Originally Posted by
threedjmay
I'd be curious to know who actually have had to use the insurance on their card, and how well did the CC actually do with living up to what they offer.
I know my parents were in Reno when someone did a hit and run in a parking lot and damaged their vehicle.
The MBNA card that they paid for the rental at first refused to pay the $250 deductable as my parents first went thru their car insurance company. MBNA said that it wasn't the card that was used to make the initial reservation, which we know is folly because most car rental companies don't require a CC with a reservation...
This was after they had used this card almost exclusively for the past 15 years had a 20K credit line and was a very good customer...
After a couple letters and several phone calls MBNA finally coughed up what was due.... but it so irritated my parents that they put that card away and will never use it again... they don't want to cancel because of the length of the credit history...
I have made two claims in about 15 years with AmEx. Both were "primary" since the rentals were overseas. AmEx is secondary in the US but primary overseas. Both times they were prompt and efficient in settling it.
A third time was harder. I used a "free day" coupon for part of the rental. Since I did not "pay for the entire rental" with the card (i.e. the free day was not charged on the card...of course!), they would not cover it. There was literally a 1/2" bubble/scratch on a front wheelwell when I returned the car (most likely was there when I rented and though I check a car pretty carefully when I pick it up, a 1/2" scratch is hard to notice). Avis wanted to charge me $450 to repair it. AmEx's CDW insurance would not cover it. But I filed a frivolous charge complaint with AmEx regarding the charge and that department reversed it. I think Avis never got paid for it. Fortunately I had a camera with me on that trip and took a picture of the damage they were claiming. You really could hardly see it. I was not impressed with AmEx on this one and have since switched to Diners Club for CDW coverage. I have never had to use them yet though.