Weird calls for phone compo
Monkeys, coffins and microwaves cop blame among bizarre claims
DROPPING a smartphone in a coffin or a rogue monkey running off with a device are among the weird and wacky excuses made on Australian insurance claims.
The nation’s largest telcos are being inundated by customers with bizarre stories seeking to have their device replaced at minimal or no cost.
Vodafone said it had heard many extraordinary tales, including one customer who was taking selfies with a monkey in Bali only for the animal to take off with the device.
In an even more unusual claim, a customer dropped a phone in a coffin, but was too petrified to put a hand in to retrieve it.
Another customer said the phone was put into a microwave to dry, while another tried to cool the phone down in a freezer.
Despite many strange claims being lodged, insurers remain tight-lipped on whether customers were successful. It’s understood that some do get paid, such as those where a monkey has snatched a device.
A Vodafone spokesman said water damage was one of the biggest issues. “Over 11 per cent of smartphones are ... totally ruined by water damage so it’s a good idea to remember this when you take your phone into the shower,’’ he said.
“As many as one in 10 Aus- tralians have either damaged or broken a phone, so having the appropriate damage or extensive cover could help reduce the repair or replacement costs involved.”
Optus said about 20 per cent of its customers made a phone insurance claim. Holiday periods were the busiest.
Telco comparison website WhistleOut’s spokesman Joseph Hanlon said given the high cost of a smartphone, insurance was often necessary.
“Last year we saw Samsung and Apple offer phones that were $1500 and you have gone from insuring a device that you may have been able to afford to replace easily to devices that are very expensive,’’ he said.
“Sometimes, it’s cheaper to take out insurance on portable devices on your contents insurance rather than taking out insurance direct with your telco.”
Telstra’s head of mobiles, Kevin Teoh, said about 70 per cent of its claims related to damaged screens as a result of drops or bumps.
IT’S CHEAPER TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE ON YOUR CONTENTS INSURANCE RATHER THAN TAKING OUT INSURANCE DIRECT WITH YOUR TELCO JOSEPH HANLON