Spill the beans... on mobile phone insurers

daveoaa

Having renewed my annual contract with orange I took out insurance with them at £6.00 a month.
When the phone began playing up they said they would replace it under the insurance agreement but id have to pay £15.00 admin charges, I complained about this and they wavered the charge but told me they couldnt do it again if the phone developed any more problems.
They said id have to contact HTC
Im not happy with the way they try to get you to pay when you think your covered.
Whats these admin charges anyway

sabz3008

I've used Co-Operative Bank's insurance... I had my iPad and iPhone stolen at the same time, you can only imagine how :mad: I was... They use Life Style Group (LSG) , the claim was done online, then I had to fill out some paper work, submit it, took about one week...They contacted me and offered me money for replacements, they 'apparently' have nothing in stock...Anyway, got the money - Went on eBay, bought the replacements...Pretty good service really. All for just £13.50 per month, including RAC EUROPEAN :DBreakdown! (Which I've used too! - They're great!)

Overall,

knight2liz

My son had his iphone pinched from his jacket pocket but CUSC Ltd Foneguard refused to pay up as there was no violence involved. If you read the small print you have to be practically physically assaulted before they pay out on anything. And their marketing is so misleading - you think you are covered for everything. And its aimed at young people so its a real ripoff!

grumbler

ellieellieellie wrote: »

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.

They have yet another clause that I forgot to include in my post (added now):

3. Theft of the Gadget from the person of the user unless involving force or the threat thereof

So they promise to cover theft, but at a closer look they cover only theft "involving force or the threat thereof". I think it is perfectly clear that they cover robbery and don't cover theft.

yvonne1501

david39 wrote: »

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.

Have you ever tried to claim for a mobile phone using Lloyds - Doubt it.
We have been trying since New Year Day now the 25th and still no nearer. Day 15 We phone to see what was happening oh we tried to ring you on the 10th. What number as we don't have a moible. Home numer but it was engaged - why didn't you try again - silence! Day 17 they ask for notificaiton from 02 of the phone, IMEI number and usage (why usage). We ask 02 to submit on their letterhead. They submitted within 24 hours as promised but not on letterhead - just their official e mail. Submitted this to Lloyds not good enough has to be on letterhead. 02 e mail Lloyds to say that this e mail should suffice for insurance claim. No it will not - promised official letter withing 5 days - not yet got it. Not got a phone. Pay £12 per month for nothing - never used the AA, never claimed for a phone and not been on holiday last year. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY USELESS.

eoin

Had the same with CUSC Foneguard. The worst is they claim to be featured on this site. Found them awful to deal with!

Keen_Young_Learner

I'm not sure how worthwhile insurance is but I've had a recent experience.

My iPhone 4 is covered by CUSC, a company I found recommended by MSE. On New Years Eve, my phone was dropped, (not by me...) and the screen smashed. Upon taking the phone to the apple shop, I was told the whole thing would have to be replaced as the screen of the iPhone 4 is connected to the hardware, and so cannot be repaired if broken. A replacement from apple would cost me £119, so I got on the phone to my insurers.

I was told that I would have to send my phone off to them for assessment, which would take up to ten days, and that they would then decide if they would replace my phone or attempt a repair. I would have to pay a £50 excess for this. However, I would not recieve a temporary handset in the meantime, which means that when postage and delays are taken into consideration, I will essentially be without a phone for around two weeks. iPhone 4s have got their own kind of sim cards, so I can't even take my sim out and put it in another handset.

I understand the ways that insurers have to work, but I feel that two weeks without a mobile phone, in this day and age, is really ridiculous. The woman in the call centre didn't seem very sympathetic when I pointed this out, and actually said, "ten days is not that long". But I rely on my mobile for work and have no landline at home, I really can't face that sort of length of time time without my mobile.

I'm in the process of saving up the money to replace the phone through apple, because at least that's instant, but does that mean that the money I spent on my insurance is wasted?

MaggsE

My husband forgot that his mobile was in his pocket when he went in the sea whilst getting his boat out of the water. He contacted Lloyds as we have a Vantage account and after a bit of form filling he was sent his brand new replacement phone (having sent in the damaged one). It was quick and simple. We also have annual travel insurance and Homeserve insurance with this account, plus a few other bits and pieces. We definitely gain on the £25pcm that we pay, especially as interest is paid on our balance.

londonTiger

KJFletcher wrote: »

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.

you have to pay the first £50 or so for the insurance claim too.

I dropped my iphone 3gs a couple of times at home, where it slid off from the desk and stuff, and got away scotch free.

pretty sure though that if i had dropped it on concrete from higher it would have broken thogh

Back is 2002 i had a sony ericson t68i, and i was on the phone on a first floor balcony, and dropped the phone from it, it dropped to the ground and the battery came apart, it fell on concrete and i was certain that it was broken. I ran downstairs, picked it, put the battery back in and the phone worked brilliantly.

Geeteese

In January 2010 I insured my sons Iphone with PYB, in June 2010 my son and partner went to Brighton and were sitting on a bench with the iphone in his partners handbag which was on the bench beside her. Some lads were in front of them messing and about and then they've gone. Seconds after they found her bag had been stolen by someone behind the bench. It was reported to police. After numerous letters back and forth to PYBs underwriters Supercover Insurance Ltd they would not pay out as they said the bag should have been on her lap, under her arm or between her knees - which of course we all do when sitting on a bench!!!! Never again