Credit Card Cell Phone Protection, Explained
How it works
Pay your monthly wireless bill with a card that offers the benefit, and the phones on that plan are covered against damage and theft, typically up to around $800 per claim (often $1,000 on premium cards) with a deductible of about $25 to $50 and a cap on claims per year. It usually does not cover simple loss (misplacing the phone) or normal wear.
Which cards have it
Cell phone protection is common on no-fee and mid-tier cards, including several business cards and flat-rate cards. Check a card detail page on Cardocrat for the exact terms, and remember the trigger is paying the phone bill with that card every month, not just holding it.
How to file a claim
File with the benefit administrator (a third party, not the issuer) within the stated window, often 60 to 90 days, with your phone bill showing the payment, a repair estimate or proof of theft, and a police report for theft. The benefit is usually secondary to any other insurance you carry.
Frequently asked questions
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