How to Efficiently Prepare to File a Cell Phone Claim

We all hate dealing with insurance companies on a personal level. It is usually a long and arduous wait as well as having to deal with teleprompting and automated menus. But, here is my quick little guide that will help you get through the process as quickly and efficiently as possible. I will be including such information as what to look for, determining what the problem may be, what to expect when dealing with the representative and how they think, as well as the many different kinds of issues that may come from any particular accident or incident that can occur at any time.

First of all, the main thing that you will want to do first is to take the time to read the insurance policy that came with your phone. In most cases, there usually are not typically problems with getting a claim covered. But, every once in a great while, the insurance company may decide to throw the customer a curve ball and find some way to deny the claim. While this may seem callous and irrational because you are paying them good money for coverage for your cellular phone, the object of any insurance company is to find new and different ways to deny coverage for the slightest little detail that may work in your favor. Now, while all policies are different within the way that they approach what claims are covered, make sure that when you place the call that you know just as much as they do. Most representatives are prompted to explain why the claim is denied and have specific scripting that they use to try to alleviate the situation and to find another way that you can go so they personally do not have to deal with the situation. Most of the people that you speak with are not even agents, but rather people that were just hired off of the street that needed a job and simply know how to work the policies to the company's advantage. So, first, read that policy and get to know everything that you can. Also, do not forget to read the fine print, just as if you had just bought a new product for the first time and need to know what things that the service will not provide in certain eventualities.

The next thing that you will want to do is inspect your phone. Ask yourself pertinent questions that are relevant to your situation and write them down on a piece of paper. Here are some examples: Is my screen not showing? Did I accidentally drop the phone? Was my phone either exposed to a liquid or was something spilled on it? If the phone was lost or stolen and how and where that occurred? These are bit a few of the questions that the representative may ask you when you are filing a claim and are used as a factor to determine your phone's eligibility for coverage under the policy that you have purchased. Make sure that when you do finally make the call that you have included everything that you can think of that may have happened to the phone within the last 60-90 days. In some cases, the problem may not become self-evident until a later time and then show up miraculously on the same day that it does occur. While it may sound strange, it does happen.

When performing the inspection, here are a few quick steps that you can perform yourself that will save you time from running up to the store and asking the pertinent questions that you are uncertain of:

a) Remove the battery first of all and look at the back of your phone. The reason that you are doing this is to obtain some pertinent information from the phone itself that the representative may need for the claim itself. The two items are the make and model of your phone and what is called the ESN or DEC number. It is either and eleven or eighteen digit-long number that does not have any letters in it. These numbers help identify the phone to the representative that you are claiming the correct phone and that it is the phone that is currently registered with your policy.
b)When examining the phone, there will be a sticker on the back of the battery and/or phone. This indicates that the phone has received some form of water or moisture damage. If this round sticker is pink, then there is a good chance that this liquid damage could be causing difficulties to your phone. Make sure that you make a note of it while you are writing things down.
c) Inspect the front and back to see if there may be any other kind of physical damage. If there is just a few dings and scratches that are on the outside of either the phone or on the back, many insurance policies do not deem cosmetic damage to be of any importance. The kinds of physical damages that will help in you claim is: 'spider webbing' (* crack that is in the shape of a spider web upon your screen that may have been caused by something in your pocket or purse, such as a set of keys), damage caused to the back or the hinge from such things as a fall, drop or possible accident. Make note of all of these and also if something did happen during that time that you record all that you remember and then make sure to tell the customer service representative during the initial claim call. One last thought on this to remember: not all policies are created equal. Read everything like I have stated above so that way it can serve as a guide to you during the inspection.
d)When you have collected all the data from your initial inspection, go ahead and place the call. Make sure that you have received all information from the representative before they let you go, such as claim numbers, credit card approval codes for payment, and so forth. If there is a possibility of receiving a loan of a phone to use in the interim while you are waiting for your replacement to arrive. Some policies do have such programs. Make sure to check with the company to see if that would be possible.
e)Once the claim is completed, make sure that you store all the information in a safe and secure place in the very same way that you would treat other important documents like tax forms for the year. Keep the insurance company's phone number on hand just in case something may go wrong such as a missed shipment, a double payment, or any other mishap that may happen.
f)Once the phone arrives, follow all extra procedures just in case there are any. Keep track of all claims that you file and when you file a new claim, follow these same steps and it will help you to get through your claims process as quickly as possible.

This procedure is probably the quickest and easiest way to get through any claims process, whether it would be for your cell phone, your care, or even your health insurance provider. More often than not, may companies actually appreciate when the common customer will go to great lengths in order to inform themselves of what exactly their company will or will not do in any given situation. When the old adage we all remember from our 'Schoolhouse Rock' days of 'Knowledge is power', this is not just a motto but possibly a real life-saver when you do have to go through this. A self-inspection by yourself once you know how to do it a few times will really make everything a whole lot easier for you. Hope this helps.