Replacement AT&T Phone Insurance for Dropped, Cracked Screen - Quickly Replaced HTC Aria
Cracked Screen on HTC Aria
Dropped my HTC Aria Android Phone and the screen cracked
From about four feet I dropped my AT&T HTC Aria on to cement. It just slipped out of my hand, which for me is pretty common. It usually puts a ding or two into the phone, but nothing major happens. Well, the phone landed screen side down and totally shattered. The phone is only a week old which seems like the screen on the device may be a bit fragile. I'm not sure if Arias have screen problems, or if the phone landed in just the perfect way to compromise the screen. Needless to say, I was irritated. The next morning I ran to the AT&T store to get a replacement, but they were totally swamped and said they couldn't help me anyways. I had to call the AT&T phone insurance number since I had purchased the insurance. The strange thing is, I never purchase cell phone insurance because I think it's a bad deal for consumers, but last summer I saw how easily a phone can get destroyed with a little water, so I tacked the insurance on to my phone plan. The poor girl had saved her money up to buy an Iphone. On the houseboat she sat it next to a sink to recharge. Just a bit of water splashed on it from a kid washing their hands and fried the phone. She didn't have insurance, but I figured it was a good idea with how easy a little water can kill a phone.
The insurance provided through AT&T made it super easy to make the claim. I answered a few questions over the phone. Then a representative came on the line and said a new phone would be shipped next day delivery, there would be a $50 dollar deductible on my next bill and I could get email alerts about the progress of the delivery. I got the email the phone shipped that day and the next day the new Aria arrived. I opened the phone, stuck in my SIM card and put in the battery and I was up an running.
I had to return my old Aria and battery, but was able to keep the extra battery charger and headphones which I never use. Before I returned my old Android based phone, I wanted to make sure I wiped it clean. If you remove the battery, and the sim card and restart the phone plugged in, it will prompt you to restore the factory settings. I followed the promps and confirmed all my data had been removed. Then, the phone was placed back into the box they sent the replacement phone in, a label AT&T provides was placed on the box and my father took it to the post office to be returned.
One of the things that really stood out to me is how easy it is to switch between Android phones if you use google for mail and calendaring. I highly recommend switching to google mail for small businesses. In about five minutes I had my new phone setup and all my information from Google was syncing - Contacts, calendars and email.
AT&T takes a lot of complaints about the quality of their network, but my experience with their phone insurance department went incredibly smoothly.
The one thing I haven't done is install swype on the new aria. I still have to do that.
Comments
I was offered insurance two days ago when I bought my new iphone (3GS, they were out of the 4G's) because I lost my other phone. Now, I am going to go back and buy that insurance. Thanks, Paul, for the shared experience.
Thank you for your greathelp and advice.
Good Hub Paul!!
I too, have always felt 'insurance' on our gadgets was a waste of money!! My secretary talked me into getting insurance on my phone and later a camera!! Wow!! Both more than paid for themselves!!
The more we use a particular device, the more it pays to insure it!! A cell phone used for emergency purposes only won't be exposed to the sheer number of handling hours as a cell phone that we use to run our worlds!!
For me, living at the beach and being an avid photographer, insurance pays every time I accidentally drop my camera in the surf!!
Have a GREAT day!!
Earth Angel!!
One thing you didn't mention was the cost of the insurance relative to the cost of the phone. I'm with you in that ordinarily I wouldn't purchase phone insurance. I'm glad you had a good experience with this though, and managed to get up and running with your new phone fairly painlessly. Something that went well; something that went right!!! Hooray!
A fairly new service now is to fix these screens. I just noticed a lady in line at the courthouse (pls don't ask me my story) but anyways it was IPhone and you just have to get it fixed otherwise it annoys you to death. I am in the market for an HTC w/ video calling though.
The EXACT same thing happened to me, bought phone, was excited, got knocked out of my hand, shattered screen :/
but i had that insurance which made it super easy and painless to make my woes go away :D
SAME EXACT thing happend to me, had my phone for 4 days.
I bought my phone at best buy because they have asolutley NO DEDUCTABLE!! The iPhone insurance was 14.99 a month, and you could cancel it at anytime. The aria's is 9.99 a month, no deductables, and they'll replace it as many times as you need it. Only thing t doesn't cove ris lost or stolen.
The insurance is still a waste of money.
To replace the screen is $100 from HTC, considering you have to pay a $50 deductible plus $5 a month, that means you must break your screen at least once every 10 months. Also bear in mind that you only have a limited number of claims per year.
Also, if you are able to do it yourself a replacement screen is only about $50(the cost of the deductible)
Sam, that's a good point. Do you know how to replace the screen yourself? I haven't looked into it. I dropped my phone three times and twice the screen cracked. You can only replace two phones a year with the insurance. On to the Iphone now:)
Thanks so much. This helped. I dropped my HTC and the phone cracked just like that, and i wasnt sure if i was going to be able to get it replaced, if insurance would even cover it and so forth or how i would go about doing it so, thanks. very helpful. (:
sad thing is, i dropped my aria about a foot off the ground when standing up off the grass (had my phone in my lap) and the screen cracked that easy. i just dont remember if i had insurance on my phone..will find out tomorrow :(
The same thing happened to my Aria! The screens are horrible. Thanks for the information, it helped a great deal!!!
everyone i know who switched to at&t and got the htc aria have broken screens the screens are terrible fraudulant
I left the aria and am now on an iPhone 4.
mine is so much worse
Thats not the case for me about 3 weeks ago my screen craked and when my mom finally got insurence on it she called to get it replaced,so she did all the documents needed and sent it in but when she call the insurence ppl back they said they didnt get so she sent it again its been a week now and she still hasnt got a response . I just want my replacement phone i.e at&t iphone :/
I had my sister's Aria for a few months after my phone broke, and in less then a week I had dropped it twice with the screen braking a little more each time. It still worked for a few months after that but eventually the screen became unresponsive.
I am very dissatisfied with the phone insurance and even the warranty My 4G Infuse has been a prob from the beginning and now the charging port has somehow been destroyed. Been on the phone with ATT all week and all I hear is "Unfortunately, that's the way it is" Well unfortunately I'm going elsewhere.
sagebrush_mama 22 months ago
I'd like to insure my iPhone, but they didn't insure them at the time I bought it. It's a worthwhile price to pay, though, given the headache a broken cell phone can be.