9 Things You Didn’t Know Your Credit Card Could Do

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

This post is sponsored by Discover, but all opinions and credit card benefits are 100% mine. Joseph’s cracked phone is completely his.

Just about every credit card offers cash back—that’s a no-brainer. What you may not know, however, are the hidden perks above and beyond cash rewards.

While not every card provides these bonuses, many of them do. All you have to do is read the fine print buried in the mailers you throw away, or visit each company’s website to explore the options available to you.

For the purpose of this post, I’ll be using the Discover it^® Card as an example, but many of these “extra” benefits are fairly mainstream. And as long as you pay off that credit card {in full} each and every month, you can enjoy them guilt-free!

1. Purchase Protection

Did you buy an iPad, TV, or other appliance that was recently damaged…or stolen? Sometimes accidents happen, but the good thing is, you could qualify for a refund. Discover protects up to $500 if the unfortunate event occurs within 90 days.

And yes, that is Joseph’s phone. Phone….meet floor.

2. Price Protection

Likewise, if you bought an item and find a lower price at another store, Discover will refund the difference up to $500. The 90 day timeframe also applies, but still—what a neat feature! Just make sure to keep your receipts as proof. Another tip: Take photos of the lower price, {online or at the store}, for extra measure.

Note: You should sign-in to your Discover account for full terms and conditions, including what’s needed to file a claim for any of their benefits and services.

3. Credit Building

Using your credit card regularly {and paying it off}, may help you build your credit score better than anything else. But did you know there are cards designed to give you a head start? The Discover it Secured Card offers available credit based on the security deposit you put down on the card. On the flip side, being responsible qualifies you to get that security deposit back. Win-win!

4. Free Credit Scores

Normally, you have to pay to get your true FICO^® Credit Score, but Discover provides it for free on all your statements. You can also access the triple digits any time you log into your account. Wondering if credit scores really matter? Find out HERE!

5. Extended Warranties

Cashiers peddle warranties whenever you buy a high-priced item, but I’m telling you to skip it. Here’s why—not only is it a general waste of money, the credit card you use to purchase that item usually extends the manufacturer’s warranty anyway.

FYI: Discover will extend the terms of an existing eligible warranty for up to one additional year on warranties of 36 months or less.

6. Return Guarantee

If you’ve ever been unhappy with a purchase after the timeframe to return expired, you could still get your money back. Anytime the store won’t accept a return, apply for a refund through Discover. Just make sure the entire purchase was made on your Discover card for it to count!

Discover will happily cover eligible purchases up to $500 within the first 90 days, which means now you can send back that rug that fell apart in the wash—true story.

7. Auto Rental Insurance

I don’t rent cars often, but when we do, Joseph usually opts for insurance. He likes to be safe than sorry! But with a credit card, you might be able to keep that hard-earned money. Check to see if Auto Rental Insurance is built into your benefits {like it is with the Discover it® Card}, then skip the up-sell.

8. In-Flight Wi-Fi

If you’ve been tempted to pay for Wi-Fi on a plane, the Discover it Miles Card provides a statement credit of up to $30 per year. A huge win if you don’t travel often and want to keep the kiddos entertained!

9. Get Rewarded for Good Grades

And if that wasn’t enough, some credit card companies offer students cash back for their grades. With a Discover Student credit card, a student will be rewarded with $20 in Cashback Bonus® if their grade point average is 3.0 (or equivalent) or higher each year they are enrolled in school, for the first five years from the account opening. Yep, it literally pays to get good grades.

So I dare you…

Pop on over to your credit card company’s website, log in, and explore the benefits you didn’t even know were there. Then take advantage of them! After all, they’re totally free to use.

Want more? Head on over to this page where I’ve compiled even more smart credit card tips as well as plenty of ideas for how to manage money better.

What credit card perks do you have?

Discover stands by their mission to help consumers spend smart and save more, by providing the best products and programs for their money. In addition to branded credit cards, Discover also offers private loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. You can learn more about Discover HERE.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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