Mastercard Phone Protection - Jan 2022

[Taurus22]

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.

[summerterrace]

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

[JamP]

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

[MrDisco99]

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@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

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

[arunkumarmm]

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

[flash3]

@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.

[Taurus22]

@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)

[flash3]

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.

[staticvoidmain]

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@flash3 wrote:

SOFI world elite mastercard still offers the benefit. 

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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".

[Anonymous]

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@staticvoidmain wrote:

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@flash3 wrote:

SOFI world elite mastercard still offers the benefit. 

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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".

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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)