How Credit Card Extended Warranties Work
May 7, 2010
You want to make a large purchase. You want to finance it on your credit card. However, you’re concerned about the manufacturer’s warranty. Will it be long enough to cover any potential problems?
You don’t have to rely on that manufacturer’s warranty. Your credit card might extend it for you if you make the purchase with the right card. Let’s take a look today at credit card extended warranties, how they work, and which credit cards offer them.
What is an Extended Warranty?
A credit card extended warranty is just what it sounds like — an extension on the warranty the product comes with from the manufacturer. If the product breaks (within the limits of the warranty terms) and has to be replaced or repaired, your credit card company would cover all or a portion of those costs if the original warranty already expired and if their extended warranty is in effect.
How Long do Extended Warranties Last?
Extended warranty periods can vary from one credit card issuer to the next. However, most seem to offer 12 month extended warranties, meaning you’re covered by your manufacturer’s warranty period and then an additional 12 months after that one expires.
You might see 90 day cover offered on some cards, but this is usually purchase protection insurance rather than an extended warranty. Often purchase cover and extended warranties are offered together.
How do Credit Card Extended Warranties Work?
Again, the process for having products repaired or replaced might vary slightly from one credit card company to another. However, the process would involve you filing a claim with your credit card company (instead of the manufacturer directly). You’ll present them with the warranty information and a receipt if they ask for it — so always save them — and the credit card company will handle most of it from there. You might get a replacement and have to return your original product or they might cover the repair costs up to any limits in your policy.
Credit Cards Offering Extended Warranty Protection
Does an extended warranty sound like something you’d want in a credit card? Then you might want to take a look at these cards. They all offer a combination of purchase protection insurance and extended warranty coverage.
Below are 3 of our most popular and recommended credit card offers:
Purchase Rate (p.a.) |
Cash Rate (p.a.) |
Balance Transfer |
Interest Free Days |
Annual Fee |
||
Citibank Clear Platinum |
11.99% | 21.74% | 2.9% for 12 months | up to 55 days | $49 | More Info |
ANZ Platinum Credit Card |
0% for 6 months | 21.49% | 0% for 6 months | up to 44 days | $0 first year | More Info |
Westpac Low Rate Credit Card |
0% for 6 months | 21.49% | 0% for 6 months | up to 55 days | $45 | More Info |
