In a time when money is more precious than it has ever been, it can be a budget blower to go out and purchase something only to find it’s not what you wanted, or it’s been damaged at some point. Many retail stores are getting quite hard-nosed about returning items, as they want to keep the money flowing into the store and not out of it. But, if you bought the purchase with a credit card, you still have some rights to return a product that isn’t working for you.
So, even when a store refuses to honor the sale, you can get the credit card company involved and claim your right to:
Number 1 – The Return Guarantee
If you go out and make a purchase and later decide that you don’t want or need it, but you’ve lost the receipt, take heart. If you used a credit card to make the purchase, you still might be able to get a refund for returning the item, even if the retail denies your claim without a receipt. What you need to do is first take your credit card statement to the store and identify the purchase and ask for them to take the return. If they don’t do that, you still have the option to return it to your credit card issuer and potentially receive a refund there.
Number 2 – Coverage for Damaged or Stolen Goods
Another great benefit is when you get an item that is damaged or someone commits fraud with your card you may be protected. Even if the retailer doesn’t want to reimburse you for a damaged product you do have the right to make a claim with the issuer. There are some time limits, like within 90 days of the event, and so you want to take action as soon as you notice any problems. It is a good idea to always keep an eye on your credit card statements to watch for fraud.