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Guarantees | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2016
Guarantees [Abstract] |
Guarantees | 11. Guarantees The Company provides Card Member protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees and indemnifications in the ordinary course of business. In relation to its maximum potential undiscounted future payments as shown in the table that follows, to date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees or indemnifications. The Company’s initial recognition of these instrume nts i s at fair value. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The following table provides information related to such guarantees and indemnifications as of March 31, 2016 and De cember 31, 2015:
|  | Maximum potential |  |
|  | undiscounted future |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | payments(a) |  | Related liability(b)
|  | (Billions) |  | (Millions)
Type of Guarantee |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Return and Merchant Protection |  | $ | 43 |  | $ | 42 |  | $ | 42 |  | $ | 49
Other(c) |  |  | 6 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 37
Total |  | $ | 49 |  | $ | 48 |  | $ | 82 |  | $ | 86
Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed or indemnified parties. The maximum potential undiscounted future payments for Merchant Protection are measured using management’s best estimate of maximum exposure, which is based on all eligible claims in relation to annual billed business volumes. Included in O ther l iabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Primarily includes guarantees related to the Company’s purchase protection, real estate and business dispositions.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties. + References No definition available. + Details
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