AMEX My Essentials

jinkster

Had a phone call as a gold customer with AMEX last night regarding the My Essentials. I am currently with Barclays Premier Life so have most of the cover they are offering but AMEX is only £9.99 compared to £25/month I am paying at the moment.

Would you recommend it? Any horror stories? Should I avoid or sign up? Obviously I do not want insurance twice so one would have to go.

InsideInsurance

Its less money but it is also less cover.

Ultimately your choice, we do drive to the continent so the european breakdown from Barclays is useful, plus had 2 claims on the unlimited 1 year extended warranty. Our choice was we wanted to keep the barclays (thankfully we are on the £17.50 price) and the Amex didnt add enough to justify any extra £9,99 a month

jinkster

The breakdown cover I will miss and have to find elsewhere (only require UK)

Extended warranty. Everything is covered with any Visa card anyway. Most spend of mine is on AMEX card (i like the points).

InsideInsurance

Legally it is covered if paid for by a visa credit card for a "reasonable life" but what that is can be debatable plus legally there is no cover for accidental damage, theft etc and again there can be debates over if something is a component failure or AD.

Evidently you also have home insurance but never going to be worth claiming if you drop a £150 blu ray player whilst unpacking it

Sometimes insurances can be worth having just to avoid the hassle of having to argue and fight for your rights (eg my 34 month old laptop who's screen died was back working within a week - I am sure if I was going down the SOGA act with merchant or credit card company that I'd still be arguing my rights let alone having it repaired yet)

But if you are buying on Amex chargecard for the points then it isnt covered by S75 of the CCA as chargecards arent governed by the CCA.

I buy with amex for the points and then cover them with the warranty from Barclays but each to their own