My Experience With Return Protection on the Amex Platinum Card [Success!]

Updated: December 20, 2023, 9:23am CST

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My Experience With Return Protection on the Amex Platinum Card [Success!]

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We’ve all been there: you want to return an item to the store but barely miss the return window. However, not all hope is lost. Rather than eating the cost altogether, you should check if your credit card comes with return protection. With this benefit, you might be able to file a claim through your issuer within a certain time frame and get reimbursed for the item you can no longer return.

While credit card return protection is an incredibly useful perk, it’s also becoming increasingly hard to find cards that offer it. Fortunately, American Express is one of the only issuers to offer this handy benefit across several of its cards, including one of our favorite luxury heavyweights, The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Recently, I found myself unable to return a pair of shoes and tapped into my Amex Platinum card to get reimbursed instead. Upon filing a claim through Amex Assurance Company, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was approved and my purchase was reimbursed within 24 hours. Keep reading to learn more about return protection and how it may end up rescuing the day for you, too.

Amex Platinum Card — Overview

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Return Protection on the Amex Platinum Card

With return protection on the Amex Platinum card, you may be able to file a claim if the merchant won’t take back the item for an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase. Here are several details you should know before filing a claim:

There are many items ineligible for reimbursement, including (but not limited to): animals and living plants, jewelry, watches, memberships, books, medical equipment, personal hygiene items, seasonal items, and more.
If approved, Amex may refund the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling) up to $300 per item, with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card member account if you purchased it entirely with your eligible Amex card.
Be prepared to send over an original store receipt, a record of the charge on your Amex statement credit, and any other supporting documentation.

Once you verify that your merchant will not accept the eligible item and it meets the issuer’s terms above, call Amex Assurance Company at 800-228-6855 to begin the claims process.

Hot Tip:

While there are many exclusions, return protection can still be quite useful for many everyday items. Purchase a blender or a cookware set that you changed your mind about? What about a vacuum or a duvet? You may be able to file a return protection claim with your issuer instead.

My Experience Filing a Return Protection Claim

If you’re an avid runner you know that buying new sneakers is a common occurrence. Every 3 to 6 months, I end up buying a new pair of running shoes.

I have a few pairs of HOKA shoes, but in April, I decided to try a different style compared to what I normally purchase. For weeks, I kept trying to convince myself that I would break in my new kicks. But after a dozen or so runs, reality sunk in. The soles were downright uncomfortable and I wished I stuck to my classic pairs.

While HOKA has a 30-day return guarantee that allows you to receive a refund or exchange your shoes, I was well outside this window. Luckily, I remembered that I had paid with my Amex Platinum card, which comes with some of the most generous purchase protection perks of any rewards card on the market. Not only does the card offer return protection, but you’ll also receive purchase protection (for accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost items within 90 days of purchase) and extended warranty benefits (adds up to an additional year of coverage for the original manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less).

Of course, if you’re looking to file a claim, it can take some effort to call in and gather the right documentation. But for shoes that cost me nearly $175, I was willing to put this benefit to the test.

Hot Tip:

The Amex Platinum card also comes with an extensive range of complimentary travel insurance coverages and even cell phone protection — making it my favorite luxury travel rewards card.

Before I started my claim, I gathered the necessary information. First, I took a screenshot of the charge on my Amex Platinum card and Hoka’s 30-day guarantee policy. However, to be extra certain, I got a statement in writing from a Hoka customer service agent to confirm that I was no longer eligible for a return.

Hoka Refund In Writing — Image Credit: HOKA

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, I called Amex Assurance Company (800-228-6855), which seemed to be a general line covering all of Amex’s travel and purchase protections. It took a few minutes to connect with an agent, to whom I informed that I’d like to start a return protection claim.

He asked me for background for my claim, noting the item type, purchase date, and return limitations from the manufacturer. Afterward, he discussed the necessary disclosures and let me know that I would hear back from a claims agent within 7 to 10 business days for more information.

I thought this was a reasonable turnaround time, but to my surprise, I received an email from Amex Assurance just 24 hours later. The document stated, “Your claim has been reviewed and has been approved for payment as detailed below. Your claim is now considered closed.” Best of all, I didn’t even have to send over the screenshots I had prepared.

Amex Assurance Company Approved — Image Credit: American Express

It really was as easy as that. I checked my statement and found that I was refunded the full amount — $172.77 — that same day.

Amex Platinum Return Protection Reimbursement — Image Credit: American Express

In some cases, the claims company may request that you send the item back to them. If so, you’ll also be reimbursed for the shipping cost. However, in this case, no such action was required of me.

Best Credit Cards With Return Protection

Below, we’ve detailed some of our top cards that offer return protection across various issuers. Before filing a claim, you’ll want to double-check the coverage limits and eligibility for each return protection benefit.

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Card	Annual Fee	Welcome Offer	Return Protection Coverages
The Platinum Card^® from American Express	$695 (rates & fees)	Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.	Up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, within 90 days of purchase
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card	$650 (rates & fees)	Earn 60,000 miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates & fees)	Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
Chase Sapphire Reserve^®	$550	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	Up to $500 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, within 90 days of purchase
United Club℠ Infinite Card	$525	Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	$395 (rates & fees)	Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	Up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, within 90 days of U.S. purchase

While return protection isn’t offered by many cards, it’s certainly a valuable benefit that can put real money back in your pocket.

Final Thoughts

Before this experience, I had never filed a claim with my credit card issuer, whether that be for trip insurance or cell phone protection. I always felt that the process was cumbersome, but filing for return protection with Amex was surprisingly easy and saved me nearly $200 in the process.

In my opinion, lesser-known perks on the Amex Platinum card like return protection are just as important as airport lounge access or no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). Since my claim was approved within 24 hours, I can now go buy the right pair of shoes that work best for me!

If you don’t currently own the card, i’d recommend checking out this fantastic Amex Platinum upgrade 100k offer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the return protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Amex Platinum card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Amex Platinum card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Delta Reserve card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the return protection benefit of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Stella Shon. All images credited to Stella Shon unless otherwise noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Amex Platinum card have return protection?

Yes! You can receive up to $300 per item, with up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account in reimbursements for eligible items within 90 days of purchase. However, terms apply, so be sure to check your benefits guide for more information.

How do I file a return protection claim with the Amex Platinum card?

First, be sure to review the terms and full list of exclusions and confirm that your item was purchased within the 90-day window. You’ll also want to gather your original store receipt, a record of the charge on your Amex card’s statement, and any other supporting documentation before calling Amex Assurance Company at 800-228-6855 to file a return protection claim.

How does the American Express return protection work?

If you purchase an item with your eligible card that offers return protection, you may receive up to $300 per item or up to $1,000 per card member account per calendar year. The reimbursement is provided as a statement credit.

Does Amex still have return protection?

Yes, Amex still offers return protection across several of its cards, including the Amex Platinum card, the Delta Reserve card, and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, to name a few. You can see the full list of Amex cards that offer return protection.

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About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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