AMEX Return Protection: Did They Make You Return The Item?

[jl75]

To add to this question, is it the order date or charge posting date on the card? I know for amex offers/credits, its the charge posting date. Not sure about return/purchase protection.

I doubt that anyone here has that type of really specific insight into how AmEx Assurance Company employees calculate things, and even calling to ask can get you different replies from different agents. The only real way to find out would be to give it a try. Personally, I would err on the side of caution, and assume that even if I purchase something on December 27th, 2022, if the charge doesn't post until January 1st, 2023, it's going to count toward my 2023 calendar year purchases. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to try, I guess, but if you're planning ahead, I wouldn't count on it being considered a 2022 purchase. Then again, if you were in a situation where you really needed to file a claim and this caused a later claim to be denied for being over the $1,000 annual limit per card account for return protection, you could always submit an appeal with a letter explaining that it clearly states on Amazon or eBay or Dell or whatever, that your date of purchase was "December 27, 2022", even if the charge didn't post until 2023. No idea how they'd respond to that, but at least you'd have formal documentation on your side. When filling out a claim, it asks when the purchase was made, so I always put the purchase date as listed on, for example, an Amazon or eBay "Order Details" page, as the claim documents ask for "purchase date", not "date of charge on your American Express bill".

[FlyingBoat]

Can it hurt to try?

It could hurt because I may not buy it if I know it isn't covered. May give it a try. Looking for solutions to cool my AV room. The items I am thinking of buying may or may not work.

[FlyingBoat]

Could you be slightly more specific about the type of phone and the price range? I'm just curious because I somehow imagined that cell phones were on the "exclusions" list, but I just checked again, and they're not. This would have been useful information to know in the past (or, actually, may be in the future again, too!). Thanks!

LG V20's and V40's, OnePlus 8. $300 to $400 range.

[efflpetzel]

To add to this question, is it the order date or charge posting date on the card? I know for amex offers/credits, its the charge posting date. Not sure about return/purchase protection.

IME it’s the order date

[jl75]

LG V20's and V40's, OnePlus 8. $300 to $400 range.

Thanks for the info, and for making me realize that I was totally wrong about cell phones being excluded from Return Protection!

Happy New Year everyone!

[1najol1]

Is splitting a charge between 2 cards eligible for RP?

[bmw]

items need to be purchased in usa, if i purchase from amazon. however shipped from amazon global uk is it eligible for return protection ?

[jl75]

items need to be purchased in usa, if i purchase from amazon. however shipped from amazon global uk is it eligible for return protection ?

Someone asked this before (sometime in 2021, I think), and based on the responses, I tried ordering a couple smartwatches from a non-US Amazon site (i.e., not Amazon.com, but instead, the overseas sites like Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.it), shipped to my U.S. address, and I was successful in claiming both watches without any problems or additional inquiries from AmEx assurance. So I think their rationale is, you're "purchasing in the U.S.A." if your billing address and shipping address are in the USA, as long as it's an online purchase. I wouldn't test my luck trying to buy something in a store when I'm overseas, though, as the receipt would most likely show that you were not physically in the USA when making the purchase. Anyhow, all the more so if you're actually buying off of Amazon.com or ebay.com, then that's an American website/address, and so it definitely shouldn't matter where the item is being shipped from.

[jl75]

Is splitting a charge between 2 cards eligible for RP?

I'd seriously doubt it, since the T&C states that the entire purchase price must have been paid using your AmEx "card", in the singular, not "card(s)". I don't recall seeing any data points about this, but maybe give them a call and ask? The thing that makes me doubt that this would work is that by definition, if you charge, say, $300 on Card A and the other $150 on Card B, and then you go to claim it using your Return Protection from Card A, they'll see based on the receipt/invoice that you didn't charge the entire amount on Card A. But if you find out any different, we're all ears!

[idkmybffjill]

Yes, see my update in Reply #4061.

You didn’t state whether you got $ reimbursed?

[bmw]

Someone asked this before (sometime in 2021, I think), and based on the responses, I tried ordering a couple smartwatches from a non-US Amazon site (i.e., not Amazon.com, but instead, the overseas sites like Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.it), shipped to my U.S. address, and I was successful in claiming both watches without any problems or additional inquiries from AmEx assurance. So I think their rationale is, you're "purchasing in the U.S.A." if your billing address and shipping address are in the USA, as long as it's an online purchase. I wouldn't test my luck trying to buy something in a store when I'm overseas, though, as the receipt would most likely show that you were not physically in the USA when making the purchase. Anyhow, all the more so if you're actually buying off of Amazon.com or ebay.com, then that's an American website/address, and so it definitely shouldn't matter where the item is being shipped from.

thanks for the info !

[FlyingBoat]

You didn’t state whether you got $ reimbursed?

Yes, I received email that my warranty claim was accepted and I was reimbursed. Both for the item and the $125 fee charged by the company to do the inspection/estimate.

FYI, they at first put the credit back to my long canceled card. Perhaps I would have eventually received a negative balance check for this, but I called in and they reversed the credit and sent me a check.

[jl75]

Yes, I received email that my warranty claim was accepted and I was reimbursed. Both for the item and the $125 fee charged by the company to do the inspection/estimate.

FYI, they at first put the credit back to my long canceled card. Perhaps I would have eventually received a negative balance check for this, but I called in and they reversed the credit and sent me a check.

If that ever happens in the future, another thing you can do is to call them or chat with them and ask them to transfer that negative credit balance to one of your other cards that has a balance. I just had to do that when they refunded an annual fee to a card that I had since closed, so I had them apply that to the balance of one of my cards that's still open.

[1najol1]

I'd seriously doubt it, since the T&C states that the entire purchase price must have been paid using your AmEx "card", in the singular, not "card(s)". I don't recall seeing any data points about this, but maybe give them a call and ask? The thing that makes me doubt that this would work is that by definition, if you charge, say, $300 on Card A and the other $150 on Card B, and then you go to claim it using your Return Protection from Card A, they'll see based on the receipt/invoice that you didn't charge the entire amount on Card A. But if you find out any different, we're all ears!

Thanks for your response. I do know someone who told me that he had success and he was actually approved on both cards for the amount paid but I guess that’s not according to the T&C

[bmw]

sorry if been asked before, but i couldnt sift throught 200 pages...

would new open box from ebay be eligible ?

[1najol1]

According to the T&C it’s not eligible, but not always enforced

[xoSushi]

Got this message from the claims department. Any suggestions? I am trying to claim a jacket that was final sale.

"Please provide proof that a return attempt was made and the outcome of it to continue with this claim."

[idkmybffjill]

Got this message from the claims department. Any suggestions? I am trying to claim a jacket that was final sale.

"Please provide proof that a return attempt was made and the outcome of it to continue with this claim."

I’m pretty sure final sale/close out items are excluded? See return protection terms of service.

[yelped]

I’m pretty sure final sale/close out items are excluded? See return protection terms of service.

No, of course they're not excluded. That's the whole point of return protection.

[Fish Tank]

No, of course they're not excluded. That's the whole point of return protection.

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