Mobile Insurance article discussion/feedback thread

property.advert

My missus needs a new phone and just perhaps I'll buy her what she wants, an i phone.

Now she won't get a contract so what are the options ?

No need for mega texts or minutes as she uses very few of either. Unlimited data needed for sure.

What about specific insurance, good insurance that is ?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

Forget the insurance - get on to your home contents insurers and ask them to add "personal possession" or "away from home" cover (same cover - different names) to your policy if you don't already have it & ask them whether that will cover your iPhone (if not, you should be able to "specify" it and get cover). That gets you cover for your iPhone and all your personal stuff (handbag/briefcase, wallett/purse, camera, holiday baggage, etc) anywhere in the world and is a fraction of the price of a specific mobile phone insurance. Also, it provides BETTER COVER!!!!!!

Now, as for the phone; the only way to buy it without a contract at present is from Apple themselves, either over the internet (3-week waiting list) or from an Apple Store if there is one close to you. The lowest sim only deals around are at £15 from Three and O2. For the £15 O2 deal, you have to sign up for 12 months. I think you'd probably be better off on Three to start off with and see what the coverage is like. If your wife has issues, then switch to O2.

Hope this helps.

property.advert

The whole point is that I don't want to use my house insurance, I want specific insurance like you used to get inclusive from orange years ago. If you claim on your house insurance then you screw up more than the cost of a phone. I should add that I would rather not have a separate policy from a 3rd party but rather one from the phone supplier themselves, which I know may not be possible on PAYG.

I would welcome her on a contract but she does not have any credit history and would be refused. I / she would happily pay any level of deposit.

southernguy_2

Oscars advice is best

I'm an iPhone user and researched the insurance situation in depth before purchasing the phone.

You could pay someone like O2 £15 a month which is a lot of money for phone insurance.

The other independent insurers are not much good

Firstly some will not cover iPhones
Secondly most if not all will not insure for accidental loss

So you may as well throw the money down a drainhole

Only options are to self insure where you put the money, you would have spent on the premiums, away and if anything was to happen you have money to buy a new phone/pay for repairs. not good if something happens in the early days

or check with you bank and see if they offer one of the premium accounts that include mobile phone insurance.
or do as i did added it to my contents insurance £18 a year for £2000 worth of cover away from the home covering accidental damage/accidental loss.

Best of luck

brokeinbristol

Please could anyone advise on whether I should take out phone insurance with Orange at £6 per month or if there is a cheaper alternative? Any experiences?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

Here's my usual response to this question:

GGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been covered several times before. Phone insurance is a waste of money. Speak to your home insurers (contents) and check to see if you have "away from home" or "personal possessions" cover (same thing - different name). If you do, they are probably covering your phone anyway so just ask them to confirm this. If you don't have the cover, ask for 2 quotes:

1. To add the Personal Possessions cover with £3,000 limit & including the phone
2. To add the phone only

Both quotes will include an admin charge, so ask what this is - it's a fee you pay to cover the costs of providing the paperwork so is only a one-off. Sometimes, for your own peace of mind, it's worth having the phone specified anyway. This should cost you a couple of pounds only (after the admin charge).

The excess on PP cover is usually £50, so double that of the mobile phone insurance. The cost, however, is lower and the cover better. Mobile phone insurance does not cover theft whilst unattended (ie, you are in a cafe and leave your bag on the table whilst going to pay and come back to find it's been stolen). PP cover not only insures your phone, but your bag and its contents too!!

STOP WASTING MONEY!!!!!!!

brokeinbristol

Thanks Oscar the grouch, knew there had to be a better alternative to £6 per month. Interesting about the theft while your away thing also, thanks, will give my insurance co a ring

afd

Have just spent an hour or so researching insurance for my iPhone 4. have looked at a lot of the links in this post, plus a fair amount of googling. I would agree with one of the earlier posts in this thread, all of the policies have something wrong with them.
Some only insure up to £500 (the iPhone 4 £32GB is £599), some don't insure loss (I have MobileMe so Find My iPhone might prevent loss) and some require the phone to be as secure as Fort Knox for theft to be covered. My bank offers a £20 a month account that includes other benefits that I don't necessarily need along with mobile insurance.
Anyone recommend insurance for an iPhone that doesn't have a catch?

richard-

Will your household insurance cover damage i.e. If you drop your iphone 4? (I have directline home insurance plus cover)

gjchester

richard- wrote: »

Will your household insurance cover damage i.e. If you drop your iphone 4? (I have directline home insurance plus cover)

If you have accidental damage on your house contents and the phone is specifed yes.

If you specify the phone but DON'T have accidental damage then not.

The specifying the phone just extends the cover you already have to the phone, you need to read the policy / schedule of insurance to see whats covered.