topic Best card for cell phone insurance in Credit Cards

Best card for cell phone insurance

onepeace25 — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:58:44 GMT

Hi Forum,

I am trying to find my permanent card for paying my cell phone bill and have the best available insurance for this using a credit card. I see some mixed reviews on the AMEX Platinum for this and wanted to take your opinion on which card I own would be best for this use. All cards I own are listed in my signature. TYIA

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

PNWRambler — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:18:20 GMT

There's a ton of cards that offer some kind of cell phone insurance or coverage. You may want to compare the other perks of each card and see which will provide multiple benefits or uses for you. Personally I don't use this feature so I can't provide a great opinion, but here's a few cards with a cell phone perk:

Chase Freedom Flex, Capital One Venture X, AmEx Platinum, U.S. Bank Platinum, Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, Chase Ink Business, etc...

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

wasCB14 — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 18:22:30 GMT

I've not had to make a claim for this particular benefit yet, but in general Amex has an easy benefit claims process. Amex also explicitly says they cover cracked screens, while other benefit programs have vague language about cosmetic damage or say they won't necessarily pay to fix a phone that can still make and receive calls.

I use Business Platinum for the $10 credit and phone protection, but that's a business card (and one I'd pay an AF for, anyway).

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

digitek — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 18:34:21 GMT

I've used cell phone insurance on my SDFCU Premium Cash Back+ and my Amex Delta Platinum. Both times were like any other insurance claim, some paperwork required, some back and forth then out of nowhere an approval. You don't have to wait for an approval when I've used it, you can get it fixed and then provide receipts (although this might be different depending on the insurance carrier).

From what I understand a lot of Visa cards use Assurion for cell phone insurance (which owns the uBreakiFix stores, too) and Amex uses AIG for cell phone insurance.

It is one card benefit that I tend to use more than any of the other ones. On plans with multiple lines it can save quite a bit of money each month over provider based insurance (~$10 a month per phone).

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 18:59:05 GMT

@digitek wrote:

It is one card benefit that I tend to use more than any of the other ones. On plans with multiple lines it can save quite a bit of money each month over provider based insurance (~$10 a month per phone).

RIght, but it also depends on your risk style. AFAIK, no card with insurance offers the best rate on the phone bill (briefly, the MC Max Cash were good). So you are certainly saving say ~$10 a line per month if you would otherwise have got the insurance, but not everyone sees the need, and savings on the monthly bill can be a big factor.

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

AzCreditGuy — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:50:47 GMT

My Wells Fargo has the phone insurance and I have used it every year it seems, you are allowed 2 claims per year. The biggest hassle is filling for the claim with the insurance, its always a back and forth and sometimes you have to resend the documents. I just used it 2 months ago on my Iphone 13 pro that got fully smashed up...Insurance phone was $625 with tax...The insurance paid me $575 minus $25 ded and they dont pay for taxes

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

C6 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:27:11 GMT

Cap 1 Venture X, Amex Platinum, and Delta Reserve offer $800 coverage. Wells Fargo Autograph, Active cash, and Reflect offer $600. Chase offers $600 on a few cards. There are others that offer protection too but usually a lesser amount. I think the Venture X is best for 2% back plus many more benefits.

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

SpaceCityCCuser — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:39:46 GMT

@C6 wrote:
Cap 1 Venture X, Amex Platinum, and Delta Reserve offer $800 coverage. Wells Fargo Autograph, Active cash, and Reflect offer $600. Chase offers $600 on a few cards. There are others that offer protection too but usually a lesser amount. I think the Venture X is best for 2% back plus many more benefits.

I use CFF for my cell bill. It is up to $800 per claim. I'm not sure about other Chase cards.

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:53:28 GMT

The other thing to remember is with some carriers, Verizon at present and T-mobile to be another soon, using (most) credit cards will lose the autopay discount, adding about $5 a line

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

AzCreditGuy — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:14:32 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The other thing to remember is with some carriers, Verizon at present and T-mobile to be another soon, using (most) credit cards will lose the autopay discount, adding about $5 a line

I have Tmobile and Verizon and I have say while Verizon does have the best service...They are so restrictive on terms with new phone they credit you. They only allow checking or debit cards and only allow the Verizon CC with autopay…All other CCs you lose the discount. Which means you cant use all these other CC phone insurance…The Iphone14 pro on that Verizon account has no phone insurance

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:48:47 GMT

@AzCreditGuy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The other thing to remember is with some carriers, Verizon at present and T-mobile to be another soon, using (most) credit cards will lose the autopay discount, adding about $5 a line
I have Tmobile and Verizon and I have say while Verizon does have the best service...They are so restrictive on terms with new phone they credit you. They only allow checking or debit cards and only allow the Verizon CC with autopay…All other CCs you lose the discount. Which means you cant use all these other CC phone insurance…The Iphone14 pro on that Verizon account has no phone insurance

And come around May, t-mobile will be the same with autopay, except they don't (currently) have a t-mobile credit card

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

firefox100 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 20:30:45 GMT

Look at the Wf Autograph visa card it has insurance and gives 3% back if you pay your cell bill with card. I am using the Propel amex card from WF to pay Metro pcs no extra fee.

Re: Best card for cell phone insurance

mgood — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 17:18:16 GMT

I was using the Chase Freedom Flex for what I considered good insurance but only getting 1% back.

When I got the Wells Fargo Autograph, I started paying my cell bill with that. It has insurance that seems very close to as good as what I got from Chase, but the WF Autograph pays me 3% back.

I have not actually used the insurance from either Chase or Wells Fargo, so I can not say who is easy or difficult to deal with when the need arises.