Mobile phone insurance?

Jen151

Hiya

lookin for some advice about mobile insurance

in the past have just gone without, however am about to get a brand new phone and it would be nice to have some cover

no keen to go with the providers own insurance policies as these will likely be a rip off

does anyone use a cheap/good mobile insurance for cover?

thanks,

xx

Alec_Eiffel_2

I used Orange Care when i was with them, i broke a handset by walking into a corner of a table when it was in my pocket and had a new handset within 24hrs. On o2 with o2 insurance, not had a need to use them yet, fingers crossed, but happy with level of cover for the price at present. Does your home insurance (if you pay it) or bank account give it?

Lokolo

I never buy insurance, but then again I never drop my phone in water or whatever. If worse comes to worse and my phone ends up dying for some reason, I go to o2 shop and get them to send it to manufactrer to get it repaired. Most phones nowadays have 2 year warranty so personally I don't see the need for insurance.

I did this once with my old phone, sent it to manufacturer, 2 weeks with an old phone I found in a drawer, then got my one back all working order.

Cavey

Alec_Eiffel wrote: »

I used Orange Care when i was with them, i broke a handset by walking into a corner of a table when it was in my pocket and had a new handset within 24hrs. On o2 with o2 insurance, not had a need to use them yet, fingers crossed, but happy with level of cover for the price at present. Does your home insurance (if you pay it) or bank account give it?

I am on O2 with O2 Insure. Walked into a stair gate (the things that stop children falling down stairs - alarmingly good, stopped me dead and I weigh 16st) and broke my phone. Rang up, said I could have a new one within 24 hours (on the 27th December) and gave me a list.

At the time I had an O2 Trion and was offered an Orbit, some Sony Ericcsson that's kind of similar or a blackberry as Trion's were out of stock. Said I'll wait... two and half/three weeks later, back from holiday I rang up and said "Oi! Why haven't you been in contact" and they apologised for not getting in touch and said they were not going to get any more Trions in, would I like a blackberry. Not likely I said.... so they offered a Stellar, which is the equivalent of the Trion. It arrived the next day.

Long and the short - It's good and, while refurbished is possible, you could get new (and improved) for old with a bloody quick turn around.

If I had used home insurance, God only knows how long it would take to pay out and then it is not new for old.

And warranty's are only good for manufacturing defects, NOT accidental damage or theft. Until I walked into that stairgate, I hadn't damaged a mobile in just under 8 years.

Oh, and the cool stuff about O2 insure is that there is some way in which they cover you for unsolicited calls if your phone is stolen (which most interested me given I don't really like carrying around something which effectively taps straight into my bank account and doesn't require a PIN).

Jen151

thanks for the advice guys

sjc_2

Personally don't bother myself any more, used to have it as part of a deal with my Bank, with Travel Insurance etc. but became too expensive per month.

Work on the principal £7+/mth saved over the period would buy a new handset if I lost it or had it stolen.

Cavey

sjc wrote: »

Work on the principal £7+/mth saved over the period would buy a new handset if I lost it or had it stolen.

£5 per month over 18 months (£90) before I broke mine. The phone I did have still goes on ebay for over £100, even if it is a bit banged up, and the replacement "closest match" they had is worth £450 brand new or £250 on eBay (the cheapest auctions), so at the moment I consider it to be worth it.

SparciaM

Why take out mobile phone insurance with your operator, when you can get it free or for an extra pound with your home insurance?


I've never had mobile phone insurance from Orange and had to replace my phone once. What I did was, go out and buy a £10 cheap Samsung phone and then 2 months later when my contract was up, upgraded to a new phone. So I saved £5x18 months-£10 = £80 saved!!! I think that phone insurance is a complete waste of time, considering now you can get a good cheap phone for a max of £20/£30 which is like 3 months insurance (if on Vodafone and 5/6months elsewhere) - so put that money aside and save. Also all phones have a min 1 year guarantee and under the 'Sale of Goods and Service Act' the phone company HAS to replace, amend or fix the phone free of charge for the FULL 18 months. Yes you may have to wait a little longer, but you don't have to pay for it as it's a legal requirement by ALL mobile phone companies.

So again, why spend the money when you don't need to?!?

Jen151

thanks SparciaM if the warranty covers it then will go without phone insurance

was concerned that if they supplied a faulty phone in the first place that broke after a couple months i'd have to cover the cost of replacing it

£7 odd a month really bumps up the bills!

silverpixie1uk

My son worked for a major mobile phone repair company, they don't go back to the manufacturers because they are made abroad.

I can tell you that no warranty will cover you if you damage the phone in any way or if it gets wet inside (the major reason for refusing to repair because it does so much damage) neither will it replace it or pay for any calls made on your contract after you have reported it stolen.

I pay £4.99 a month and so far have never had to claim but I know how I would feel if my new Tocca got lost, damaged or stolen a week after I got a new contract and I had to replace it with something cheap. So while I can afford it I'll pay it.:)

My daughter in law has had her phone stolen once and damaged twice and each time, on payment of the £25 excess she has had a new phone within 12 hours.