Mobile Phone Insurance - Do They have us over a barrel?

mailman86

I recently had my iphone 4 stolen from a table at a restaurant. I had left to go to the restroom, while my girlfriend remained at the table.

During this time 2 men approached our table and started hassling my girlfriend, in the confusion, the phone was swiped.

Since I had insurance, I thought it would be an open and shut case. I carried out all the necessary actions (Reported to police within 24hours, barred phone and contract within 12 hours etc.).

To my bitter disapointment I then found out that my claim was declined on the basis that the phone was "unattended" and that "Reasonable precautions were not taken".

I took the insurance out on the phone, not me using the phone (like car insurance). The phone was in the posession of my girlfriend and so was NOT unattended. And reasonable precautions WERE taken since my girlfriend had the phone and was then robbed of the phone.

The term "reasonable precautions" I feel is very ambiguous and can really mean whatever the insurance company wants it to mean. What is the definition of "reasonable precaution"??

What is even more annoying is that, if I was to report it as accidentally lost, I would have been covered. Now try and tell me something isn't wrong with that!

I am in the process of an appeal against this decision, but am not entirely hopeful of a resolution.

Has anyone else had similar experiences with mobile insurance, or even successfully appealed?

JJ_Egan

Your phone was left on a table and you where not in attendance at that table . You did not give the phone to somebody and say look after this for me or put it in your bag or pocket . Then no case to answer its unattended .

But you said the phone was stolen from your girlfriend that means she had the phone for safe keeping and its a theft not unattended .


Are they two different stories or did you leave the phone on the table presuming someone would look after it and assumed that it was in the possession of this someone when in fact it was just left unattended on the table .

jje

mailman86

They are the same situation. When I left to go to the toilet, I gave the phone to my girlfriend to look after, although she did not put it in her bag or a pocket, but left it on the table.

She was then hasssled by 2 men who were waving paper in her face as a distraction while they swiped the phone.

I agree with what you are saying, if I hadn't asked her to look after it.

Since I did, this is a strong case for theft.

What I dont understand is how Accidental Loss is covered, yet this type of theft isn't? Surely accidental loss is not taking "Reasonable precaution"?

grumbler

IMHO, the majority of insurance companies spend more money on legal departments than on paying compensations to their customers.
The main job of these departments is

• producing tangled T&C with hidden traps
• finding all possible excuses for not paying up

That's why I don't buy insurances except the compulsory ones and just save the money instead.

arielcohen

Mind telling us who the insurance company is?

mailman86

grumbler wrote: »

That's why I don't buy insurances except the compulsory ones and just save the money instead.

I am seriously considering this, just pay insurance to my self to build a nest in the event something does happen.

The insurance company is Protect Your Bubble. Quite a new company and I was drawn in to the cover for water damage cover.

spiro

I doesn't it matters it was a phone. The item was on a table and therefore easy for anyone to lift. They will argue this is not reasonable. Would you have left a wallet full of cash on the table?

mailman86

spiro wrote: »

I doesn't it matters it was a phone. The item was on a table and therefore easy for anyone to lift. They will argue this is not reasonable. Would you have left a wallet full of cash on the table?

Either way the phone was stolen, not simply picked up from an unattended table. The same would apply to a wallet full of cash

DUTR

mailman86 wrote: »

Either way the phone was stolen, not simply picked up from an unattended table. The same would apply to a wallet full of cash

Mailman consider what the other respondants are pointing out to you, the phone was on a table so unattended, the insurance company are correct, also the idea not to have it insured is also a good one, as if you know it is not insured,then owners will be more careful, put it down to an expensive lesson, the theives will probably have tossed it into a bin when they realise it's only an iphone

mailman86

DUTR wrote: »

Mailman consider what the other respondants are pointing out to you, the phone was on a table so unattended, the insurance company are correct, also the idea not to have it insured is also a good one, as if you know it is not insured,then owners will be more careful, put it down to an expensive lesson, the theives will probably have tossed it into a bin when they realise it's only an iphone

A very expensive lesson indeed. But was it really unattended? I wasn't in attendance, but someone else was.

JJ_Egan

A very expensive lesson indeed. But was it really unattended? I wasn't in attendance, but someone else was.

Sit at a table take a very expensive phone and place it on the table .
A why and B makes it easy to grab
Is a phone on a table with you sat next to it unattended just as keys in the ignition and you taking something out of the boot is unattended .

I agree with what you are saying, if I hadn't asked her to look after it.

Since I did, this is a strong case for theft.

Since she failed to look after it in that it was not in her bag or in her hand it is theft but it was unattended and insurance claim fails .

Or put it another way nobody was taking due care and attention of the phone .Even just leaving a phone on the table with yourself in attendance may and a i say may have invalidated your claim as nothing to stop a thief grabbing it .

You need ground for a successful insurance claim you have none unless you want to sue the minder of the phone who would say what in defence ??


Phone insurance i would rather stand the bet myself and take care of my phone .

jje