Credit Card Companies Stand for Consumer Rights

August 01, 2008

Shopping is an integral part of our lives. Some people love it; others cannot stand hanging around stores in the search of necessary items. But still, everybody shop. You wonder what can be so irritating about going to a supermarket, a mall or just a grocery store? Aside from an inborn aversion to the process of shopping, there is one thing that can lay a bad trip on even the most avid shopaholic.

Imagine, you come back home after another shopping spree, unpack your purchases and find out that one of them is defected or damaged. This can really bring you down. And not in all cases you will manage to exchange the item or get your money back. At this point, a credit card deal with consumer protection on credit card purchases is a good choice to make.

It is quite clear that purchase protection services are not number-one priority for credit card companies. However, most of the best credit cards available today are appreciated right for this benefit. Credit card providers are interested in meeting all customers' needs and wants, associated with credit cards use. So, if you find an item you bought with a credit card defected, damaged or broken, your credit card issuer can stand for your consumer rights. How it works?

If you have, say one of American Express credit cards, the bank's customer service will help you to dispute a merchant charge if something is wrong with your purchase. If you are determined to dispute the charge, American Express advises to talk directly to the merchant first. If you do not manage to settle the problem straight with a retailer, you can resort to the bank's customer support and they will help you to resolve the situation.

You will just need to contact the bank's customer service by sending a letter, fax, via e-mail or just by making a phone call, and tell them about your problem. Then you will be asked to provide necessary information about the dispute within 60 days from the purchase date. They will need the following details:

• The statement with the date of the disputed charge
• Your name
• Credit card account number

• The money amount you want to dispute
• Description of the dispute itself

Then the company's experts will contact the merchant and investigate the case. You are most likely to get a final decision on your dispute within 2 billing cycles. If the case is resolved in your favor, you will either get a refund, or will get a chance to exchange the damaged or defected item for a good one.

However, you are not guaranteed to get positive results. The final decision can displease you. You might not get a refund and stay with your defected item.

Besides, your claim of charge dispute will not be considered in case you bought an item by phone, mail or via the Internet. As well as in case the item you purchased cost below $50 or was bought at the merchant located over 100 miles away from where you live.

Do not hesitate whether to fight for your consumer right or not. Just do it. It wouldn't be this same easy with any of credit card substitutes. If you manage to defend your consumer rights, you will definitely make your way to the best credit cards one day.