Do I Have to Send Damaged Phone to Insurer?

SaintsFC1977

I have mobile phone insurance with my packaged bank account. Unfortunately my phone is water damaged and O2 say it can't be fixed.

My insurer are happy to pay up minus my excess, as I have my receipt of purchase and a letter fro O2's repair department. But, the insurer also want me to send the phone to them, at my expense. I asked why and said if this is to check it can't be fixed, I'd be happy to send it. However, it is not for the purpose of verifying the claim, but it is literally just for them to keep it. I have scoured the policy document and can't see it stated that in the event of a claim they get the phone.

I have asked the insurer to show me where this is in the policy and stated that if it is there, I am happy to send it and that if they purely want to verify that it can't be fixed, they can have it for inspection, provided I get it back.

Because of the damage with the phone, I am also slightly concerned about not being able to wipe and personal data before handing it over to someone, who will no doubt sell it.

So, do I have to send it?

Thanks

FutureGirl

You're claiming for the damaged phone, so they will give you a new one, but doesn't mean you get to keep the damaged one as well. You will need to send the phone to them. It is common with all insurance, even home insurance.

You cannot ask them to give you a new phone, and you get to keep the old one to sell that on yourself, as that's benefitting twice.

Iateallthepies

They have settled the claim so the phone is now theirs. This is a basic principle of insurance. They may then try to sell the phone to a specialist company to reduce the cost of the claim to them. This is known as salvage.

agrinnall

Ask your insurer if they will let you keep the phone for a small fee, a bit like buying back a written off car.

eddddy

.... and/or ask them what steps they will take to safeguard your personal data - which might be stored on the phone.

xMonsoonx

As soon as the claim is settled the damaged phone belongs to them.

Most insurance companies simply shred phones,so there is no data risk, but salavge companies can buy the sheddings and recycle the valuable minerals.

SaintsFC1977

The insurer have agreed for me to keep the phone for £23, which seems fair for me to be certain that nobody will have access to the data on it.

csgohan4

SaintsFC1977 wrote: »

The insurer have agreed for me to keep the phone for £23, which seems fair for me to be certain that nobody will have access to the data on it.

What are you hiding

amersall

csgohan4 wrote: »

What are you hiding

Mmm..I wonder

Nasqueron

It stops you from having the payout and then being able to sell the phone on ebay (there is a market for damaged phones even for spare parts).

If Apple would simply go for function over form and allow an SD card it wouldn't be an issue lol

csgohan4 wrote: »

What are you hiding

Given his username, perhaps some sort of bribe relating to football transfers

Blibble

Usually it is done to stop you profiting from the claim: you could get a brand-new handset (fine under your new-for-old cover) but ALSO have one to flog for parts / materials yourself.