Most American Express cards come with a generous extended warranty benefit. The extended warranty covers the replacement cost of the item up to the item’s full cost. The extended warranty will cover the product you purchased for up to one year after the manufacturer’s warranty of up to five years or less. That means that if the product you purchased included a one year warranty, Amex will extend the warranty for one additional year. Essentially, Amex will match the length of the original manufacturer’s warranty if the warranty is one year or less. If the manufacturer’s warranty is more than one year, then you will get one additional year of extended warranty coverage.
Keep in mind that if the original manufacturer’s warranty exceeds five years then you are not eligible for extended warranty coverage.
How to File an Extended Warranty Claim
- Claims must be made within thirty (30) days of the loss
- Call 1-800-225-3750 to file a claim (overseas call 1-303-273-6498)
- You can also file a claim by mail at: Extended Warranty, P.O. Box 981553, El Paso, TX 79998-9920
- You will be required to provide proof of loss including
- An itemized store receipt
- A copy of the original manufacturer’s warranty (and any additional warranty provided by the retailer)
- A repair estimate for the item from an authorized retailer that has been approved by the manufacturer
- You may be required to send the product to American Express (at their expense) for further inspection within 60 days from the date of their request (I have never had to do this myself).
What is Covered Under Amex Extended Warranty Coverage?
Amex will cover up to $10,000 per incident (including sales tax) as long as it was charged to your American Express card. Amex will cover up to $50,000 in total losses in one calendar year.
Does Extended Warranty Coverage Cover Pay With Points Purchases?
Yes, if you paid for your item using Membership Rewards Points and/or Pay with Points your item is
eligible for coverage.
What Items Are Not Covered?
- Living plants
- Animals
- Consumable or perishable items (e.g. light bulbs, batteries, food, etc.)
- Motorized vehicles (e.g. cars, boats, trucks, motorcycles, etc.)
- Motorized devices and parts used for construction, landscaping, agriculture, or demolition
- Motorized devices that are fixtures of a residential or commercial building unless the device can be removed without damage to the structure
- Business fixtures such as refrigerators, air conditioners, heaters, etc.
- Land or buildings
- More than one article in a pair or set unless the articles are not usable individually
- Additional warranty or service contract for a computer, computer part, etc.
- Products covered by an unconditional satisfaction guarantee
- Items purchased for use as resale, professional, or commercial use
Are Payment Plans Covered by the Amex Extended Warranty?
The short answer is YES. Items purchased through a payment or installment plan such as for an iPhone, Peloton, etc. are covered under the extended warranty policy.
According to page 7 of the Amex Extended Warranty Benefit Guide a claim made for purchases under an installment plan will be paid up to the:
- Total installment plan eligible payment, or
- The last remaining installment plan balance
The coverage applies as of the date of the covered event (the date your product was defective or stopped working). To determine your total purchase cost and/or maximum claim amount, Amex will add up the total of all the payments you made toward your item (assuming all payments were made using your eligible Amex credit card), and that total amount will be your maximum coverage limit. For example if you bought an iPhone with a $30/month payment plan that comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty and the iPhone fails after a year like what happened with my iPhone X green line on screen defect, then if you filed an extended warranty claim Amex would cover up to $30 x 12 months = $360.
Some would ask, well the total cost of the iPhone was $1,000, so would Amex replace my phone even though I only paid off 1/3 of it? No, Amex will only reimburse you for up to the $360 you paid so far.
What Amex Cards Include Extended Warranty Benefits?
Most Amex cards offer an extended warranty benefit. Here is a full list of cards and their extended warranty coverage. Some of the cards that include extended warranty are:
- American Express Platinum, Gold Card
- American Express Delta Reserve, Platinum, Gold Cards
- American Express Hilton Aspire, Ascend, Regular
- American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Regular