Beware of the AT&T Wireless Phone Insurance Plan

[Im Just Sayin]

When I purchased my iPhone 4S I wanted to add the Apple Care Plan as I had always done in the past and was persuaded by the sales rep to forgo it and purchase the $6 monthly AT&T insurance plan instead.  It was portrayed as being more comprehensive.  So here I am 35 days later and I drop my phone and crack the screen.  I call AT&T and learn that the insurance is provided by a third party vendor called Asurian and I need to file a claim with them.  I also hear for the first time that there is a $200 deductible.  I call Assurian to file the claim and am flabbergasted by the process.  First they start off with the assumption that you are trying to defraud them and put you through a series of invasive questions to verify your identity using your credit report information.  Then even after confirming that you are who you say you are, they require that you provide a NOTORIZED statement of the situation that you just described to them, a copy of your original invoice (even though they have your phone serial number) and a copy of your drivers license!   They make it as cumbersome as they possibly can to file a claim.  The goal is clearly to frustrate you into not filing a claim or getting a cheaper third party repair which voids your original warranty.   Not going to say the AT&T Insurance offering is a scam, but clearly its not structured in the best interest of the customer.  

Had I purchased the Applecare plan for $99 I could have walked into any Apple Store and gotten a new phone for $50.  Don't make the same mistake I did.  Buy the Applecare plan!!   

[4mygrls]

I wonder if those charges are the same for any phone or just the iphone?

[Facci]

I NEVER buy the insurance. You can self insure it (put that same money aside every month) then if you don't use it the money is yours but if you take care of it then you don't need any insurance.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Im Just Sayin wrote:

When I purchased my iPhone 4S I wanted to add the Apple Care Plan as I had always done in the past and was persuaded by the sales rep to forgo it and purchase the $6 monthly AT&T insurance plan instead.  It was portrayed as being more comprehensive.  So here I am 35 days later and I drop my phone and crack the screen.  I call AT&T and learn that the insurance is provided by a third party vendor called Asurian and I need to file a claim with them.  I also hear for the first time that there is a $200 deductible.  I call Assurian to file the claim and am flabbergasted by the process.  First they start off with the assumption that you are trying to defraud them and put you through a series of invasive questions to verify your identity using your credit report information.  Then even after confirming that you are who you say you are, they require that you provide a NOTORIZED statement of the situation that you just described to them, a copy of your original invoice (even though they have your phone serial number) and a copy of your drivers license!   They make it as cumbersome as they possibly can to file a claim.  The goal is clearly to frustrate you into not filing a claim or getting a cheaper third party repair which voids your original warranty.   Not going to say the AT&T Insurance offering is a scam, but clearly its not structured in the best interest of the customer.  

Had I purchased the Applecare plan for $99 I could have walked into any Apple Store and gotten a new phone for $50.  Don't make the same mistake I did.  Buy the Applecare plan!!   

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It is the Apple Care Plus plan, not the AppleCare plan. It can only be obtained when you pruchase the phone and only covers the phone it was purchased for.

The oter plan is insurance - and as with any insurance you have to provide proof of the loss, their proceedures are not that much different that any other loss provention claim processor, they all require proof - same as Applecare Plus will if you make a claim. No insurance company int he world will pay out without proof.

[Facci]

Insurance companies are a business and are there to make money. There are people out there that their job is defrauding insurance companies so these companies have to be careful. If they just hand out money just willy nilly than they would be out of business quickly.

[firemandude]

I purchased a 2 year insurance plan for $99 from Square Trade and I couldn't be happier. All you need to do after signing up is email them a copy of your purchase receipt and you are set.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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firemandude wrote:

I purchased a 2 year insurance plan for $99 from Square Trade and I couldn't be happier. All you need to do after signing up is email them a copy of your purchase receipt and you are set.

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been putting smartphones on my homeowners insurance since my first one years ago, 15.00 a yr retail cost of replacement coverage no deductable

[4mygrls]

Retail cost of replacement coverage? Are you saying that if something happened to your phone, you would get the money for a brand new ph that ur damaged or lost phone would cost you if you had to buy it new?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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4mygrls wrote:
Retail cost of replacement coverage? Are you saying that if something happened to your phone, you would get the money for a brand new ph that ur damaged or lost phone would cost you if you had to buy it new?

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Right in one, my home owners policy is written for current market cost of replacement for items in the house, and the house itself, basicly everything that is covered by the policy - not cheap but well worth it. have the minimum deductable available also, the polciy wwas penned 40 years ago with the insurer, just like I have 25.00 deductable on my cars

[jomale]

The applecare plan can be purchased within the first year. You do not have to purchase it when you buy the phone.

[Ryan_ATL]

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jomale wrote:

The applecare plan can be purchased within the first year. You do not have to purchase it when you buy the phone.

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That was true for AppleCare, but it is no longer available.

AppleCare+ must be purchased within 30 days of the device purchase (as of Apple's latest statement), initially it was only available at the same time as the device purchase.