Does the PenFed Platinum Rewards card have return protection?

PenFed Pathfinder purchase protection covers the damage or theft of eligible purchases for up to 90 days after the purchase date. Purchase protection will reimburse PenFed Pathfinder cardholders for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per cardholder.

How to File a Purchase Protection Claim with the PenFed Pathfinder card

1. Call the Benefit Administrator within 60 days of the incident at ... read full answer1-800-397-9010. or the number in your card’s benefits guide.
2. File a police report within 48 hours of the incident, if the item was stolen.
3. Submit a completed claim form within 90 days of the incident.
4. Wait for a decision. PenFed will notify you of a decision once your claim has been processed. This could take PenFed up to 15 days.
5. Get reimbursed for the cost of repairing or replacing the item, if your claim is validated by the Benefit Administrator.

Be aware that not all items are covered by the PenFed Pathfinder card purchase protection benefit. To see which items are covered by this perk, check the guide to benefits that came with your credit card.

The best credit card benefits are airport lounge access, statement credits for certain types of purchases, concierge services, hotel perks, initial rewards bonuses, and price/purchase protection. Not all of the best credit card benefits are available on every card, however. The higher your credit card’s annual fee, the more likely it is to contain these top-tier benefits.... read full answer

Large complimentary benefits packages used to come standard with many credit cards. But card issuers have been cutting out these perks in recent years, citing low usage. When shopping for a credit card, it’s a good idea to check the card’s latest benefits guide before applying. Below, we’ll cover the top perks to be on the lookout for in a bit more detail.

Here are 6 of the best credit card benefits:

1. Airport lounge access
   A handful of travel credit cards have this benefit, which is well worth an annual fee – if you actually use it. Cards with lounge access will grant you free entry into various airport lounges. And depending on the lounge, that could mean free food, drinks (including alcohol), Wi-Fi, charging stations, and even showers.
2. Statement credits for specific purchases
   Some credit cards reimburse cardholders for certain expenses, such as TSA PreCheck application fees, airport incidentals, restaurant purchases, subscription streaming services, and more. There’s nothing better than free money. That said, credit cards that offer statement credits for these things usually charge annual fees. So if you’re paying an annual fee on your credit card, don’t forget to check the benefits guide to see what purchases you might get reimbursed for.
3. Concierge services
   Though concierge service is among the lesser-used credit card benefits, many cards come with it. Depending on the concierge, they can help you make reservations at elite restaurants (even abroad), send you detailed maps of cities you plan on visiting, suggest places in a destination to store your luggage, or reserve presale tickets to events. Higher-end credit card concierges can do more, like help you find a sold-out gift for your spouse, or send a limousine to pick up your kids from school. No kidding.
4. Hotel perks
   If you’re a brand-loyal person who loves climbing the ladders of hotel loyalty programs, consider a branded hotel credit card. Some of these credit cards come with complimentary “elite” status, which can give benefits like free hotel nights and room upgrades.
5. Initial bonuses
   Some credit cards offer a rewards bonus for spending a certain amount in the first few months after opening an account. The average bonus amount is about 31,338 points or miles, or $230 in cash back. Spending thresholds for these bonuses usually range from $500 to $3,000. If you’re going to spend that much money on the card anyway, why not earn some extra rewards for it?
6. Price and purchase protection
   Though price protection and purchase protection benefits are becoming rarer these days, they’re still great perks to have on a credit card. Purchase protection basically insures certain purchased items in case of theft or damage for a number of days after you buy them, as long as you make the purchase with the covered card. Price protection, on the other hand, does the job of price-matching after you make a purchase. In other words, if you find an item advertised for a lesser price than what you paid for it within 60-120 days of your purchase, the card issuer will refund you the difference.

Those are just a handful of the many benefits that credit cards provide. Be sure to research and compare credit card benefits before sending in an application.

Visa return protection covers cardholders who want to return eligible purchases worth $300 or less, provided the original merchant won’t accept a return. To receive coverage, you must pay for the eligible purchase with a qualifying Visa credit card and notify the Benefit Administrator of the issue within 90 days of the purchase. Then, cardholders must submit a completed claim form along with supporting documentation within 30 days of notifying the Benefit Administrator.... read full answer

There are many eligibility restrictions and other guidelines for filing a claim, so refer to the benefits guide that came with your card to determine whether return protection covers your purchase.

How to Use The Visa Return Protection Benefit

1. File a claim with any other insurance policy that might cover the product. Visa’s return protection benefit is secondary insurance, covering only what other applicable insurance won’t. If an alternate insurance plan reimburses you for the full price of the product, the Visa return protection benefit will not apply.
2. You can file a claim with Visa online or by calling (888) 221-3289. You’ll likely need the merchant’s return policy, an itemized receipt, and the Visa card’s billing statement from the month of the purchase.
3. Follow the Benefit Administrator’s instructions for shipping the item. Card Benefit Services must receive the item in good working condition before a claim can be approved. The item must also be in its original packaging with any owner’s manuals and warranty information included. You are responsible for all shipping costs.

Return protection is a standard benefit for Visa Infinite credit cards, Visa’s highest consumer card tier. That said, each bank and credit union that issues credit cards on the Visa network decides whether to include this network benefit on its cards. It is therefore possible to find return protection on traditional Visa, Visa Signature, and Visa business cards. It’s also possible that a particular Visa Infinite card won’t have it. You can always call a card’s issuer to ask whether the benefit is provided, though.

The best Visa credit card for return protection is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card because it offers $500 worth of protection per item rather than the standard $300. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card also comes with a $550 annual fee, but if you take advantage of all its perks, the benefits still outweigh the costs.