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The mighty smartphone. That beautiful, soft, blue-white glow that many of us can't live — much less travel — without. It can translate the indecipherable foreign road sign in front of us and record our most intimate travel moments through the art of the selfie. It's also an expensive gadget that always seems to land with the screen down when it falls. Its value makes it a target for modern-day pickpockets, and it's small enough to be easy to leave behind.
All this means your phone is easy to break or lose. Thankfully, credit card issuers realize the value we place on our cell phones. Several banks now offer free cell phone protection as a credit card benefit — and we'll show you which banks these are.
Page Contents
- Get Free Cell Phone Protection With Your Credit Card
- American Express Credit Card Cell Phone Protection
- Bilt Mastercard Cell Phone Protection
- Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business Cell Phone Protection
- Chase Ink Preferred Cell Phone Protection
- Chase Freedom Flex Cell Phone Protection
- TD Bank Visa Platinum and Signature Card Cell Phone Protection
- Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Card Cell Phone Protection
- What is the Best Card for Cell Phone Insurance?
Get Free Cell Phone Protection With Your Credit Card
American Express, Capital One, Chase, TD Bank, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo offer cell phone protection as a benefit on select cards. Generally, you activate this coverage simply by paying your monthly cell phone bill with an eligible credit card — and some card issuers cover multiple phones on the same plan.
- American Express added cell phone protection to several premium cards in 2021, providing up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per year, an annual limit of $1,600, and a $50 deductible per claim.
- Capital One offers cell phone protection on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Business. These cards provide up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims within a 12-month period and a $50 deductible for each claim.
- Chase offers cell phone protection on select cards, including the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Flex℠. The Ink Preferred covers up to $1,000 per claim, allowing up to three claims per year, with a $100 deductible. The Freedom Flex provides up to $800 per claim, with a $1,000 annual limit across two claims and a $50 deductible per claim.
- TD Bank includes cell phone protection on Visa Platinum and Signature-branded cards like the TD Double Up℠ Credit Card. Coverage amounts to $500 per claim, with a maximum of two claims and $1,000 in coverage per 12-month period. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible.
- U.S. Bank offers cell phone protection through the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, offering up to $600 per claim and $1,000 in total annual coverage. Claims are subject to a $25 deductible.
- Wells Fargo extends this benefit to select personal credit cards, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates & Fees) and The Bilt Mastercard®. The Active Cash Card covers up to $600 per claim, allowing two claims per 12-month period, with a $25 deductible. The Bilt Mastercard covers up to $800 per claim, with the same two-claim limit per year and a $25 deductible. And other cards have different coverage limitations.
Coverage terms vary depending on the issuer and card type. But in most cases, phones must be purchased new, and protection begins once your cell phone bill is paid with the eligible credit card. If you stop paying your bill with the card, your coverage may be suspended.
Below, we'll discuss the more granular details of the coverage you can unlock with each issuer.
American Express Credit Card Cell Phone Protection
The cell phone protection offered by American Express covers not just theft and damage but also screen damage.
What cards are included?
The following cards provide coverage. However, there may be other cards that provide this coverage.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Centurion® Card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID - this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
Claims are subject to:
- A $50 deductible.
- Maximum two claims per 12 months.
- Limited to $800 per claim and $1,600 per 12 months.
The insurance is a secondary (“excess”) policy. That means you may need to prove you don't have other coverage (such as cell phone insurance, home insurance, etc.) or have already exhausted those before your claim is approved.
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Cell phones purchased for resale or professional or commercial use. This exclusion only applies to personal cards.
- Cell phones that are lost or have a “Mysterious Disappearance.”
- Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier.
- Cell phones that are rented, leased, or borrowed.
- Cell phones on a pre-paid plan.
- Cosmetic damage that does not impact the phone's ability to make or receive phone calls.
- Damage or theft from abuse, intentional acts, fraud, or hostilities of any kind. According to American Express, this includes — but isn't limited to — “war, invasion, rebellion, or insurrection, confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects or vermin.”
- Damage or theft from “misdelivery or voluntary parting from” your cell phone.
- Replacement phones purchased from anyone other than your phone provider’s retail or internet store.
- Taxes, delivery or transportation charges, or other fees.
- Losses covered by a warranty issued by a manufacturer, distributor, or seller.
Claims must be made within 90 days of damage or loss by calling 833-784-1467. You have 120 days from the incident to return the required paperwork.
Bilt Mastercard Cell Phone Protection
Wells Fargo issues the Bilt Mastercard, but its cell phone protection differs from the issuer's other cards.
The Bilt Mastercard protects your phone from damage, theft, and “accidental parting” of your and your phone. However, cracked screens and damage that doesn't affect the phone's capabilities or functionality are not covered.
What cards are included?
Bilt only has one credit card, the Bilt Mastercard.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
Claims are subject to:
- A $25 deductible
- Maximum two claims per 12-month period
- Limited to $800 per claim and $1,600 per 12 months
This coverage is secondary and only applies after other cell phone insurance is exhausted.
What isn’t covered?
- Cell phones purchased for resale.
- Cell phones purchased for professional or commercial use.
- Any cell phone that is lost (mysteriously disappears) without evidence of a “wrongful act.”
- Cosmetic damage (for example, a cracked screen) or scratches that do not impact your phone's functionality.
- Accessories other than the original equipment included with your phone.
- Cell phones under the care of a third party or common carrier.
- Loss due to “fraud, abuse, gradual deterioration, vermin, inherent product defects, product recalls, war (whether it be declared or not) or hostilities of any kind (including but not limited to, invasion, rebellion or insurrection, radioactive contamination, or risks of contraband).”
- Phones confiscated by a government agency, public authority, or customs official.
- Acts of God like a natural disaster.
- Phones lost or damaged due to fraudulent acts committed or arranged by the cardholder.
- Loss from illegal activity or acts.
- Loss due to misdelivery or voluntary parting.
- Taxes, delivery fees, transportation charges, and other fees.
- “Consequential or incidental damages.”
- Loss or corruption of data and applications on your phone.
- Cell phones not listed on your phone bill.
- Tablets, smartwatches, and other devices that are not cell phones, even if they're on your phone bill.
You must file a claim within 60 days of damage or loss. You can file a cell phone protection claim by calling 800-316-8051 or filling out a form on the benefit provider's website.
Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business Cell Phone Protection
The cell phone protection offered on the Capital One Venture X covers “theft, damage, or involuntary and accidental parting” of your phone. However, “Electronic issues, such as inability to charge, mechanical or battery failure, where there is no evidence of physical damage, are not covered under this program.”
What cards are included?
Only two Capital One cards offer cell phone coverage as a benefit:
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Claims are subject to:
- A $50 deductible
- Maximum two claims per 12-month period
- Limited to $800 per claim and $1,600 per 12 months (Capital One Venture X) or $1,000 per 12 months (Venture X Business)
Like most other issuers on this list, Capital One's cell phone coverage is secondary to other insurance that covers your phone.
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Cell phones purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use.
- Cell phones that are lost or otherwise “mysteriously disappear.”
- Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier.
- Cell phones that are stolen from your luggage unless your bags are “hand-carried” and under your supervision.
- Rented or borrowed cell phones.
- Cell phones on pre-paid phone plans.
- Cosmetic damage that does not impact your phone's functionality.
- Damage or theft resulting from “abuse, intentional acts, fraud, hostilities of any kind (including, but not limited to, war, invasion, rebellion, or insurrection), confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects.”
- Damage or theft from misdelivery or “voluntary parting” with your cell phone.
- Taxes, delivery fees, transportation charges, or any other associated fees.
- Losses caused by a “cyber incident.”
Claims need to be made within 60 days of the incident. Notify the Benefit Administrator at 844-288-2140. You have 90 days from the incident to return the required paperwork.
Chase Ink Preferred Cell Phone Protection
The Ink Preferred includes a cell phone protection policy that reimburses cardholders for “damage to, theft of, or involuntary and accidental parting” of eligible cell phones on your monthly billing statement. Coverage is valid if you pay your phone bill with the Ink Preferred.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
Claims are subject to:
- A $100 deductible per claim
- Maximum three claims per 12 months
- Limited to $1,000 per claim
The insurance is a secondary policy, so cardholders must prove that the phone is not covered under another insurance policy.
Note that this coverage is not limited to the primary cardholder's cell phone. Per the coverage terms:
“Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephones are the lines listed on Your most recent cellular provider’s monthly billing statement for the billing cycle prior to when the incident occurred.”
Coverage applies if you purchased the phone with a different credit card; just keep a copy of the receipt. As a general rule, your phone(s) is covered as long as it's on a phone bill you pay with your Ink Preferred.
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Cell phones purchased for resale.
- Cell phones lost or otherwise “mysteriously disappear.” According to Chase, “Mysterious disappearance” means “the vanishing of an item in an unexplained manner where there is absence of evidence of a wrongful act by a person or persons.”
- Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier.
- Cell phones stolen from your luggage unless your bags are “hand-carried” and under your supervision.
- Rented or borrowed cell phones.
- Cell phones on prepaid plans.
- Cosmetic damage that does not impact your phone's capabilities.
- Damage or theft “resulting from abuse, intentional acts, fraud, hostilities of any kind (including, but not limited to, war, invasion, rebellion, or insurrection), confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects.”
- Damage or theft from misdelivery or “voluntary parting.”
- Replacement cell phones not purchased from a phone service provider’s retail or online store or an authorized retailer.
- Taxes, delivery fees, transportation charges, or any other associated fees.
- Electronic issues (“inability to charge, mechanical, or battery failure”) when your phone shows no other signs of damage.
Claims must be made within 60 days of the incident, and paperwork must be filed within 90 days. You will need copies of your credit card statement showing the monthly bill payments for the phone, the monthly statement from your phone provider, the original receipt for the replacement phone, a police report if necessary, and a completed and signed claim form.
The terms and conditions of this benefit are detailed in the Ink Preferred Benefits Guide.
Chase Freedom Flex Cell Phone Protection
The Freedom Flex offers a different policy from Chase, which becomes active on the first of the calendar month after you pay your wireless bill with your card. This policy covers replacing or repairing a stolen or damaged phone.
- Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
Claims are subject to:
- A $50 deductible
- Maximum two claims per 12 months
- Limited to $800 per claim, $1,000 per 12 months
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Cell phones that are purchased for resale or for professional or commercial use.
- Cell phones that are lost or “mysteriously disappear.”
- Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier.
- Cell phones stolen from your luggage unless your bags are “hand-carried” and under your supervision.
- Cell phones stolen from a construction site.
- Cell phones rented or leased from anyone other than your phone provider.
- Borrowed cell phones.
- Cell phones on prepaid plans.
- Cosmetic damage that does not impact your phone's capabilities. Specifically, this includes minor screen cracks and fractures less than 2 inches in length.
- Damage or theft from “abuse, intentional acts, fraud, hostilities of any kind (including, but not limited to, war, invasion, rebellion, or insurrection), confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects or vermin.”
- Damage or theft from misdelivery or “voluntary parting.”
- Replacement cell phones purchased from anyone other than a phone provider’s retail or internet store.
- Taxes, delivery fees, transportation charges, or any other associated fees.
- Losses covered by a warranty from the manufacturer, distributor, or seller.
Claims must be made within 90 days of the incident, and all paperwork must be filed within 12 days. You'll need to provide your credit card statement showing the monthly bill payments for the phone, the monthly statement from your phone provider, the original receipt for the replacement phone (if applicable), a police report if necessary, and a completed and signed claim form.
TD Bank Visa Platinum and Signature Card Cell Phone Protection
TD Bank only offers credit cards to customers based in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. If you aren't physically located in one of these states, you'll be unable to apply for TD Bank credit cards discussed below.
TD Bank offers Cellular Telephone Protection on select Visa Platinum- and Signature-branded credit cards. This coverage provides reimbursement for damage, theft, or involuntary and accidental parting of your cell phone.
What cards are included?
Eligible cards include:
- TD FlexPay Credit Card
- TD Double Up℠ Credit Card
- TD Clear Visa Platinum Credit Card
- TD Cash Credit Card
- No hidden fees: No foreign-transaction fees, annual fees, cash-advance fees, over-the-limit fees, or returned-payment fees
- Enjoy Visa benefits like cell-phone protection, emergency card replacement and Visa Zero Liability
- Must be a resident of CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA or VT.
However, other Visa Platinum and Signature credit cards issued by TD Bank may also provide this benefit.
Claims are subject to:
- A $50 deductible per claim
- Maximum of two claims per 12 months
- Coverage of up to $500 per claim, with a $1,000 limit per 12-month period
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Phones purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use.
- Lost phones or those that mysteriously disappear without evidence of theft.
- Phones under the care of a common carrier or stolen from unattended luggage.
- Phones that are rented, leased, borrowed, or part of prepaid plans.
- Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the phone’s functionality.
- Damage or theft resulting from abuse, intentional acts, fraud, or acts of war.
- Damage from normal wear and tear or inherent product defects.
- Taxes, delivery fees, or other charges unrelated to the repair or replacement of the phone.
Claims must be filed within 60 days of the incident, and all supporting documents must be submitted within 90 days. Required documents typically include credit card and phone bill statements, proof of phone ownership, and a police report if theft is involved.
Contact the Benefit Administrator at 866-894-8569 to initiate a claim or visit the claims processing website.
Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Card Cell Phone Protection
The Cellular Telephone Protection policy offered by Wells Fargo is available across several personal credit cards and covers up to four cell phones listed on your wireless cell phone bill, covering damage or theft but not lost phones.
What cards are included?
The following cards provide coverage. However, there may be other cards that provide this coverage that are not listed.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (Rates & Fees)
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates & Fees)
- Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (Rates & Fees)
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- 3x on travel – including airfare, hotels, car rentals, timeshares, cruises, and more
- 3x on transit – including parking, tolls, subways, ride shares, railways, ferries, and more
- 3x on dining – including dining in, take-out, catering, delivery and more
- 3x on gas – including gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
- 3x on phone plans – including landline providers and cell phones
- 3x on streaming services
- 1x on other purchases
Claims are subject to:
- A $25 deductible
- Maximum of two claims per 12 months
- Limited to $600 per claim, $1,200 per 12 months
The bank's more premium Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) also offers cell phone protection but to a more robust degree. This amounts to a limit of $1,000 per claim, a $25 deductible, and up to two paid claims per 12-month period.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- 5X points per $1 spent on hotels
- 4X points per $1 spent on airlines
- 3X points per $1 spent on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points per $1 spent on other purchases
However, we should mention that this insurance (on all the cards mentioned above) is a secondary policy, so cardholders may need to prove the phone is not covered under another policy.
What isn’t covered?
- Accessories other than the standard battery and antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Cell phones purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use.
- Cell phones that are lost or “mysteriously disappear.”
- Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier.
- Cell phones stolen from your luggage unless your bags are “hand-carried” and under your supervision.
- Cell phones stolen from a construction site.
- Cell phones that are rented, leased, or borrowed.
- Cell phones that are part of a pre-paid plan.
- Cosmetic damage that doesn't impact your phone's ability to make or receive phone calls.
- Damage or theft from “abuse, intentional acts, fraud, hostilities of any kind (including, but not limited to, war, invasion, rebellion, or insurrection), confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects or vermin.”
- Damage or theft from misdelivery or “voluntary parting.”
- Replacement cell phones not purchased from a phone provider’s retail or internet store.
- Taxes, delivery, and transportation charges or any other fees.
Claims must be made within 60 days of the incident, and all paperwork must be filed within 90 days. You will need to provide copies of your credit card statement that shows the monthly bill payments for the phone, the monthly statement from your phone provider, the original receipt for the replacement phone (if applicable), a police report if necessary, and a completed and signed claim form.
You can start the claims process by calling 866-804-4770.
What is the Best Card for Cell Phone Insurance?
Wells Fargo's cell phone coverage has the lowest deductible of $25, but it doesn’t apply if you accidentally lose your phone. This is one of the main reasons people want cell phone protection from a credit card, so keep this limitation in mind before you choose a credit card to cover your cell phone.
Meanwhile, the Ink Preferred has a higher deductible at $100 per claim. However, it covers your phone if you leave it behind, and you can claim up to three times annually. It also earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on cable and phone service spending (up to $150,000 of bonus category spending annually), equating to a roughly 6% return.
The Capital One Venture X also covers “accidental parting” for up to $800 per claim and has only a $50 deductible. This card earns 2x Capital One miles on all purchases, including your phone bill.
It’s great to see credit card companies taking note of changes in consumer behavior and adjusting credit card benefits to suit. If you’ve had any experience using cell phone coverage from a credit card, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
