Credit cards: services and benefits

Credit cards aren't just for making payments in Belgium or abroad. They also let you enjoy various services and benefits. Sometimes they entitle you to travel assistance services. Here's a brief overview.

Pay with your credit card to enjoy its benefits

First of all, it's important to know that to benefit from the advantages linked to your credit card, you must use the card as your means of payment. This is how the card issuer builds customer loyalty.

Credit cards and insurance

Warning: Read the terms and conditions of the insurance included with your credit card carefully. The conditions for coverage, the services covered and the maximum amount covered per claim and per year differ from one credit card to another.

Purchase insurance, safe online and warranty extension

• Purchase insurance covers theft and accidental damage to items of a certain value bought with your card. It's valid for a set period (ranging from 90 to 120 days) following the purchase date.
• Safe online insurance protects you in case of non-delivery or damage to a new item bought online.
• Warranty extension insurance extends the legal 2-year warranty on certain goods by one year.

Vehicle assistance

• Breakdown assistance for vehicles in Belgium, whether or not including Luxembourg and Europe (breakdown assistance for any type of breakdown, towing, assistance for a caravan/motorhome or trailer may also be included);
• Assistance for occupants (transport of occupants to the garage where the vehicle will be repaired or to their home).
• Assault insurance while in the car: financial compensation in case of damage to or theft of clothing and personal belongings;
• Insurance and assistance in case of theft of vehicle keys and/or documents by burglary or assault;
• ...

Credit card and travel insurance

• 24/7 assistance abroad: medical repatriation, sending essential medication not available locally, help in case of lost identity or travel documents, provision of money abroad, assistance in case of legal proceedings, etc;
• Assistance in case of lost or delayed luggage;
• Assistance in case of delay or cancellation of your international flight or train or a missed connection;
• Financial compensation in case of trip cancellation due to serious illness, an accident or death (including that of your relatives), damage to your home/workplace, loss or theft of your passport or ID card, ...

Warning: For any insurance or assistance included with your credit card, find out exactly what's covered by your card and who the beneficiaries are (e.g. only the cardholder or also family members living under the same roof), because the services are sometimes limited and lower than those of a standard assistance contract taken out with a travel insurer.

Other types of credit card services

• Some credit cards offer you a range of discounts at major retail chains, retailers, (vehicle) rental companies, tour operators, theme parks, ...
• You can also access loyalty programmes or get optional benefits.

Tip: Check whether your credit card gives you access to this type of service so you can save a bit on your everyday spending.

Also read: The costs of payment cards abroad

This article was written by TopCompare.be in collaboration with Redion.