Disclaimer: We are not associated with any of the below mentioned mobile insurance companies. Please conduct your due research before choosing any insurance provider for your gadget.
Typically when you buy a smartphone or a tablet, the manufacturer provides one year of warranty, beyond which you are left on your own. Some manufacturers do provide extended warranty plans, but theft and damage by liquids are generally not covered in such warranty plans.
As more and more Indians are purchasing gadgets, and mishandling them at the same time, a new insurance niche has come up which was unheard of in the last few years:Gadget Insurance.
There exists several startups which provides you extensive cover on your mobile phones / tablets and insure them against every imaginable type of damage and loss.
But how to select the best mobile insurance plan for your gadget? We will overview 4 such startups which are providing mobile insurance plans, and help you evaluate the best one based on your needs and predicted style of usage.
Syskagadgetsecure.com
Syskagadgetsecure has recently started their niche mobile insurance services with a tag line: “Whenever life happens, you remain unaffected”.
As of now, their premier offering is: ‘Gadget Secure’ wherein you can get complete security and protection against accidental damages, water/fluid damage, theft, burglary and fire damage.
Additionally, they also provide anti-virus solution and free pick-up/drop of your gadget from your home in case any repairs are necessary.
Depending on the price of the mobile, they have introduced 5 different plans; one of which is exclusively dedicated for Samsung Mobiles. All other plans are dependent on the price of the mobile. For example, if the price is between Rs 4000 to Rs 10000, then you can choose Rs 599 / year plan and so on. The maximum plan is for Rs 1999 / year for mobile costing between Rs 25001 – Rs 60,000.
Syskagadgetsecure has created an exhaustive list of policies governing their mobile insurance plans. Included are the exclusions under which you are not eligible for any warranty. You can find the complete list of their policies here.
Warrantyasia.net
WarrantyAsia is a company based in New Delhi, which has tie-ups with several manufacturers of electronic gadgets, besides providing mobile insurance plans. Currently they are providing insurance for mobile phones and tablets from the following manufacturers: Apple; Samsung; Sony; LG; Karbonn; Micromax; HTC; Lava; Xolo; Videocon; Alcatel; Panasonic; Gionee; Oppo; Xiaomi; Asus and all other manufacturers which provide 1 year warranty from the date of purchase.
The plans currently offered by this insurance provider is somewhat complicated as the policies are laced with several terms and conditions. For example, if any damage to your screen or touch display happens within the first 15 days of the purchase, then the company won’t provide any assistance.
The insurance plans are based on the price of the handset, and starts from Rs 349 for handsets priced between Rs 1500 – Rs 5000. The most expensive plan costs Rs 4299, covering handsets priced between Rs 45001 – Rs 56000.
The insurance claims are based on the number of days of usage of the handset. Hence, if the consumer claims for a loss/damage within the first 15 days of purchase, then WarrantyAsia will provide 75% of the repair bill (in case the damaged components are repairable); 65% of the handset price (in case the damaged components are not repairable) and 55% of the price of the handset in case the mobile is stolen (supported by FIR copy).
Above that, there are more terms and conditions such as service tax on the total amount; service charges on the total amount and other miscellaneous charges. You can find details about the plans and the policy offerings right here.
Gadgetcops.com
GadgetCops were among the first in India to provide a comprehensive cover for electronic gadgets, with primary focus on smartphones. The plans offered by GadgetCops currently cover Accidental Damage, Theft, Extended Warranty and provides other Value Added Services.
The plans offered here cover your smartphone for two years, and promises to providerepair or replacement for all types of electrical and mechanical faults encountered.Additionally, they also provide with a ‘cashless service’ wherein the insurer need not pay for any repair done at service center, as the costs are borne by the company.
Under the ‘Extended Warranty’ scheme, you can extend the one year of manufacturer’s warranty for the next two years, which will have all the benefits of the mobile insurance plans.
Under their insurance plans, there exists several instances where no claim would be provided such as for accessories: As per their FAQ section, theft and damage to any accessories including battery, charger, hands-free, mounting kits, memory card, body cover are not eligible for claims. Additionally, damage to your mobile from natural calamity and animals are also not covered.
You can refer to their plans and policies right here.
Onsitego.com
OnsiteGo provides comprehensive insurance and extended warranty cover for smartphones, tablets, laptops and digital cameras. Laptop insurance is a completely separate niche, which has entirely different set of rules and regulations. We will only focus on the insurance provided for mobiles and gadgets.
Established in 2010, OnSiteGo is based in Mumbai and provides their specialized ‘on the site’ support for your gadgets. The extended warranty for your gadgets will include typical faults such as hardware failures, malfunctioning touch screen, errors in WiFi antenna etc. As they are specialized in onsite service, they will pick the defected smartphone/tablet, repair it at the authorized service centers and then deliver it back at your doorstep.
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