annual fee, you may want to close it rather than pay every year for a card you’re not using.
• When you close a secured credit card, you’ll get your deposit back minus any outstanding balance.
• Some issuers will let you graduate to an unsecured card after consistent on-time payments. That means you’ll get your deposit back and often receive better benefits on your card.

In all, closing a secured credit card might not be the greatest idea. But most secured card users do it at some point. And you can lessen the impact with good timing.

Some good credit cards with cell phone protection include the Citi Prestige® Card, the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, all Wells Fargo consumer credit cards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, and the First Citizens Rewards Visa® Card.

Cell phone insurance isn’t commonly offered by major credit cards, but it’s certainly a welcome perk. Cell phones don’t come cheap, and some credit cards offer up to $1,000 in reimbursement for a stolen or damaged phone.... read full answer

Just remember that all credit cards with cell phone protection have the same rule: You must continuously pay your cell phone bill with the credit card, or else your phone won’t get coverage. To make sure your phone is covered, it’s best to set up automatic monthly phone-bill payments with your card as the payment method.

Here are some good credit cards with cell phone protection:

• Citi Prestige: Cell phone protection up to $1,000 per claim or $1,500 per year; limit of 2 claims per year; $50 deductible.
• IHG Premier: Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim or $1,000 per year; limit of 2 claims per year; $50 deductible.
• All Wells Fargo consumer credit cards: Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim or $1,200 per year; limit of 2 claims per year; $25 deductible.
• U.S. Bank Platinum: Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim or $1,200 per year; limit of 2 claims per year; $25 deductible.
• Chase Ink Preferred: Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim; limit of 3 claims per year; $100 deductible.
• First Citizens Rewards Visa® Card: Cell phone protection up to $500 per claim or $1,000 per year; limit of 2 claims per year; $50 deductible.

None of these credit cards cover phones that are lost, as opposed to stolen. Some cards also have specific stipulations for what is and is not covered. So, make sure you’re up to speed on your card’s specific rules.