This is an update to a previous post, to note that we now have a lot more details about the specifics of the Citi Prestige cell phone protection benefit.
Continue reading: Citi Prestige Cell Phone Protection Benefit: Full Details
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Sad to report that I have dropped my cell phone in a toilet (at home).
Wiped it down with Lysol wipes. It works fine.
So how will the 2x per year fourth night free work when implemented. Do you get twice from 9/1 to 12/31, or do uses prior to 9/1 in 2019 count?
And is it based on date of stay or date of credit posting?
If I pay my partner's cell phone bill with the Prestige, will they get coverage as well?
"20% of affluent Americans having dropped their cell phone in a toilet".
I'm curious to know which one.
I still have my Ink Plus so I am earning 5x on cell phone bills... so this is even larger difference.. 6.8% difference.. that makes me pause..
Important fine print question: the Ink Preferred does NOT cover cell phones being financed over time. Since pretty much every carrier wants you to finance phones these days (as the 'new' version of contracts):
DOES THE PRESTIGE CARD COVER FINANCED PHONES??
Major typo: It's not, "20% of affluent Americans..."
It's, "20% of effluent Americans..."
@ Dogtor -- Thanks for asking this important question! Now, let's hope somebody answers it.
I'm not sure why ink is a better protection program. Their maximum claim is limited to $600 and the deductible is higher. Considering the sky high prices on the new devices for their repair and a lower deductible makes it much much better with Citi.
On the other hand Citi limits it to $1500 a year, while Chase isn't too better at $1800.
Luckily I've been paying my bills on Citi prestige for the past few months and is great news moving forward!
the difference in deductible makes that $1800/$1500 yearly max much closer than it looks on the surface, too.
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is a much better deal.
$600 per phone
$25 deductible
1.5% cash back
No annual fee
Lucky, I’m sorry to say that your blog has changed from being a repository of useful trip reviews and insights to constantly shilling for credit cards and rewards programs. Hope you get back to the useful stuff soon.
@Lucky Thank you for this information. For those of us who want points and perks, this is as important as a trip report. Interesting that Citi does not seem to require that the purchase of new phones be on the Prestige Card. I happen to think that the insurance is worth losing a few thousand points a year, even though I have never dropped my phone in the toilet.
The INK Card has a $95.00 a year AF, and when you pay your cell bill you get 5 X, POINTS,
Just the facts,,,
Canceled the Citi, you had to book the Hotel through them,
Instead of receiving the Confrence Rate,,
Anyone know if the insurance covers a lost phone (specifically, the language says stolen or damaged)?
I fear that because it doesn’t include the word “lost” that probably isn’t covered. Citi hasn’t published a new benefits guide that includes the specific terms yet. Some of these plans explicitly cover loss, others have language that excludes mysterious disappearances.
I am embarrassed to say that I have dropped my phone in the toilet before, and it was fine. But that pales in comparison to the embarrassment when I dropped my phone into a glass of water, bricking it. Thank goodness most are waterproof these days.
@Brewer - Thank you for the info.
I have a friend who put his iPhone in the dishwasher once, so fear not, you are doing well with your phone!
Found it in the fine print:
Under NOT covered: "Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephones which have been
rented or leased from a person or company other than a
cellular provider"
So, that should mean coverage for most/all phones leased through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Spring, Google Fi, etc.
That easily trumps the 3x points with the INK card (since many phones are leased and the INK doesn't cover that)...
How is this administered? In other words, do I need to flow through an insurance company for a repair? Specific repair facilities? And to the earlier questions, does the bill have to paid with the card? If not, how is the phone tied/associated with the card account? Thanks.
@ Dogtor - CIP DOES cover phones under a carrier’s installment plan. I just had a claim pay out. I’m paying no interest on the installments so why not?
@Pam - here's word for word from the "not covered" section of the CIP benefits:
"Cellular wireless telephone which has been rented, leased, borrowed
or cellular wireless telephones that are received as part of a pre-paid
wireless service plan or “pay as you go” type service plans."
AFAIK, the "installment plans" are considered no-interest leases (I think Sprint even calls it a lease). So, either it's not enforced or you can consider yourself lucky.
How many $450+ cards can a person have in his wallet? This one just doesn’t seem compelling. (I do like my Citi Premier card, though.)
seems the new MasterCard World Elite protection works better because it covers cracks. I wonder how Citi's and MasterCard's programs work together.
https://apnews.com/Business%20Wire/7bbed91d3a8e45d9b918000dc8afa1de
So if you have your phone disappear from your shopping cart (i.e. theft) and immediately file a police report, Citi Prestige would cover it? But if you just "lose" it that isn't covered? I have Citi Prestige and Chase SR but wondering which would be better, thankfully I've never lost or had one stolen but worry about it because of the ridiculous prices of phones these days...You can buy a laptop/desktop or 4 for what you pay for a cell phone anymore.
I got a similar offer on another card awhile back but the fine print noted that the coverage only applied after any other insurance had been used which I took to mean that I would have to make a claim on my homeowners policy and then the credit card would cover the difference. I would be unlikely to want the black mark on my homeowners over something as small as a broken phone so to me it seemed like the insurance from the credit card would basically be unusable by me. Does anyone actually have any experience making a claim to a CC company for a damaged or stolen phone?
Unclear to me whether Citi will only cover the cost to repair a broken phone or will cover the cost of a new replacement phone. The T&Cs are unclear. Does the consumer get to choose between getting reimbursed $400 to fix a broken iPhone 6 or $1k to buy a new iPhone 10? I ask here because we all know no Citi rep will know the answer...
I always pay for my $ 1000 plus phones in full using Costco Citi. That adds 2 years to the Apple warranty. Add that to AppleCare and 4 years total on mfg warranty coverage.
This CIti Coverage, or my existing Wells Fargo coverage, covers damage and theft, which is not otherwise covered.
FYI. My daughter left her IPhone in her pocket and threw her jeans in the washing machine, two weeks after her AppleCare expired. Enough said.
I find Citi Prestige phone coverage to be one of the best features of this card. I'm a clumsy person and have used this servi e regularly, and the extra $200 per claim is so important since most phone I purchase is above that limit.