• If there is no sign-up requirement = Full points
• If there is a onetime sign-up requirement = 5% points
• If each product needs to be registered = No points

 2. Purchases Covered – Worth 45% TotalA. Types of Purchases Covered – Worth 15% Total

• For each major category of items excluded from coverage (e.g. jewelry or electronics), we subtracted 4%
• For each minor category of items excluded from coverage(e.g. normal wear and tear), we subtracted 2%
• Issuers are deducted a maximum of 15% points, even if their exclusions add up to more

B. Length of Original Warranty Exclusion – Worth 15% Total

• If items with an original warranty of 4+ years are covered = Full points
• If items with an original warranty of at least 3, but less than 4, years are covered = 12% points
• If items with an original warranty of at least 2, but less than 3, years are covered = 6% points
• If items with an original warranty of at least 1, but less than 2, years are covered = 3% points
• If only items with an original warranty of up to 1 year are covered = No points

C. Rewards Exclusion – Worth 5% Total

• If items purchased using rewards earned on the card are covered by the benefit = Full points
• If items purchased using rewards earned on the card are not covered by the benefit = No points

D. Wear and Tear Exclusion – Worth 5% Total

• If normal wear and tear is covered under the policy = Full points
• If normal wear and tear is not covered under the policy = No points

E. Refurbished Items Exclusion – Worth 5% Total

• If refurbished items are covered under the policy = Full points
• If refurbished items are not covered under the policy = No points

 3. Added Warranty – Worth 20% TotalA. Length of Warranty – Worth 15% Total

• If the original warranty can be extended for more than 1 year = Full points
• If the original warranty can be extended for up to 1 year = 11% points
• If the original warranty cannot be extended for at least 1 year = No points

• Note: We accounted for the maximum warranty length allowed by the policy.

B. Purchased Extended Warranty – Worth 2% Total

• If an extended warranty bought from a manufacturer or retailer is covered = 2% points
• If an extended warranty bought from a manufacturer or retailer is not covered = No points

C. Type of Warranty Extension – Worth 3% Total

• If the policy is not a function of the original warranty and the benefit adds a certain amount of time to the original (or purchased) warranty (e.g. a 1-year extension to a warranty of any length) = 3% points
• If the policy is a function of the original warranty and does not cap the length of the extension (e.g. original warranty doubled) = 3%
• If the policy is a function of the original warranty and limits coverage to a certain length of time (e.g. doubles the warranty, but for no more than 1 year) = No points

 4. Coverage Limit – Worth 10% TotalA. Amount of Coverage - Worth 5% Total

• If the benefit applies to items worth up to $10,000+ = Full points
• If the benefit applies to items worth up to $5,000 = 4% points
• If the benefit applies to items worth up to $1,000 = No points

B. Claims Limitation - Worth 5% Total

• If there is no claims limit = Full points
• If the claims limit applies yearly = 4% points
• If the claims limit applies per card lifespan = 2% points
• If the number of claims limit applies per lifetime of account = No points

 5. Claim Process - Worth 5% Total

• If filing a claim requires only a product receipt, credit card receipt, original warranty, service contract and a repair estimate = Full points
• If filing a claim requires more than product receipt, credit card receipt, original warranty, service contract and a repair estimate = No points

 6. Transparency – Worth 10% TotalA. How easily can one find the info? – Worth 3% Total

• Information is prominent on the issuer website = Full points
• Information is not prominent on the issuer website; or it is prominent but users need to log in to see the full disclosure = 1.5%
• Information cannot be easily found on the issuer website – No points

B. How easy it is to read the info? – Worth 1% Total

• Information is presented in normal size font – 1%
• Information is in small size font – No points

C. How complete are the policies provided? – Worth 4% Total

• Full policy provided – Full points
• A couple of key points missing from policy – 3%
• Several key points missing from policy– 2%
• Benefits briefly described – 0.5%
• No key details provided – No points

D. How open and transparent is the card issuer about its policies? – Worth 2% Total

• Transparent about policies – Full points
• Not transparent about policies – No points