Asurion: Mobile Phone Insurance for Peace of Mind

Have you ever dropped your mobile phone, shattering the screen or causing other irreparable damage? Or lost it while running errands or traveling? If so, you’re not alone. According to Asurion, a global tech solutions company, one in five people—or 2.2 per second—will have their cell phone lost, stolen or damaged this year. Unless they have mobile phone insurance, they’ll be on the hook for the full retail cost of a replacement as well.

Fortunately, Asurion can help you avoid that unexpected expense. RewardExpert spoke with Bettie Colombo, the company’s Senior Director of Communications, about Asurion’s affordable phone protection plans that provide comprehensive coverage, convenience and peace of mind.

Created to Help Millions

Founded in 1995 as a roadside assistance company, Colombo said Asurion was inspired by one goal: to help people. “Today, that goal has fueled Asurion’s growth and transformation into a global tech solutions company with 17,000 employees helping more than 300 million people around the world to unlock their technology’s untapped potential,” she explained.

“Partnering with leading wireless carriers, retailers and pay-tv providers,” Colombo continued, “Asurion delivers a seamless, award-winning customer experience, anticipating customers’ needs and providing tailored services reachable within one touch.”

Comprehensive Smartphone Coverage

While Asurion provides a number of additional services, including an unlimited tech support plan for connected devices and extended warranties for TVs, laptops, tablets, home appliances and more, anyone with a mobile phone can benefit from the company’s mobile protection insurance.

“Mobile phones have become a necessary tool in the lives of nearly all U.S. adults,” Colombo said, “from using Google Maps to get around town, checking Facebook to see what your friends are up to, or getting your boarding pass scanned at the airport.”

Available through Asurion’s carrier partners—which include AT&T, Sprint and Verizon—the protection plans provide consumers with a suite of comprehensive benefits, including:

• Same-model, as soon as next day replacement for damage and loss
• As soon as same-day screen repair via remote technicians

“Some plans also offer comprehensive, on-demand smart tech help for the customer’s device and almost anything connected to their device,” Colombo added. “Smartphone protection also includes device recovery features for tracking a lost phone, backup of contacts, photos and videos, and protection from viruses and malicious software.”

Tips to Ensure a Safe Return

While mobile phone insurance is a smart investment for anyone worried about paying replacement or repair costs in the case of a damaged, lost or stolen phone, Colombo said there are a few precautions consumers can take to increase their chances of getting their phone back should they misplace it.

First, “Add your contact info to the lock screen,” Colombo said. “You can do this by adding an image on the lock screen that includes an ‘if lost’ contact number or email address.”

When Asurion conducted an experiment in which it purposefully “lost” smartphones in three major cities across the U.S. to test the likelihood of them being returned, they found that locked phones featuring a contact number on the device’s lock screen were three times more likely to be returned to their owners.

Second, “Enable ‘Find My Phone’ or a similar service,” Colombo continued. “Many people assume this is automatically activated with every phone, but it needs to be manually turned on in their phone settings.”

Finally, “Revisit or call locations where you may have lost the phone,” Colombo concluded. “Many people don’t call the establishment where they accidentally lost or left their phones, thinking there’s little chance of getting them back. During Asurion’s experiment, we heard from many organizations that had drawers full of lost phones waiting for owners to reclaim them.”