Interesting stuff about iphone insurance (well I thought it was anyway!)

[MrBriz]

Mark Wilson - The Great iphone Insurance Swindle (http://www.markwilson.co.uk/blog/2007/11/the-great-iphone-insurance-swindle.htm)

Also look at the comments, it all makes an interesting read.

Also... Go to TalkCover (http://www.talkcover.co.uk/apple/iphone/insurance.asp), an iphone insurance company. Looks interesting.

NOTE: TalkCover actually use a company called SuperCover Insurance (http://www.supercoverinsurance.com/index1_phone.html) and you can buy insurance directly from them on their website (even though it doesn't look as nice, it might be better to buy direct)

[Hands0n]

Before buying any phone insurance check your home contents insurance - you'll probably find you're covered there for full value replacement. If you handset gets stolen, just report it to the Police and get a crime ... err no thats not right ..... get an incident number and the insurance company will usually cough up the readies in a few days. Certainly before your credit card bill drops on the doormat. Same deal for accidental damage or loss, its personal items usually covered for up to £500.

Never, ever, buy insurance at the point of sale - it is guaranteed to be a rip off. Even the OFT have had words to say on the matter before now.

[miffed]

Haven't used mobile insurance for ages , used to use Orange care simply because

1) the service was phenomenal ! Amazingly quick and Quibble free

2) it was free on the first year of business tariffs (:D)

I have heard so much rubbish about "Reasonable care" being thrown up in peoples faces , it seems you are actually covered for relatively few scenarios

Do I want to pay £135 to insure my £269 phone ? on the off chance that I *may* be covered and get a replacement *if* it meets its demised in one of the ways that are condoned by the insurers ? Erm , no thanks !
....Especially when said phone was freely available for £159 a few months later !

- No , I'll take my chances thanks

[Ginz]

See I'm actually thinking the opposite to miffed.. I've always had insurance just as a safety blanket incase anything does happen. Thankfully I've not had to use it before but if I didn't have insurance and I lose my iPhone that's £3/£400 lost instantly... Home contents insurance notoriously can take months.. The 02 insurance is £5 or £7.50 a month. The £7.50 a month option you get a replacement the next day. That appeals to me just having that option... What are my alternatives?

[Hands0n]

These are TalkCover's terms and conditions.

It is quite telling that the "This is what you are not covered for" is about ten times longer than the "This is what you are covered for".

But thats insurance for you. It is a risk assessment and they try to engineer the majority of the risk towards you, and minimally to themselves.

Read and weep - some comments of my own inserted into the original.



WHAT WE WILL COVER

A. Accidental Damage

We will pay repair costs if your electronic equipment is damaged as the result of an accident.
[No mention of replacement if it is beyond repair]

B. Theft

If your electronic equipment is stolen we will replace it. Where only part or parts of your electronic equipment have been stolen, we will only replace that part or parts.

C. Accidental Loss

If you lose your mobile phone or PDA we will replace it. No other electronic equipment is insured for loss.

D. Breakdown which occurs outside of the manufacturers guarantee period. This cover is not available on computers.

WHAT WE WILL NOT COVER

Your electronic equipment is not covered for:

1. Theft:

. from any commercial vehicle , convertible or soft top vehicle;

. from any motor vehicle where you or someone acting on your behalf is not in the vehicle, unless the electronic equipment has been concealed in a locked boot, locked glove compartment or other locked internal compartment and all the vehicle's windows and doors closed and locked and all security systems have been activated;

. if left on any motor vehicle roof, bonnet or boot;

. from any type of transport except as permitted above;

. from any building, land or premises unless force, resulting in damage to the building or premises, was used to gain entry or exit;
[so you're out of luck if its nicked at work]

. from your control or the control of any member of your immediate family , except where it has been concealed either on or about the person and not left unattended , or the use of physical force or violence against the person has been used or threatened;

. where the electronic equipment has been left unattended when it is away from your home ;

. where reasonable precautions have not been taken;

. if the serial number has been tampered with in any way.

2. Loss or damage caused by:

. you deliberately damaging or neglecting the electronic equipment ;

. you not following the manufacturer's instructions;

. routine servicing, inspection, maintenance or cleaning;
[cleaning? So if you were cleaning it and it broke you're not covered?!!]

. the use of accessories.
[the iPhone dock is an accessory!]

3. Repair or other costs for:

. routine servicing, inspection, maintenance or cleaning;

. loss caused by a manufacturer's defect or recall of the electronic equipment ;

. replacement of or adjustment to fittings, control knobs or buttons, batteries or aerials;

. repairs carried our by persons not authorised by us ;

. wear and tear or gradual deterioration of performance.

4. Any kind of damage whatsoever unless the damaged electronic equipment is provided for repair.

5. Any loss involving a SIM (subscriber identity module) card.

6. Any expense incurred as a result of not being able to use the electronic equipment , or any loss other than the repair or replacement costs of the electronic equipment unless relating to unauthorized call use for your mobile phone up to the maximum value of £100.

7. The first £25 of each theft or accidental damage claim or the first £50 of each accidental loss claim or the first £75 of each claim which occurs outside the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

8. Loss of or damage to accessories of any kind.

9. Any loss or damage caused by the failure of any electrical or computer equipment, software, micro-controller, microchip, accessories or associated equipment to correctly recognise and process any calendar date or time.

10. If the original SIM card was not in a mobile phone at the time of the loss, damage or theft.
[No unlocking or using another O2 SIM then]

11. Reconnection costs or subscription fees of any kind.

12. The cost of replacing any personalised ring tones or graphics, downloaded material or software.

Please note: if you are insuring an item without SIM card capability, all exclusions relating to SIM cards are not applicable.

13. War Risk

Terrorism , war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities whether war is declared or not, civil war, rebellion, revolution insurrection, military or usurped power, confiscation, nationalism or requisition or destruction or damage to property by or under the order of any government or public or legal authority.

14. Nuclear Risk

Damage or destruction caused by, contributed to or arising from:

a. ionizing radiation or contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel; or

b. the radioactive, toxic, explosive or other hazardous properties of any explosive nuclear assembly or component thereof.

15. Sonic Boom

Damage or destruction directly occasioned by pressure waves caused by aircraft or other aerial devices traveling at sonic or supersonic speeds.

16. Loss of Data or Software

Any loss of or damage to information or data or software contained in or stored on the electronic equipment whether arising as a result of a claim paid by this insurance or otherwise.

17. Consequential Loss

Any consequential loss or damage arising from accidental damage, theft, accidental loss , breakdown or from any cause whatsoever.

18. Liability of whatsoever nature arising from ownership or use of the electronic equipment, including any illness or injury resulting from it.

19. Value Added Tax (VAT) where you are registered with HM Revenue and Customs for VAT.

REPLACEMENT

This policy offers replacement only and is not a replacement as new policy. If the electronic equipment cannot be replaced with an identical electronic equipment of the same age and condition, we will replace it with one of comparable specification or the equivalent value taking into account the age and condition of the original electronic equipment.
[Comparable specification - that takes out almost all other manufacturers "Smartphones" including the Nokia N95, say.]

[Ginz]

That's quite alarming and funnily enough has actually swayed me more towards 02 insurance.. For the £7.50 a month insurance you get a new handset the next day.. For me, if it was nicked, that would be worth it's weight in gold. It's a security blanket and I like to make sure I've covered all bases.. It's worth the £135 over the 18 months for me if it get stolen.

[Ben]

I also don't do mobile phone insurance, though very dear items are on my home policy. I've also never lost/damaged/been thieved of a phone, so I guess I'm quids in unless I go and lose half a dozen.

miffed - Orange Care, ah, those were the days. Yes, I did use Orange Care once or twice I believe. They'd have a brand new replacement handset with you at your door by the next morning. Those were the days when Orange was good! And it was only a fiver. Amazing.

£7.50 is too much for standard insurance.

[Ginz]

So the other option when/if it gets nicked or stolen is to just buy another iPhone?

[Ben]

For me... probably, yes. I might add it to the home insurance but I don't think I'll go down that road for the iPhone. I think I've coughed up £500 for smartphones so many times in the last few years of Talk3G that I'm de-sensitised to their value. It's all personal preference, though.

[MrBriz]

I'm not sure what to do... the £7.50 a month I consider peanuts, seeing as I almost also blow that much weekly on crap I can cut out :D

What, that's a couple of pints less a week, less snacks... meah.... I guess I'm one of those idiots that spends money when they shouldn't... maybe I should just get the phone and walk away... if I lose it I can always buy another, if I don't I'm quids in!

[miffed]

I think I've coughed up £500 for smartphones so many times in the last few years of Talk3G that I'm de-sensitised to their value.

I suppose this is how it is with me too , If my iPhone packed up I'd simply put the sim in my Vario III or something , whereas some people tend to have one device at a time
Don't get me wrong , if someone offered to insure my iPhone for , say , £40 for the full term , I'd probably jump at it - But at 50% of the cost of the handset (and what would eventually turn out to be 85% of the cost of replacement ?)
.... I am all for people getting rich , but not out of my pocket thanks !!

[Ginz]

I'm not sure what to do... the £7.50 a month I consider peanuts, seeing as I almost also blow that much weekly on crap I can cut out :D

What, that's a couple of pints less a week, less snacks... meah.... I guess I'm one of those idiots that spends money when they shouldn't... maybe I should just get the phone and walk away... if I lose it I can always buy another, if I don't I'm quids in!

Agreed. I think I'm decided now on the insurance.. £7.50 a month for complete piece of mind.. 25p a day!!

[miffed]

Agreed. I think I'm decided now on the insurance.. £7.50 a month for complete piece of mind.. 25p a day!!

See , I'd say it was £7.50 per month for a false sense of security ... but each to their own I suppose , all I'll say is make sure you think carefully before wording any claims !

[MrBriz]

See , I'd say it was £7.50 per month for a false sense of security ... but each to their own I suppose , all I'll say is make sure you think carefully before wording any claims !

I think that's the point, if you word the claim correctly it's your word against theirs, and assuming that you claim in the correct manner it should be fine.