Highlights
- The preferred annual rate on purchases and cash advances is 12.99%, which can suit people who may carry a balance.
- The annual fee is $25, and the Card includes travel-accident, extended-warranty, and purchase-protection coverage.
- There is no everyday cash-back or points program. The cost focus is the lower rate, not rewards.
- Cardmembers can use benefits such as Plan It® instalments and Amex Offers.
Issuer: American Express
Network: Amex
Card type: Credit card
Annual fee: $25 for the Basic Card
This is a low-rate credit card with no everyday cash-back or points rewards program. The website describes 12.99% as a non-promotional preferred annual rate with no predetermined end date, but Amex can still change rates under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law.
Welcome offer
None
Eligibility: You must be a Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file and have reached the age of majority in your province or territory.
Apply on the official website 🔗
Everyday spending
None
Benefits and insurance
- Plan It® instalment plan
Eligible purchases or balances can be split into equal monthly instalments. A monthly instalment fee is shown when you set up the plan; this is not a promotional or special interest rate. The account must be in good standing and have at least $100 in eligible purchases or statement balance. The website says this feature is not currently available in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Nunavut.
- Amex Offers and Amex Experiences™
You can review shopping, dining, travel, and other merchant offers in the Amex App or Online Services. Some offers require you to enrol first and complete a specified purchase. Eligibility, timing, and terms follow each offer. Cardmembers may also get access to selected Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets™ and Amex Reserved Tickets™; event availability and ticketing restrictions apply separately.
- Fraud Protection Guarantee
When you use the Card online or in person and have taken reasonable care to protect your account details, PIN, and devices with the account added, you are not responsible for fraudulent charges. Notify Amex immediately if the Card or an eligible device is lost or stolen, or if you suspect unauthorised use.
Travel insurance
Official insurance certificate 🔗
- $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance
The Basic or Supplementary Cardmember, their spouse, and dependent children under 23 can qualify when the account is billed in Canada and that covered person’s common-carrier fare is charged to an Amex Card before the injury. Common carrier includes air, land, or water passenger services offered to the public, but not rental cars.
On a covered trip, an accident while boarding, riding as a passenger in, or exiting a common carrier that causes death, loss of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot, or total loss of sight in both eyes is covered up to $100,000. Loss of one hand, one foot, or total loss of sight in one eye is covered at $50,000. Airline-arranged alternate transportation after a qualifying flight delay or reroute is also covered as the certificate describes. The loss must occur within 100 days of the accident. For the same accident, each covered person is paid only the single highest applicable loss, up to $100,000.
Important exclusions include intentional self-injury, war, criminal acts, operating or crewing a conveyance, rental-vehicle injuries, and alcohol, drugs, or poisons not taken as prescribed. After a covered loss, give the insurer written notice within 30 days, or as soon as reasonably possible if you cannot.
Purchase insurance
- Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
When you charge the full purchase price of an eligible new personal item or gift to this Card, and the original complimentary written manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada or the United States and lasts no more than five years, coverage can extend the original warranty by the same period after it ends, up to one additional year. The limit is $10,000 per item and $25,000 combined per Cardmember per policy year for all occurrences. Payment is limited to the lower of the purchase price or the repair cost, and this is supplementary coverage after other insurance.
Used, refurbished, or display items, automobiles and most motorised equipment, jewellery, consumables and perishables, items used for business, failures caused by a product recall, and goods with an original warranty longer than five years are not covered. After a breakdown, defect, or direct physical damage covered by the original warranty, report the claim within 45 days. Submit the required documents within 60 days of the incident, or within 30 days of the insurer’s request. Keep receipts, statements, and the original warranty documents.
- Purchase Protection® Plan
Eligible new personal items or gifts are covered for direct physical damage or theft worldwide within 90 days of purchase, as long as at least part of the purchase price is charged to this Card. Coverage is supplementary and limited to $1,000 per Cardmember per occurrence. The insurer may repair, replace, or reimburse; reimbursement is limited to the lower of the amount charged to this Card or the repair cost.
Wear and tear, loss or unexplained disappearance, theft of items left in or on a vehicle, inherent product defects, used or refurbished goods, cash and gift cards, tickets, consumables, perishables, items left behind, most vehicles, and business-use items are not covered. Report theft or damage within 48 hours. Give written notice within 45 days of the incident where possible, and submit the required materials within 90 days. A police report is usually required for theft.
