Sprint Insurance Plans Explained

[Bret69]

This is what I found out about the Sprint insurance coverage today.
Most of the time, when you sign up to insure your phone, they automatically put you in a "Total Protection" plan that costs $7 / month.  The Total Protection Plan is actually 2 seperate $4 plans put together (and discounted $1). 

Sprint offers 2 different plans...
The Equipment service and Repair Program - $4 / month, No Deductable
http://www.sprintpcs.com/common/pdfs/DE63002-2443_ESRP_Combo.pdf

Basically, this plan covers mechanical, electrical, normal wear and routine maintenance (not cosmetic) and there is NO deductable.  It looks like the phone will be repaired, or replaced if broken.  QUOTE FROM link "If you receive a replacement device, you’ll need to return your malfunctioning device or pay the non-returned equipment charge applicable to the model of the failed device. You can avoid this charge simply by returning the failed device as directed."   Looks like you can still get a replacement, but I'd bet you have to at least prove to them you have a broken phone with this plan.

Other plan is
The Equipment Replacement Program - $4 / Month - $50 deductable
http://www.sprintpcs.com/common/pdfs/DE63002-2443_ERP_Combo.pdf

Basically, this program covers lost, stolen, broken, wet (or anything wrong with the phone) and there is a $50 deductable.  So you always have to pay $50, but everything and anything is covered.

The plan they usually set everyone up with is the Total Equipment Protection, which includes both of these plans and offers $1 discount - $7 / Month.  With this, (I guess), if your button breaks, you can get it fixed for free, and if you loose the phone, you also can get it replaced for $50.

Hope this helps!  If I'm wrong on any of this, please correct me.

[Robin24k]

Great info! KFU.

I have moved this to North America and made it sticky.

[Scott_L]

I've often wondered ...

Can I add this Insurance Plan at any time or only within a specific period of time after initial phone purchase? 

[DickieD]

AFAIK, at any time - as long as the phone can be verified as functional, it can be insured

And yeah - I hate the stupid new "Total Protection" Plan, personally, tho I guess comparing it to other carriers and their warranty/insurance plans, I can't complain.  Still, when it's gone from $3 to $7, it irks.

[TinyTot2]

Just thought we might update this thread a bit because Sprint will be switching to a tier system when it comes to insurance deductibles.  I received a letter in the mail a month or so ago that read like this:

Approved claims with a date of loss prior to April 19, 2009 will be charged a $50 non-refundable deductible, regardless of phone model.
 
Approved claims with a date of loss on or after April 19, 2009, will be charged a deductible per the Equipment Tier table below.

•Important: Customers with losses on phone models in Equipment Tier 2 starting April 19, 2009 will be processed at the $100.00 non-refundable deductible, regardless of the date the phone was purchased.

The comprehensive list on this website is updated regularly to include new models. Some phones introduced under Equipment Tier 2 ($100.00 deductible) may be moved to Equipment Tier 1 ($50.00 deductible) during their lifecycle.

Here is a link that breaks down what phones are on what tier:


http://www.nextel.com/assets/pdfs/en/services/AS08285_Sprint_Tiered_Deductible_Schedule_en.pdf

[MiDoJo]

thanks for the update TT2 that'll help for the sprinters out there (i take it treo's are tier 2 and centros are not)

[Robin24k]

Nope, the "Palm Treo Centro" is tier 2.

[MiDoJo]

nice so they gotta pay $100 for a less than $99 phone

[Robin24k]

Well, that price is with a two-year contract. Sprint subsidizes part of the costs.

[AlphaTech]

Bret69 -> you are correct in your post as far as what the insurance plans cover through Sprint. With the Palm line of smartphones, paying that extra $7 per month per phone could be beneficial to the Sprint customer. However, across the internet on sites like ebay.com or ubid.com I have found that it would actually be CHEAPER just to purchase a slightly used phone should my smartphone break or take a dirtnap. At $7 per phone per month, thats $84.. plus the $50 deductible per each occasion the Sprint customer uses their insurance option; that's roughly $134 dollars within a year, or up to $218 within two years. By the time two years rolls around under Sprint, you can opt to get a new phone sometimes at no charge anyway. Then the vicious cycle starts all over again. I always keep a back-up phone just in case something does happen to my smartphone. But in these trying times, in my opinion; it's just cheaper to save your monthly service fee and buy a gently used or reconditioned phone from somebody off eBay or something.

Also, keep in mind, if you read the fine print, there is a limit to the number of times you can use the Sprint Insurance in any given time frame. I believe that limit is three new or refurbished phones within a 12 month period. Should you exceed that limit, Sprint has the option to drop you from their insurance plan, or charge you for the new or refurbished phone. Either way, in my opinion, its just easier to keep a backup phone (Your backup phone does NOT even have to be a smartphone, my backup phone is a Motorola RAZR), and buy a used or reconditioned phone from a reputable dealer from eBay or something. In the long-run I feel you could save yourself some $$$.

I hope my post has been helpful to some. I hope you save some money.

O-AlphaTech-O

[fstopstigmata]

Wow, the $50 wasn't bad, but with three lines with Centros and insurance at $100, that $7/month just feels like a sucker punch.  Buying a gently used Centro on ebay is way cheaper than a year's worth of insurance fees.

My Centro just completely died yesterday, I've tried different batteries, charging without the battery in, everything.  All it does when I put the battery in is flash the LED green, then a second later it flashes red.  When it's attached to the charger it lights up red, but never turns green, so I know it's not just a screen problem.  It's not water damage. 

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do.. My insurance replacement says that I'd get the green model, which is okay by me, plus it'd double my memory which would be great.  And I love the soft-touch finish. 

But then again, I could get a 755p on ebay for $60-80.  I've never had one, but I don't think I'd mind it.  I'm just afraid it might be too big & uncomfortable in my pocket.

What to do???

[Robin24k]

The 755p is a great device, it feels much better than the Centro and is very solid. The size difference won't be all that noticeable, but you will immediately notice that the keyboard is a lot better.

[ajakeway01]

better???

[fstopstigmata]

Yea, I'd def like the keyboard, solid 'quality' feel, screen size, weight, price..

That's probably what I'm going to do.  The only reason I'd prefer another Centro (This would be my personal fourth; sixth on my account) would be that I'd get it much faster.  I can live without the larger memory and the soft finish.

[Robin24k]

The 755p also has the rubberized finish.