By Peter Sylvester
If it's just been stolen, you may be thinking "Why didn't I insure my BlackBerry?"
You could also be thinking that it's probably not worthwhile insuring your new one because you couldn't be so unlucky again.
The phrase that there's not much point in closing the stable door once the horse has bolted, may well come to mind.
It may not be all that accurate in this case though because chances are, you would certainly remember to bolt that door if you bought yourself a new horse.
The same thinking may arguably apply to a new BlackBerry, so the question "Should I insure my BlackBerry?" should perhaps be given some serious consideration.
BlackBerry cover
You'll find that some BlackBerry insurance policies (but not necessarily all) may typically cover you for:
- breakdown outside of the manufacturer's warranty period;
- accidental damage including from liquids;
- theft of your BlackBerry;
- loss may also be available - possibly as an optional extra.
To benefit from this cover you may need to:
- ensure that your BlackBerry is locked in a secure premises or car while it is not on your person;
- report any theft of your BlackBerry to the police typically within 24 hours and remember to get a note of the crime number;
- not tamper with the internals of your BlackBerry because any resulting damage may not be classed as accidental.
Additional features
In addition to the basic cover provided, you may find that there could be a number of other very worthwhile features of BlackBerry insurance. With some providers these can include things like:
- cover if you take your BlackBerry abroad for work or personal reasons;
- up to 3GB of data storage for you to backup your precious data or contacts etc - so you can easily and quickly reinstate your data;
- guaranteed 48 hour replacement or your BlackBerry following approval of your claim thereby allowing you to get back to normal as quickly as possible;
- reimbursement of calls made on your BlackBerry after it was stolen because why should you pay for the thief's calls?
If your BlackBerry is an integral part of your life, going out to buy a new one after your old one has been stolen or irretrievably damaged could be a very painful financial experience.
Adding 'insure my BlackBerry' to your to do list may make very good sense indeed. Finally, do note that as with any insurance product, terms and conditions, exclusions and limitations will apply and you may wish to read these carefully to ensure you understand them.
