As a credit card writer here at TPG, I’m diving into card perks most workdays and spending much of my personal time maximizing my own wallet. Yet I’ll admit, some card benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are easy to forget.
The good news? I only need to remember I have travel insurance on my card when I (unfortunately) miss a trip for a covered reason. The bad news? I have to actually cancel my hotel accommodations in order to be reimbursed.
This is where I made a simple — and frustrating — $250 mistake.
A few months ago, I booked a two-night stay at a Hyatt Place to spend New Year’s Eve with friends. The flu had other plans for me, so I stayed home to recover from sickness instead. I blame this error on a high fever and sleepy state, but I never contacted the hotel to cancel my reservation. I just didn’t check in.
A few days later, I remembered my card’s trip cancellation insurance and I thought my claim would be a slam-dunk. I uploaded a physician’s note, proof of booking and my monthly billing statement.
About a week after I filed my claim, Chase responded with a request for more information, specifically “Confirmation that the travel arrangements were canceled with the Travel Supplier.”
Alas, my World of Hyatt loyalty account showed no evidence of cancellation because I didn’t cancel. I was a no-show.
Credit card insurance is often overlooked, yet it can be useful if you follow the standard procedure and avoid making mistakes like mine. If you’d like to read up on this benefit, here are some stories to check out:
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