Buyer Beware of Cell Phone Insurance
Tuesday July 25, 2006
According to Liz Crenshaw, an NBC News4 reporter, you may have to beware of getting ripped-off when buying cell phone insurance.
In Crenshaw's story, Real Deal: Cell Phone Insurance, she claims "Each year, more than four hundred thousand wireless phones are either lost, stolen or damaged, so a sales pitch to buy cell phone insurance is tempting." So, do you fall to temptation?
Many do, but when it comes time to use that insurance they may not get what they expected. The biggest problem with cell phone insurance is a high deductible that can cost just as much as a new phone. So all those monthly premiums were a waste if you are going to pay the same for your deductible as a new phone.
Crenshaw does recommend buying cell phone insurance for expensive devices such as a Treo or a Blackberry since those devices are more expensive to replace.
Comments
With regard to cell phone insurance. I had insurance and when our dog ate our brand new phone, not only were we required to pay a high deductible (almost the cost of a new phone), but we were told that they would replace our brand new phone with a refurbished (used) phone. We were so upset, filed a complaint and til today refuse to buy insurance.
We recently launched a new company that sells a product to provide physical security for cell phones and smart phones. These simple devices attach to cell/smart phones and help prevent damage, loss and theft of these valuable handhelds. They cost about the same as one month of cell phone insurance!
When clipped to a belt, the cell or smart phone Yos! can then be securely hidden in a man’s pocket. Likewise, when clipped to a purse strap, a handheld can be placed in a woman’s purse, making it easy to locate. especially while driving, and also making it more secure from theft, loss, or damage. No more holsters than can invite theft.
visit www.CellYos.com
They’re very diceptive and confusing. I recently upgraded on of my 5 lines and moved a more expensive phone to my duaghter’s line. Yesterday, they told me if I bought the phone on eBay (which I was going to do), they said you “cant insure it” unless its purchased through us. So I bought the new phone through “V” and then they said, the phone I moved to my daughter’s line could not be insured because she did’nt have insurance before (on a cheap phone, eg. worth as much as the deductible $50). They told me the insurance goes with the line not the phone. What a game. My plan is to take $5 a month from my daughter, put in in an envelope and in 10 months we’ll be self-insured. $50 to put down and $50 out of pocket would be required even with insurance so we’ll have the $100 to get another off eBay like I intended to do..what scam.