topic Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022 in Credit Cards

Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Taurus22 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 03:58:54 GMT

This has come up several times leading up to the end of the year with various different lenders stating that their Mastercards will no longer carry Phone Protection beginning Jan 2022.

With it being the last day of the year, I wanted to start this as a master thread for those who receive notices from lenders regarding this, to share their information and observations. We aren't sure yet if this is a systemwide cut in phone protection from Mastercard as a whole, or if it only appies to particular lenders. January will provide a lot more information, so feel free to add your input.

I remember CapOne Savor was one of the first who announced this. There were others mentioned in other threads, but I can't personally remember which were affected. This is what led to the worry of whether this might be a systemwide axe from Mastercard.

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

CreditAggie — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 04:29:14 GMT

My Chase Freedom Flex is the only MC I have that has this feature and I don't use it since my line is part of a family phone plan. As a recent product that advertises this feature, it will be interesting to see if the CFF will be affected by this.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Matt9543 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 05:16:34 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:
This has come up several times leading up to the end of the year with various different lenders stating that their Mastercards will no longer carry Phone Protection beginning Jan 2022.

With it being the last day of the year, I wanted to start this as a master thread for those who receive notices from lenders regarding this, to share their information and observations. We aren't sure yet if this is a systemwide cut in phone protection from Mastercard as a whole, or if it only appies to particular lenders. January will provide a lot more information, so feel free to add your input.

I remember CapOne Savor was one of the first who announced this. There were others mentioned in other threads, but I can't personally remember which were affected. This is what led to the worry of whether this might be a systemwide axe from Mastercard.

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

"Effective 1/1/22 at 12:00am (EDT), Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection will be canceled due to changes to Mastercard insurance benefits program." This is for my REI Mastercard.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

micvite — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 06:09:14 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:
This has come up several times leading up to the end of the year with various different lenders stating that their Mastercards will no longer carry Phone Protection beginning Jan 2022.

With it being the last day of the year, I wanted to start this as a master thread for those who receive notices from lenders regarding this, to share their information and observations. We aren't sure yet if this is a systemwide cut in phone protection from Mastercard as a whole, or if it only appies to particular lenders. January will provide a lot more information, so feel free to add your input.

I remember CapOne Savor was one of the first who announced this. There were others mentioned in other threads, but I can't personally remember which were affected. This is what led to the worry of whether this might be a systemwide axe from Mastercard.

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

Not sure how many people know this, but regardless of your BANKs insurance MASTERCARD has their own insurance program for WORLD and WORLD ELITE card holders as follows:

Cell phone insurance (available July 1 2019): This benefit covers stolen or damaged cell phones, including scratched screens, when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your World or World Elite Mastercard. You’ll pay a $50 deductible, but you can receive a maximum of $600 per claim as a World cardholder, and $800 as a World Elite cardholder (no more than $1,000 per year for either one). You must file a claim to be eligible for this benefit.

so even though my quicksilver doesnt have cell phone protection I was still able to file a claim because I'm a world elite card holder.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:10:32 GMT

@micvite wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:
This has come up several times leading up to the end of the year with various different lenders stating that their Mastercards will no longer carry Phone Protection beginning Jan 2022.

With it being the last day of the year, I wanted to start this as a master thread for those who receive notices from lenders regarding this, to share their information and observations. We aren't sure yet if this is a systemwide cut in phone protection from Mastercard as a whole, or if it only appies to particular lenders. January will provide a lot more information, so feel free to add your input.

I remember CapOne Savor was one of the first who announced this. There were others mentioned in other threads, but I can't personally remember which were affected. This is what led to the worry of whether this might be a systemwide axe from Mastercard.

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

Not sure how many people know this, but regardless of your BANKs insurance MASTERCARD has their own insurance program for WORLD and WORLD ELITE card holders as follows:
Cell phone insurance (available July 1 2019): This benefit covers stolen or damaged cell phones, including scratched screens, when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your World or World Elite Mastercard. You’ll pay a $50 deductible, but you can receive a maximum of $600 per claim as a World cardholder, and $800 as a World Elite cardholder (no more than $1,000 per year for either one). You must file a claim to be eligible for this benefit.

so even though my quicksilver doesnt have cell phone protection I was still able to file a claim because I'm a world elite card holder.

When did you do this? Others have found, starting ages ago with the Citi DC, that this is an opt-in benefit for the issuer, and more and more issuers have opted out. The Mastercard site, while showing all these benefits, does state that availability varies by issuer.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:12:19 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

My Nov statement on my Elan Max Cash MC ("from" peoples bank) stated the benefit would end Jan 1 2022 (and someone else confirmed that they got it too on their Max Cash MC from a different FI)

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Who_wuda_thought — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 18:11:10 GMT

@micvite wrote:
Not sure how many people know this, but regardless of your BANKs insurance MASTERCARD has their own insurance program for WORLD and WORLD ELITE card holders as follows:
Cell phone insurance (available July 1 2019): This benefit covers stolen or damaged cell phones, including scratched screens, when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your World or World Elite Mastercard. You’ll pay a $50 deductible, but you can receive a maximum of $600 per claim as a World cardholder, and $800 as a World Elite cardholder (no more than $1,000 per year for either one). You must file a claim to be eligible for this benefit.

so even though my quicksilver doesnt have cell phone protection I was still able to file a claim because I'm a world elite card holder.

The cell phone protection you have with your C1 Quicksilver World Elite was actually a benefit provided through Capital One. The following link is for all Capital One credit card benefits, and you will find the cell phone protection is no longer contained therein. It is still showing cell phone protection listed as a cardholder benefit for Cap1 Walmart World Elite Mastercard.

https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/benefits-guide/

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

micvite — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 01:12:48 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@micvite wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:
This has come up several times leading up to the end of the year with various different lenders stating that their Mastercards will no longer carry Phone Protection beginning Jan 2022.

With it being the last day of the year, I wanted to start this as a master thread for those who receive notices from lenders regarding this, to share their information and observations. We aren't sure yet if this is a systemwide cut in phone protection from Mastercard as a whole, or if it only appies to particular lenders. January will provide a lot more information, so feel free to add your input.

I remember CapOne Savor was one of the first who announced this. There were others mentioned in other threads, but I can't personally remember which were affected. This is what led to the worry of whether this might be a systemwide axe from Mastercard.

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

Not sure how many people know this, but regardless of your BANKs insurance MASTERCARD has their own insurance program for WORLD and WORLD ELITE card holders as follows:
Cell phone insurance (available July 1 2019): This benefit covers stolen or damaged cell phones, including scratched screens, when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your World or World Elite Mastercard. You’ll pay a $50 deductible, but you can receive a maximum of $600 per claim as a World cardholder, and $800 as a World Elite cardholder (no more than $1,000 per year for either one). You must file a claim to be eligible for this benefit.

so even though my quicksilver doesnt have cell phone protection I was still able to file a claim because I'm a world elite card holder.
When did you do this? Others have found, starting ages ago with the Citi DC, that this is an opt-in benefit for the issuer, and more and more issuers have opted out. The Mastercard site, while showing all these benefits, does state that availability varies by issuer.

Oof it was a while ago... Honestly the citi card is a weird one, you don't get access to basically any of the "world elite" benefits, for example concierge and travel services, all other WE MC i've seen do for example. so I'm not sure if it's a citi thing, or it's opt in like mentioned before. I suppose best way to find out is pick a card that doesn't have it outlined in their benefits call up the mastercard insurance claim nr and see if they'll process it or tell you it's not a thing.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

arunkumarmm — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 09:44:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:

I am personally interested in Elan Max Cash MC and if they will be affected. So, if any existing cardholders receive any information/notices on this, please let us know.

My Nov statement on my Elan Max Cash MC ("from" peoples bank) stated the benefit would end Jan 1 2022 (and someone else confirmed that they got it too on their Max Cash MC from a different FI)

It was me. My MCP from FNBT also had the same in the Nov statement. It's no longer available from Jan 2022

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Remi1 — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 02:59:47 GMT

My Elan MCP through MidCountry Bank also axed this benefit. Notified on November statement. Which was incredibly disappointing because it was the whole reason I specifically got the MC version of this card and went through this bank, plus I had only just gotten this card at the end of September.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Taurus22 — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:43:44 GMT

So, it sounds like Elan Max Cash is completely dropping the benefit, which like you @Remi1 , was my focus for finding a MC version. And now it really holds no more benefit than the Visa version, so I guess I'll just choose the Visa version of my liking and roll on without the phone protection.

I'm also interested to see if Mastercard will drop the phone protection on the NFCU cashRewards, just out of curiosity. That's the best alternative right now with the phone protection + 1.5% cashback on the cell bill.

This almost seems like a complete systemwide axe for Mastercard.....a shame really.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

summerterrace — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 21:45:43 GMT

I got notice that my IHG Rewards Club card will no longer have the cell phone coverage effective 1/1/22. (Chase card)

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

JamP — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 01:25:11 GMT

Once Citi Double cash discontinued cell protection, I moved it to my Huntington the Voice, now Huntington has discontinued cell protection as of January 1st so I moved it to my Sam's Club Mastercard. Hopefully, Sam's does not discontinue protection.

I too have been looking for another card with this protection. I do not spend a lot on cell service but the protection was always a nice perk.

Here are a few but who knows if they will get nerfed.

https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards-with-cell-phone-protection

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

MrDisco99 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 03:02:14 GMT

@JamP wrote:
Once Citi Double cash discontinued cell protection, I moved it to my Huntington the Voice, now Huntington has discontinued cell protection as of January 1st so I moved it to my Sam's Club Mastercard. Hopefully, Sam's does not discontinue protection.

I too have been looking for another card with this protection. I do not spend a lot on cell service but the protection was always a nice perk.

Here are a few but who knows if they will get nerfed.
https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards-with-cell-phone-protection

These are mostly Visa and Amex cards, which implies the benefit is no longer coming from Mastercard, but from the issuers.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

arunkumarmm — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 00:38:14 GMT

Looks like affinity has added it. Received this email today.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

flash3 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 02:29:48 GMT

@Taurus22

The Sallie Mae Evolve 2% card offers cell phone insurance as I far as I know.

The SOFI world elite 2% mastercard offers cell phone insurance.

All TD Bank credit cards have cell phone insurance as far as I know (2% cashback version or 3% dining version).

Well Fargo 2% card also offers it.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Taurus22 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 04:05:42 GMT

@arunkumarmm The problem with Affinity phone protection, (as well as most Visa cards that offer this) is that Visa only offers $250 protection with a $50 deductible. Mastercard's coverage is $600/$50 deductible, which is what made it more appealing.

@flash3 I appreciate the feedback. Honestly, I don't have any relationship with SoFi, so their card wouldn't yield the 2% for me, would only be a 1% card ultimately. The Sallie Mae card isn't a true 2% card either, and with my AOD 3%, it makes both of those redundant to be honest.

TD Bank and Wells are both Visa, so those fall into the same $250 coverage I just mentioned.

It's going to be really tough to find good phone protection + cashback on cell phone now that Mastercard is pulling their plug. The best option I still haven't heard anything about yet is the NFCU cashRewards @ 1.5% + $600 phone protection. But the way this looks, I'm not holding my breath. I'm probably going to resort to taking the 5% cashback from Elan Max Cash and letting the cashback returns "in effect" offset any future phone issues I may/may not have and hope for the best. (until better options surface)

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

flash3 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 04:33:22 GMT

SOFI world elite mastercard still offers the benefit. Its not complicated to open a SOFI money account for the 2% redemption. So far, I have not had any problems with SOFI. Just keep $500 in the SOFI money account which can also be used to pay off the credit card if necessary. It seems like the easiest method to use SOFI instead of opening up a credit union account.

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

staticvoidmain — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:51:03 GMT

@flash3 wrote:
SOFI world elite mastercard still offers the benefit.

I think most credit cards from lenders that do not offer any form of native benefits and rely only on network benefits would still have them.

Case in point, I believe my SoFi and both my Sync cards have all MC benefits, WEMC for SoFi, and WMC for my Sync cards. They literally just link to Mastercard for their "benefits".

Re: Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:44:49 GMT

@staticvoidmain wrote:
@flash3 wrote:
SOFI world elite mastercard still offers the benefit.
I think most credit cards from lenders that do not offer any form of native benefits and rely only on network benefits would still have them.
Case in point, I believe my SoFi and both my Sync cards have all MC benefits, WEMC for SoFi, and WMC for my Sync cards. They literally just link to Mastercard for their "benefits".

When I go to Mastercard Benefits (mycardbenefits.com) for my Sync Paypal card, it doesn't list any phone coverage benefits, so I don't think it has it. (In contrast, my Chase Freedom Flex doesn't work at all on that site, all my other Mastercards do!)

ETA: but come to think of it my Paypal is just a plat MC, so wouldn't have that benefit anyway)