Android Mobiles - Insurance

[speckytecky]

Having been paying a regularish £10 a month on my pay as you go el cheapie (cost £2.95) mobile which didn't have Internet I finally caved in to temptation and signed up to a monthly contract on an Android HTC. The salesman suggested I take out their insurance (£7.99 a month with bells and whistles or £2.99 just covering 24/7 support, remote assistance, smartphone security, unlimited backup and a loan mobile). What's the opinion - is this Insurance good value and worth taking? If so can anyone recommend better deals?

[synaesthesia]

No. Insurance is legalised gambling in most cases and with things like mobile phones there's typically no comeback if you are half sensible. Watchdog have been all over a majority of mobile phone/gadget insurance companies for good reason because claiming back is often a nightmare.

So, why would you need it?

1. You drop it and break it.

Bugger - but panic not, you've still got a serviceable Nokia 6320 that works which is all you'd get as a loan phone - a quick eBay later and within 2 days you have a new case and screen for well under 30 quid - well under a year's premiums

2. It's stolen.

Hang on, I'm going to stop listing things now. Do you have contents insurance at home? Time to read your policy or possibly change it, because a majority will cover your gadgets if they're on your person. Break out that 6320 again whilst you get a replacement.

 

Specific gadget insurance is a waste of time and money. That's a pint of best and a packet of nuts a month just for the basic cover - a whole round of drinks and a bowl of nuts for the bells and whistles?

[rush_tech]

I've got my Iphone insured through my Advantage Gold bank account with Natwest. I really think you need insurance especially with the price of top end handsets these days.

[featured_spectre]

I have insurance solely for the purpose that my daughter likes to bite things - a phase the Dr assured us she will get through and she likes to bite phones, remotes, glass etc. Neither my house insurance nor my bank mobile insurance covers this type of damage but the insurance from O2 does, so its worth it IMO. I wouldn't go to protect your bubble as they are a huge hassle (having claimed on my old xbox after it RROD - which is covered in the T&Cs).

 

Put it this way, its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it - but check with your bank and home insurance first.

[Robz]

I agree with synaesthesia, if you have contents insurance for your home then check that your phone/gadgets are covered, if not get them on there, so much better than gadget specific which costs silly amounts.

[Chris_in_notts]

Wait til you break or lose it then get cover and crack out the spare phone wait a month and then claim lol

 

 

This post is a joke.

[creese]

Mine is "free" with LloydsTSB.

[JoeBloggs]

Yeah I got a Platinum account with LloydsTSB and mobile phone insurance is one of benefits. Had it like 5 years and have claimed the value of my phone twice. Fairly easily.

[Gibbo]

I on the other hand have taken care of my gadgets and never dropped or lost a phone.

 

I'm certainly not buying into a scheme where people accidentally-on-purpose break or lose their phone to get a new one.

[Andrew_C]

Yeah I got a Platinum account with LloydsTSB

Note to self (and perhaps others) that I really need to change the records of my phone with them. Why can't I do it on-line?

[creese]

Note to self (and perhaps others) that I really need to change the records of my phone with them. Why can't I do it on-line?

 

It takes, I think, 10 days to change phones. At least it is not immediate.

[arwen]

Mine is included on my bank account, includes accidental damage aswell, which I was supprised at! Although I was amused that iphones cause £50 extra to insure. Androids are free though :-D

[speckytecky]

Any suggestions toward which security package to install on an Android?

[Rawns]

2. It's stolen.

Hang on, I'm going to stop listing things now. Do you have contents insurance at home? Time to read your policy or possibly change it, because a majority will cover your gadgets if they're on your person. Break out that 6320 again whilst you get a replacement.

 

The mussis had her iPod stolen a couple of months ago. TBH I did not know at the time that house insurance also covered personal items until the farther-in-law mentioned it. So I dug out our policy details and gave them a call. I explained it had been stolen, gave them the make & model and the crime ref number, and within 7 days, we had a cheque for almost the full value. I then had a very happy wife!

 

We also checked out the local cash converters but it never appeared there.