Mobile Phone Insurance Dilemma

para_dox

First time poster so be easy. Not strictly speaking a consumer rights question but here goes.

My IPhone 4 32 GB that is insured with BetterBuy insurance suffered water damage. I sent it to be repaired but the company have now told me that my phone is beyond repair and needs to be replaced. The insurer's liability under the policy is limited to a maximum of £400.

The insurer has now said that I need to pay £162 in order to have my 14 month old IPhone 4 32 GB replaced. I asked them how they arrived at this very exact valuation and the representative could not tell me how they arrived at this valuation. I am not certain but it is likely that it will probably be a re-conditioned model that they have sourced from somewhere.

The dilemma is that a brand new IPhone 4S 32GB is available from apple for £599. This is only £37 more than what BetterBuy insurance is quoting me for an IPhone 4. Bearing this in mind, and the fact that they can't tell me how they have arrived at their valuation, I'd like to argue that I will pay the extra and they can replace my phone with the 4S instead.

Does anybody have any experience of dealing with BetterBuy or mobile phone insurers in general, as this is my first experience and is my tactic likely? Or am I just taking a liberty and should I just pay the £162 and shut up?

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

ellieellieellie

Is the insurance specifically for an iPhone 4, or is it for an unspecified phone up to the value of £400?

Double check the T&Cs of your policy. If it specifically mentions an iPhone 4, it may be worth querying. If it's for an unspecified phone up to the value of £400, try for a cheque for £400, and source a new phone yourself.

Hintza

ellieellieellie wrote: »

try for a cheque for £400, and source a new phone yourself.

They will have a margin built in here so probably won't be keen.

ellieellieellie

Hintza wrote: »

They will have a margin built in here so probably won't be keen.

It's always worth a try though. The worst they can do is say no, and the OPs back where they started. But they defo won't say yes if s/he doesn't ask!

para_dox

Thanks for the helpful advice, I'll try and let you know what happens.