Spill the beans... on mobile phone insurers

Former_MSE_Penelope

Spill the beans... on mobile phone insurers[IMGRIGHT]http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/spillthebeans2.gif[/IMGRIGHT]

Some mobiles cost more than PCs - we're working on a guide to insuring them cheaply. Yet we could do with your help with feedback on good and bad insurers - how it worked for you - and any glitches or problems in cover.

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KJFletcher

I have dropped my iphone 4 twice (d'oh!) and it has cost me £119 each time to get a replacement from Apple, with no insurance.

Insurance is £15 a month, so there's no way it would be worth it. I doubt they'd cover me for dropping it anyway.

grumbler

Citymain Administrators

This certificate does not cover:
...
Theft or Accidental Damage to the Telephone:
...
whilst in any form of public transport or public place other than when the Telephone is taken from the person where actual or threatened force or pickpocket is used.

You can only guess if this a genuine error or a get out clause.
Sneaky mobile phone insurance exclusion?

Fonesure - they promise to cover theft, but exclude

2. Theft of the Gadget from any premises or mode of transport unless involving forcible and violent entry or exit
3. Theft of the Gadget from the person of the user unless involving force or the threat thereof

Does this not mean that they cover only robbery, not theft?
Fonesure - Worst Phone Insurance? - advice needed

Lifestyle Insurance Group - policy dismay and disappointment

MyBarIsYourGain

So I was paying £13 insurance per month with Vodafone on my iPhone 4 and after 6 months of not claiming I shopped around for a cheaper insurer. I cancelled with Vodafone and registered for online insurance through Protect Your Bubble for £6 per month and some cash back through a Quidco deal.
Then 1 month later I dropped my iPhone and the screen smashed. I called PYB and they told me if I wanted to claim then I'd have to pay the whole 12 months plus a surcharge! Bringing the total to have my screen fixed to over £150!!!
Shocked, I went into the iPhone shop first. The most lovely technical assistant gave me a replacement free of charge and a couple of weeks later when I took it back as I was getting no reception (I had a serious car accident and it was even cutting out when I called the Police!) they also replaced it again.
I'm a happy Apple Customer and a dissatisfied PYB Ex-Customer!
Sufficed to say - I never had insurance before my iPhone 4 and I won't be again! (Before you ask, my bank account provider Santander charges a fortune for the account which includes it!)

CKhalvashi

MSE_Penelope wrote: »

Spill the beans... on mobile phone insurers[IMGRIGHT]http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/spillthebeans2.gif[/IMGRIGHT]

Some mobiles cost more than PCs - we're working on a guide to insuring them cheaply. Yet we could do with your help with feedback on good and bad insurers - how it worked for you - and any glitches or problems in cover.

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This one, Martin, may be one where you’re going to have to include the best of the paid bank accounts. I made a claim with HSBC Advance a few years ago with no problems, and it was cheaper to have the package (including tailored interest rates), than to buy the insurance and breakdown cover (or even either separately).

It’s also worth mentioning that for those with over £50,000 of savings, this all comes free with HSBC Premier.

david39

Another vote for insurance cover through premium bank accounts.

I'm with Lloyds and their platinum account. £12.95 per month covers my phone, and my wife's and my travel insurance (which would otherwise be high as we are both over 65).

It also covers us for roadside breakdown assistance and a free overdraft facitity upto £100, plus a few other freebies.

We had to claim on the holiday medical insurance this year and they paid up within a week with just a telephone call - no paperwork submitted.

grumbler

CKhalvashi wrote: »

It’s also worth mentioning that for those with over £50,000 of savings, this all comes free with HSBC Premier.

Hardly 'free' when 0.5% difference in interest rates on savings costs you £250 (before tax) p.a.

richardw

There's barclaycard http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/landing/gadget/index.html?TC=HOME

MissKeith

Had insurance through the Geek Squad at Carphone Warehouse, thought it was a bit pricey but thought I'd take it until I could find something better and managed to drop my phone in a cup of tea ten minutes after I'd had it. The store replaced my phone on the spot for a brand new one. I did have to pay my first months premium as it had happened so quick after purchase but I couldn't fault how quick the claim was completed in.

EDIT: Just remembered a bank insurance horror story. My fella dropped his iPhone in the dogs water bowl and called Natwest to make a claim, it took them a week to send the paper work out and then five further weeks of fumbling around with repairs (when liquid damaged phones generally can't be fixed) and waiting for replacements (which they didn't have). Eventually, they sent him a cheque for a whopping... £250. Nowhere near enough for a replacement iPhone at the time. When he called up to complain about everything, they promised they would refund him his £25 excess which they never did. Really not impressed at all.

stuartmc_2

What would be very useful is if anyone has ever been able to claim for phones bought on ebay. I know its been covered elsewhere but never seem to have got a definitive answer. With the rate of upgrading I suspect more and more of us will be happy with last year's model. Just got an iPhone 3GS 32Gb for £120, very happy with it but would just like to know its covered for accidents and theft.

ellieellieellie

grumbler wrote: »

Does this not mean that they cover only robbery, not theft?

No. It means if you, for example, leave your car unlocked and somebody comes along, opens the door and takes your phone, you're not covered. Most insurance carries this exclusion, because the policy holder hasn't taken reasonable care of their phone (or whatever else is insured). I'd say it's pretty fair; you can't expect to leave your car unlocked and not have something taken!

Of course, that doesn't mean insurers won't try to use that clause to get out of paying a claim. You'd likely have to send photographic proof that the car was forcibly entered and/or a police incident number.