Does U.S. Bank offer price protection?

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 price protection helps eligible cardholders get the best price on certain items by refunding the difference if the cardholder finds the same product at a lower price within 30 days of the purchase date. Visa cards with price protection include the Rakuten Credit Card and the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card.

Cardholders can get a Visa credit card with price protection when the card issuer decides to include this benefit in the offer. Price protection isn’t a standard benefit on Visa cards and it’s becoming increasingly rare.... read full answer

How Visa Price Protection Works:

1. Purchase an item with an eligible Visa credit card.
2. Find a printed advertisement for the purchased item (must be same make and model) at a lower price.
3. Submit a claim to the Benefits Administrator within 30 days of the purchase date.
4. If your claim is approved, you’ll receive an email through which you can choose to get reimbursed by check, bank transfer, or direct payment to your debit card.
5. Receive reimbursement for the price difference within one week of submitting a claim.

There are many eligibility requirements and other rules when it comes to actually using price protection, so make sure to look through the guide to benefits that comes with your credit card for exact details.

Mastercard price protection reimburses you when an item that you bought with your card goes on sale later. You can get back the difference between what you paid and the new sale price, up to $250 per claim. You are entitled to a maximum of four claims every 12 months. Note that only the ... read full answerWorld and World Elite Mastercards offer this benefit.

Here’s how Mastercard price protection works:

• Mastercard price protection reimburses you for the difference between the price you paid for an item and a lower price you find afterward.
• You’re covered up to $250 per claim, and you can make a claim four times in a 12-month period.
• Mastercard price protection gives you 60 days to make a claim after buying something.
• World and World Elite Mastercard are the only levels that offer price protection and give you 120 days to file a claim.
• You must have a receipt and a print or digital advertisement with a date, the retailer name, and the sales price as proof.
• Purchases that aren’t covered by Mastercard price protection include jewelry, art, antiques, pre-owned items, custom-made items, plants, animals, items bought at auctions, and more. Read your benefits guide for the full details.

You can file a claim either online or by calling (800) 627-8372. Make sure to request a claim form within 60 - 120 days of making your purchase (depending on the card). Submit the form and any other requested documentation within 180 days of when the advertisement for a lower price was posted.

After you buy something with your card, always keep an eye out for lower prices. You could save yourself up to $1,000 total per year with Mastercard credit card price protection.