The upside to credit cards and how to NOT miss out on them

September 7, 2009 – 12:18 pm – No Comment

Credit cards are a great tool to use in tight situations or anytime you could use the extra credit. Not all credit cards are bad, some actually offer some pretty good perks that you may be missing out on. Of course, no credit card company wants to come out and say all the great things that they actually do to help out their customers for some reason.

Here is a list of things that credit card companies actually do for customers who simply ask for them. I didn’t include things like reward points because those are widely known about.

The following perks are from Citi:

1. You have dedicated “concierge” staff to assist you. There is a 24 hour personal concierge service that is around to make dinner reservations for you, get tickets to events, locate hard to find items, and even coordinate business arrangements worldwide. They can also assist you with gift selections and other requests that are said to “simplify your life.”

2. You also have extra car rental insurance. Citi provides up to $50,000 in secondary coverage against collision or theft when you get a rental car and charge it on the card and decline the rental company’s insurance.

3. There is also retail price protection. This protects your stuff if it gets stolen or is accidentally broken up to $500 for the first 90 days of purchase when it’s put on the card.

4. You have a price protection. If you purchase something with your card, except for online purchases and some excluded items, you have 60 days to find the same item for a lesser price you will get refunded up to $250 of the difference.

5. You are not liable for unauthorized purchases online or offline.

6. If an airline looses your luggage, you are eligible for up to $3,000 in lost luggage coverage for not only you, but also your dependents, when you charge your fare.

7. You also have roadside assistance.

Your credit card company may be keeping some of these (or even more) a little secret from you. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call the number on the back of your card to see what kind of perks you may or may not be missing out on.