The $600 Leak in Your Wallet
Why "Breakage" is the credit card industry's favorite metric.
As a cardholder, you have the right to get maximum value from the cards you pay for. Banks don't have the right to profit from your forgetfulness.
Annual Revenue from Breakage
That's how much credit card companies make from unused credits, expired perks, and forgotten benefits each year.
What is "Breakage"?
Why Amex Gives You $15 a Month (Instead of $200 at once).
In the industry, this is called Breakage. Banks know that if they gave you a $200 lump-sum Uber credit, you would use it all immediately.
Instead, they split it into $15 monthly 'use-it-or-lose-it' coupons. Why? Because 71% of rewards cardholders end up sitting on unused cash back or points [LendingTree, 2025 Study].
When you forget to order Uber Eats by the 30th, Amex keeps that $15. That is pure profit for them, and a 100% loss for you. We exist to fix that math.
The Auditor's Reality
Of premium card benefits go unredeemed
Average loss per year
Annual breakage revenue
The Numbers Don't Lie
Don't Use All Credits
Nearly 7 in 10 premium cardholders fail to use all their annual credits, according to industry research.
Average Lost Value
The average premium cardholder loses $847 per year in unused credits and expired perks.
Forget Enrollment
Almost half of cardholders forget to enroll in quarterly bonus categories, missing 5x points opportunities.
Amex® Platinum Loss
Average Amex® Platinum holder loses $2,100+ annually in unused credits (Saks, Uber, airline fees, etc.).
Average Expiration
Most credits expire within 31 days if unused. Many cardholders miss the deadline.
Perks Per Card
Premium cards average 23 different perks, credits, and benefits—too many to track manually.
The Cost of "Mental Accounting"
Most people think they are "breaking even" if they use the airport lounge a few times. The math disagrees. Here is what a typical un-audited wallet looks like:
Real Breakage Examples
Amex® Platinum: $50 Saks Credit
EXPIREDProblem: Must be used by June 30th and December 31st. Many cardholders forget or don't shop at Saks. The $50 Saks credit you forgot.
Impact: $100 annual value lost. Bank keeps the money.
Chase® Sapphire Reserve: $300 Travel Credit
PARTIALLY USEDProblem: Only applies to travel purchases. Many cardholders don't travel enough or forget to use it.
Impact: Average cardholder uses only $180 of $300 credit = $120 lost annually.
Amex® Gold: $10 Monthly Uber Credit
UNUSEDProblem: Must be used each month or expires. Easy to forget in months with less travel. The $10 Grubhub credit you didn't use.
Impact: $120 annual value. Many lose 3-6 months = $30-$60 lost.
Rotating 5x Categories
MISSEDProblem: Must enroll each quarter and remember which card to use. Many forget enrollment or use wrong card.
Impact: Missing 5x categories can cost 20,000+ points annually = $200-$400 lost value.