Travel Plus…. Technology: When paying for a repair is better value than insurance

On Monday this week, I formally joined the iPhone owners club in the proper sens.

Yes, I’ve had an iPhone since the iPhone 3G, but I joined the special membership club – the one where the screen is cracked after meeting good olde 1970’s asphalt.

Sadly, there was ever going to be one winner in that fight – and it was the asphalt.

That’s pretty bad. But how bad exactly?

Oh. Verrrrrrrry Bad.

I could had used it (and I did for “small things”),

Now, there are three options on the table when this happens:

• Get the insurers to do some work for once
• Pay Apple to repair it.
• Pay a 3rd party to repair it

I’m never happy about 3rd parties touching equipment – least of all for warranty purposes it’s a good idea.

This puts us into option 1 and why I pay £10 a month for insurance with my current mobile provider – Three UK.

Except (and this was my fault), I didn’t read how much the excess would be… which would be £100.

On top of this – which the process had to be done electronically, I was forced to go through a full loss adjuster process to the point where I was told to fill in a paper form and email it in.

Sigh.

In the end, I did option two – which is go to the Apple Store to get the repair carried out. I booked a Genius Bar appointment on the day the phone was cracked… and waited the five days for the appointment.

Friday came, and I battled through the Friday traffic to the Apple Store at the Bullring in Birmingham. One and a half hours after dropping off the iPhone – I went back to the store… and behold:

The price for this repair job: £79.

Whilst ouchy pricing – I’m not objecting (and I should add, with AppleCare, it would had been £79 to enrol, and £55 per incident). It was a fair price to get this repaired – and I’m happy with the result.

And as a result, I’ve cancelled the insurance claim with Three UK (and I’m considering cancelling the insurance with Three after this incident).

The bottom line: Check your insurance polices before you sign them… and check if there any cheaper (and official options)

You may find the cost cheaper than your excess fee.

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.

Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!

Also remember that as well as being part of BoardingArea, we’re also part of BoardingArea.eu, delivering frequent flyer news, miles and points to European readers