Primer on VISA Signature Credit Cards: All the Benefits That Come with Your Card

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Different credit cards have different rewards and perks. However, did you know that all Visa Signature credit cards come with their own set of benefits? (See also: 14 Awesome Credit Card Perks You Didn't Know About)

Visa allows credit card issuers to market their own card products under the Visa Signature brand. It doesn't matter where you get your credit card; if it is a Visa Signature card, it comes with more than 100 extra discounts, experiences, and upgrades. Not only that, but you can also suggest perks to the Visa Signature program. If enough card users want the same perks, they might be added to the program. Here's a look at what you get with a Visa Signature card.

General Benefits

There are a number of benefits that come with the Signature program. More often than not, cardholders are unaware of these services, which is a shame, because most are helpful — especially when you need assistance with a lost card or a poor buying experience.

Concierge

Visa Signature cardholders have exclusive access to Visa's free concierge service. You can call in and get help with everything from restaurant recommendations and entertainment planning to ticket and hotel reservations. It's practically like having your very own travel assistant everywhere you go. (See also: What Concierge Services Do Credit Cards Really Provide?)

Lost or Stolen Card Reporting

If your Visa Signature card is ever lost, damaged, or stolen, simply call Visa's customer service hotline, and a representative will be on hand 24/7 to immediately help you handle the matter. You can also give them a call if you ever have any questions or problems with your card.

Emergency Card Replacement and Cash Disbursement

If your card is ever lost or stolen and you need money right away, Visa can arrange to have either an emergency cash advance or a replacement card sent to you within one business day. You can then pick up the money or your new card from the nearest branch of your card's issuing bank.

Zero Liability

Every Visa Signature card carries a "Zero Liability" program, and under this program, you will never be required to pay for any fraudulent charges made on your card. In addition, Visa will also automatically monitor your account and warn you of any suspicious activity. They can even freeze your account if they suspect that your card is currently being misused.

Year-End Summary Statements

For budgeters and financial planners, Visa provides its Signature cardholders with a comprehensive year-end expenditure report, so that you'll always have a record of all the activity that occurs on your account every year.

Shopping Benefits

Shopping will probably be the one activity where you will be using your Visa Signature card the most, and Visa definitely offers plenty of perks to help you save money on purchases and to trust you'll get your money back if you aren't satisfied.

Shopping Discounts

If you want discounts on shopping from some of your favorite merchants, all you have to do is go through the Visa Signature site and choose from their vast selection of shopping deals. There are also "VIP savings" opportunities, in which you print out a voucher to take to a shopping center. You are then given a book full of discounts that you can use throughout the shopping center.

Purchase Protection

Eligible purchases made on Visa Signature cards are protected from damage and theft for 90 days after the date of purchase. That means Visa will replace, repair, or reimburse you for your purchases if they are stolen, damaged by fire, accidental water discharge, or certain weather conditions (up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per cardholder). (See also: How Credit Cards Protect Your Purchases From Damage and Theft)

Price Protection

If an item you bought with your Visa Signature card goes down in price within 90 days, you may be able to get the difference reimbursed. You can submit the claim by showing a printed retail ad or a non-auction online ad. You are limited to $500 per item and $2,500 a year. (See also: How to Get a Price Match Through Your Credit Card)

Return Protection

If a merchant refuses to accept a return on a product you are dissatisfied with, Return Protection will allow you to be reimbursed if it is within 90 days of your original purchase. The benefit is limited to $250 per item and $1,000 annual maximum. (See also: 4 Surprising Reasons to Always Use Your Credit Card)

Extended Warranty Protection

Visa also offers you extended warranty protection on all of your eligible purchases. You get an extra year after the manufacturer's warranty if it is three years or less. You can claim up to $10,000 per claim, and $50,000 maximum per Account. (See also: How Free Extended Warranties Work on Credit Cards)

No Pre-Set Spending Limit

Need a bit more spend on your Visa Signature card? Visa won't hold you down with a spending limit, and they can easily adjust your card's current limit so that you can get a bit more flexibility on your next big shopping trip or vacation. All you need to do is ask (and also be in good standing).

Travel Benefits

The Visa Signature card is especially useful for frequent travelers, as it offers a number of great travel discounts as well as plenty of travel protections — no matter where in the world you travel. (See also: Your Credit Card Already Includes These 6 Travel Insurance)

Travel Discounts

Get discounts on airfare, rental cars, cruises, and hotels with the help of Visa Signature. You can access discounts and upgrades for luxury travel, as well as get offers for low-cost travel. Visa Signature even offers you access to discounts on airport parking with certain providers.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

If you ever find yourself needing assistance while you're traversing the globe, Visa has got you covered in that department as well. The following are just a few things Visa Signature cardmembers can get help with on their travels that only require a simple phone call:

• Medical and legal referral assistance
• Emergency transportation assistance
• Ticket replacement
• Lost luggage locator
• Translation assistance
• Prescription assistance

Travel Accident Insurance

If you use your Visa Signature card to pay for all of the "common carrier" fares on your trip, which includes train, bus, taxi, and airport limo costs, you and the eligible companions traveling with you will automatically receive Accidental Death and Dismemberment travel insurance from Visa that covers a minimum of $250,000. (See also: What Exactly Does Your Credit Card’s Travel Accident Insurance Cover?)

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Visa will reimburse you up to $3,000 per trip if any piece or pieces of your luggage goes missing on your flight. This reimbursement will generally cover the difference between the amount the airline reimburses you and the net worth of your belongings.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

If a car you rented gets damaged in an accident, Visa will pay up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for the resulting damages. Just to note, the car must have been rented from the cardholder's native country to be eligible for the waiver, and this waiver only reimburses the costs not covered by your auto insurance company and the rental company. (See also: What Does the Car Rental Insurance on Your Credit Card Really Cover?)

Roadside Dispatch

Visa Signature cardholders also have access to Visa's 24-hour referral dispatch, which can be used to get you emergency roadside assistance no matter where you are, including towing, lockout service, tire changing, and fuel delivery. So there's no need to fret the next time your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

Entertainment Benefits

If you are planning on taking a trip, or just enjoying an outing, you can use your Visa Signature card to enhance your entertainment options by providing you with discounts. You can get discounts for entrance into aquariums, amusement parks, and even movies. (See also: Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases)

Signature Events

Visa offers what they call Signature Events. With these events, Visa will cover certain costs when you meet the conditions of the deal. This might include concert tickets, or buy-one, get-one movie tickets on Friday nights. You can also use your Visa Signature at participating sports venues, where you can get exclusive ticket offers and upgrades.

Signature Events include various food-related events, such as wine tastings and food tours, where they cover the costs or offer you an incredible discount if you are eligible for the deals. Currently, they're offering complimentary wine tastings at Sonoma county wineries. If you are a foodie, I definitely recommend that you see what's available on the Visa Signature website first.

Dining

Feeling a little hungry? Visa Signature can help with that. You can get discounts with certain restaurant chains (such as $5 off when you order Pizza Hut online), specific restaurant locations, or even Restaurant.com gift certificates. In some cases, you have to make reservations at the restaurants in question, and mention the offer, in order to take advantage of the discount or the free meal. (See also: Best Credit Cards for Dining Out)

How to Use VISA Signature Benefits

For the most part, you will need to check the Visa Signature website for dates and redemption requirements, and choose your offers from there. It doesn't take very long, though.

Your Visa Signature benefits are best used in conjunction with other programs and upgrades. Look at the rewards and perks offered by your card issuer, and then add the Visa Signature perks to those. You can also consider stacking when possible to get even bigger discounts.

The most valuable benefits are for luxury travel and shopping. However, you can make the most of what's available almost anytime, depending on what you are looking for. What you shouldn't do is use the Visa Signature perks as justification to spend more than you can afford. Your best bet is to figure out what you want to buy, or plan out your trip, and then visit the Visa Signature site for special deals and discounts, or even upgrades. This way, you actually spend less, and you can bank the savings. If you can use a card that offers generous cash back rewards on top of it, you'll do even better.

Lastly, always read up on the terms and limitations of the benefits you are counting on taking advantage of. Besides the monetary limits, there are often other types of requirements to claim the benefit.