What insurance REALLY covers... and what it should cost you.

[TekkieTag]

I see posts all the time where people are asking about insurance and wondering if "this" is covered or "that" is covered and how much they should have to pay for those repairs/replacements. Hopefully this will help out a bit. I put exclamation points ( ) between the sections for easy navigation.







Total Equipment Protection Explained: The Equipment Service and Repair Program

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ESRP provides coverage for mechanical or electrical failure, routine maintenance, or failure due to normal wear and tear. Additional details of the program include:

Unlimited repairs or replacements.
No charge at the time of repair or replacement.
Equipment is replaced with the same or comparable model.
If a replacement device is given, the customer must return the malfunctioning device or non-returned equipment penalties apply.
Cosmetic and intentional damage including misuse and abuse are not covered.
Devices must be in an active status on an active account to utilize ESRP.
Handsets are typically repaired while customers wait or replaced through The Sprint Advanced Exchange process.
Customers can locate a Sprint Phone Repair Center simply through the locator tool found on Sprint.com/storelocator.




Total Equipment Protection Explained: Service and Repair Coverage

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The table below lists examples of issues that are typically covered and issues that are not covered under the ESRP:


Typically Covered

Broken hinge
Two piece hinge
Broken charging port
Cracked LCD/lens
Broken keypad
Component replacement (microphone/speaker/antenna)
Software updates prescribed by the OEM or Sprint Nextel


Not Covered

Lost or stolen device (covered by ERP)
Cosmetic damage (Unless the damage affects the functionality of the device)
Non-active device
Batteries or accessories unless part of the loss to the covered equipment
Certain alterations to the device will also void ESRP coverage. For instance, changing the faceplate on a phone built for this is fine, but changing the housing (case) is not.



Total Equipment Protection Explained: The Equipment Replacement Program

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The Equipment Replacement Program covers the replacement of equipment should a customer's device be lost, stolen or physically damaged. Additional details of the program include:

ERP is optional insurance, with claims administered by Asurion®.
Customers must call Asurion® at (800) 584-3666 to request a replacement.
A $50 non-refundable deductible applies on each approved replacement.
Coverage also includes protection from liquid damage and resulting corrosion as well as damage from fire or lightening.
Customers have up to 60 days after loss or damage occurs to file a claim.
Claimed devices must be active on the Sprint or Nextel network at the time of loss (damage).
A maximum of three approved replacement requests are allowed in a consecutive 12-month period. After the third replacement ERP (insurance) coverage is dropped from the subscriber. (ESRP coverage remains in effect if the customer is enrolled in TEP)
Customers receive the same or comparable equipment of a like kind and quality as their original equipment.
Replacement devices may be reconditioned
Standard battery & charger are only covered if part of the loss to the covered equipment or if a different replacement model is provided.
Claims are shipped 2nd business day delivery. Next day expedited service is available for an additional charge.
Data transfer to the replacement device is not included. When possible, contacts can be transferred from a damaged unit to a replacement at a Sprint Phone Repair Center.
Important: In the event of a lost or stolen device, customers should notify Sprint immediately to suspend service.

[saqer]

i called sprint to try and add total equipment and they told me i could only add it the first 30 days i had the phone...is there a way around this?

[TekkieTag]

Do you have any insurance at all?

Well, you can go to a service center and pay for one repair and after that you can add at the very least ESRP, but I believe you should be able to add TEP after that. If you've got a 6700 then you can't do much besides get it replaced, which is $55 without ESRP. Then you should be able to add it afterwards. Call and ask them that an d see what they say. It should be affirmative.

[Sponge14]

no way around it. Sprint uses an insurance carrier, the 30 day thing is their rule. Without it, you can have your phone for say 1 1/2 years without insurance, mess it up, add insurance for 1 month, pay $50 and get a $400 phone. Doesnt make sense on their part, does it?

I don't know about the trick you were talking about with the service center. It doesnt sound like it would work though, as the ESN of the phone will be on your account for more than 30 days still.

Only way I have seen the 30 day avoided was by switching the phone on your account. Sometimes, (not always though, I have seen even this fail.) you will be able to say, take off your 6700, put another phone on there, add insurance to it, and then put your ppc6700 back on, making sure to tell them to leave insurance on there. Like I said though, I have seen them come back and say that since the phone you are putting insurance on is used, they wont insure it.

BTW I don't think that they offer the ERP anymore. If for some reason they do, thats the one to go for. That way if your phone messes up, you can just report it as being lost and get the new one.

[TekkieTag]

I'm certain that it can work. I do it for customers all the time. I work in a service center. I could prolly add at least ESRP for people online. LOL


Some stupid service center people won't do it, cause they don't know any better. And some are assholes. If you don't have any insurance you can add TEP. If you have ERP you can add ESRP.

And yeah, they still offer ERP, its in the activation system still. Even with ESRP, you get a replacement if its not on the repair list. Which the 6700 is not and prolly never will be. And those replacements are free...

[fenton]

I'm really sorry to have to ask this, but apparently my reading comprehension has not improved with age.
Can we try examples?
Like, what happens if you take in a phone to be repaired and:
1) its on the "repair list", and they can't fix it. can they exchange it for you right there or do you have to go thru insurance? do you have to pay either way?
1a) what happens if that model is no longer available?
2) its not on the repair list.

[stroths]

If you are over the 30 days, I've read that others have done an ESN swap with a cheap phone they had laying around or one on eBay. They then added the insurance since it was a new phone on the account. After adding it, they called back and switched back to the phone they want to use (6700 in this case). The insurance it linked to the phone line and not the phone, so the 6700 would then be protected.

[gbm85]

Originally Posted by TekkieTag

you get a replacement if its not on the repair list. Which the 6700 is not and prolly never will be.

Am I understanding this correctly? Are you saying that if you take a 6700 into the store with hardware malfunction, they are not authorized to even attempt to repair it, and are required to replace it?

[Shaska]

Originally Posted by gbm85

Am I understanding this correctly? Are you saying that if you take a 6700 into the store with hardware malfunction, they are not authorized to even attempt to repair it, and are required to replace it?

sounds logical... Its an expensive device, and I bet most carriers would rather replace them with refurbs and have the super techs repair them then let a regular tech at a random store take a whack at repairing one and make the problem worse...

[TekkieTag]

Originally Posted by Shaska

sounds logical... Its an expensive device, and I bet most carriers would rather replace them with refurbs and have the super techs repair them then let a regular tech at a random store take a whack at repairing one and make the problem worse...

That is correct. There is a list of phones that stores are authorized/required to stock parts for and fix. The 6700 is not one of them.

I'm really sorry to have to ask this, but apparently my reading comprehension has not improved with age.
Can we try examples?
Like, what happens if you take in a phone to be repaired and:
1) its on the "repair list", and they can't fix it. can they exchange it for you right there or do you have to go thru insurance? do you have to pay either way?
1a) what happens if that model is no longer available?
2) its not on the repair list.

1. They either exchange it for you there, or order you a replacement. There is no charge to you. ( This is only if the phone does not have liquid damage, major circuit board damage, or a few other things like that that fall into the neglect category. Then you would have to make a claim and pay $50.)

1a. Then you get the next closest model. Thats how I got my 6700 in the first place. A in-store (free) replacement of my broken Hitachi G1000.

2. They either exchange it for you there, or order you a replacement. There is no charge to you. Just took my phone in to a corporate one to see what they could do, they ordered me a brand new one ( I would've gotten a refurb through mine).