Insurance?

[mi04se1]

I got a text fom ATT to add insurance before the 30 days are up. Did anyone else opt for insurance or dont you think ATT wont cover claims like on the Iphone?

 

[Baldilocks]

According to AT&T, insurance isn't available for this phone. If you are paying for insurance, cancel it.

Use your home owners policy or go thru SquareTrade.

 

[The Shape]

I got my captivate on Monday and got the insurance. The next day, the assosciate called me and said they didn't offer that $5/month insurance but instead they had insurance where you pay a one time fee of $150 and you are covered so I canceled the other one and opted for that one.

 

[emuneee]

LOL I think I'm going to call customer service then because I was definitely offered and paying for monthly insurance.

 

[vbnyc]

I just checked my account online, and 5$ insurance is offered.

 

[Baldilocks]

if you try to add it, it will tell you it's not available.

 

[emuneee]

I don't think its covered. It's not listed in this official looking AT&T PDF.

https://www.att.com/media/en_US/docs/wireless-phone-insurance-deductible-schedule.pdf

 

[ZDroid1]

I got my captivate on Monday and got the insurance. The next day, the assosciate called me and said they didn't offer that $5/month insurance but instead they had insurance where you pay a one time fee of $150 and you are covered so I canceled the other one and opted for that one.

You paid $150 to insure a $200 phone?

 

[emuneee]

You paid $150 to insure a $200 phone?

Well no, he paid $150 to insure a $499.99 phone. Thats what it would cost to replace it if it was stolen, lost, or fatally damaged.

 

[The Shape]

Well no, he paid $150 to insure a $499.99 phone. Thats what it would cost to replace it if it was stolen, lost, or fatally damaged.

Exactly! Also, it guarantees me a new phone and not a refurbished one. I don't like sloppy seconds.

 

[ZDroid1]

Exactly! Also, it guarantees me a new phone and not a refurbished one. I don't like sloppy seconds.

Ok. I'm new to high end expensive phones (got mine for free). I never bought insurance and at&t always replaced my phones when they stopped working. I assumed this phone would be the same.

 

[vilacr]

I have the $5 insurance on my phone. Purchased it from the ATT store when I purchased the phone on the 18th. Traded my iphone 4 in for this one.

 

[rob989_69]

Yeah, it's available on these phones, that is only NOT available on the IPhone. I was offered the $5 in store when I purchased, problem, it's $5 a month, and a $125 fee for replacement if it'snot repairable. It's really not worth it. I have never (knock on wood) dropped a phone so badly it completely stopped working. I do wish AT&T would offer insurance and text plans like Verizon does....

 

[Baldilocks]

I have the $5 insurance on my phone. Purchased it from the ATT store when I purchased the phone on the 18th. Traded my iphone 4 in for this one.

Trust me, they won't cover this phone with that Insurance. They will let you keep paying $5 a month for nothing though.

 

[Jofaba]

Trust me, they won't cover this phone with that Insurance. They will let you keep paying $5 a month for nothing though.

That happened to me like 5 years ago when I got the Audiovox 5600. Was discussing my bill one day and was told that the insurance I was paying for didn't cover this phone. I demanded an immediate reimbursement of the entire insurance payments made so far and they didn't even argue with me. Seems like not much has changed...

BestBuy offers a pretty decent (no deductible) insurance policy, but I think that I'm just going to chance it. I'm going to get a case for it, as I only see myself dropping it when it's not in use.

No, I've dropped my Audiovox dozens of times, but breaking the screen was never really a fear, and once I dropped it the first time and marred up the finish, I didn't really care after that. Plus, that phone's media abilities were decent for the time but it quickly became a dumbphone for me. I never dropped it while in use. Just when juggling it and a dozen other things.

Just need to find something wooden in my apartment now to knock on...

 

[smbyers]

I asked if the insurance covered this phone and the associate told me it did with $125 deductible. He added the insurance. Concerning they would and even could add it to a phone that is not covered. Needless to say if something happens I'll be camping out at an AT&T store until they make good on it.

 

[Jofaba]

If I remember correctly, the problem in 2005 was that phones were covered, smartphones weren't. They called it a mistake that I was told insurance covered it. Nowadays I'm not sure how it works. My Aria was to be covered with insurance, so I don't see why this particular smartphone wouldn't be. BUT, it just seems to make more sense to spend the cash on a case than pay out monthly over a gamble.

 

[itami]

Now I'm a little worried because I need to send mine in(cracked the screen) and I'm paying the $5 a month and then the $125 deductible for tier 2 phones in the insurance policy.

 

[smbyers]

If I remember correctly, the problem in 2005 was that phones were covered, smartphones weren't. They called it a mistake that I was told insurance covered it. Nowadays I'm not sure how it works. My Aria was to be covered with insurance, so I don't see why this particular smartphone wouldn't be. BUT, it just seems to make more sense to spend the cash on a case than pay out monthly over a gamble.

I have a case and screen protection. I usually don't buy insurance but I did for the first year on my Blackberry Bold (previous) and the Captivate. I usually hold for a year just for the possibility of lost/stolen/drop in the pool, etc. If all is good for a year I drop the insurance and just upgrade if something bad happened. Basically I'm paying $60 to save $500 (or having to go to some cheep phone) until I can upgrade. Statistically not the best deal for me, but makes me feel better.

 

[Baldilocks]

Because I have called and specifically asked about the $5 monthly insurance on this phone after the OLAM website told stated, "Sorry, your current phone does not qualify for our Asurion Insurance Program.. blah blah blah..."

It's not covered. That's why I have Squaretrade policy for it. Even if I lose the phone it's covered.

 

[Jofaba]

My general advice for insurance for other people goes like this: find the best deal you can, and instead of paying it to the insurance company, pay it to a savings account. When the one out of five things you feel like insuring actually breaks, replace it with the money from that account. Chances are, unless you're terribly clumsy, you'll save a LOT of money.

I bought the insurance for the short time I had the Aria for the same reason everyone is; the screen. I was PETRIFIED of dropping the Captivate for the first few days because I had forgotten to buy insurance. I felt like I was walking around with a $600 lightbulb in my pocket. A week into it, knowing that the retail price will drop quickly, and that future releases will hit retail and have their resale prices drop, I feel pretty confident that if it breaks then oh well, it's broken. I'll go back to a dumb phone for a month or two until I can afford a replacement. knock on wood but I think the insurance is just too expensive, even if it DOES cover the phone for 100% with a zero dollar deductible.

 

[mash4077]

mines covered $125 deductable

 

[Fate0n3]

I am pretty sure Baldilocks is correct, I have called and asked in store and both were told that this phone was NOT covered within the $5 ins plan. The first person at the store told me it was then after talking to the guy I usually talk to he said it is not and verified with the manager. They will add it but like stated above when it comes time to request a repair they will tell you it hasn't been covered....

 

[lionheartck]

Let's say hypothetically, I'm a manager at a COR store. Of course I would never say I work for AT&T under any capacity, and am not pretending to represent them outside of such a specified role. If I was though:

Insurance is $5, the deductible is $125. It covers literally everything, and they overnight the phone for free.

The iPhone cannot be insured, and our system won't let you add the insurance to it. The captivate can be, and will let you add it. The 9700 retails for $450, and we insure that too.

 

[ChaoticKinesis]

Phone insurance is the biggest rip-off there is. I was offered $5/month with $125 deductible when I purchased the phone. Consider the following:
$5 * 24 months = $120
$120 + $125 = $245

If we assume that the phone costs $500 outside of contract, then the only consumer for whom this makes sense is the one who has a greater than 50% chance of having to purchase a replacement handset over the course of the contract. This means people who either completely destroy their phone to the point where it's no longer functioning or those who lose it or have it stolen. I don't think there's that many of those.

If it is simply to protect from damage, it will almost always be cheaper to have it fixed. If we're concerned with warranties, most major credit cards (not debit cards) offer extended warranties as a free benefit, so your 1-year warranty is actually 2 years.

So unless you're incredibly clumsy or you're always losing your phone—you should not bother with insurance. OTOH, if you're always losing your phone and you're on your second replacement, you may be surprised by what the insurer will have to say when you try and make that second claim.