In today’s tech-savvy world, where smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, protecting them from damage or theft is a priority.
But did you know that your credit card can offer this security?
Yes, you read it right. The Wells Fargo Autograph Card does provide cell phone insurance, adding an extra layer of protection for your precious device.
The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers cardholders up to $600 per claim to repair or replace a damaged or stolen phone. This benefit applies when charging the monthly phone bill to the card. It provides maximum coverage of $1,200 annually with a low deductible of $25.
However, please note that this protection does not cover phone accessories, phones purchased for resale, professional or commercial use, and lost phones.
Stay tuned as we delve deeper into how this insurance works and how you can use it.
What is Cellular Telephone Protection?
Cellular Telephone Protection is a benefit often provided by credit card companies, including Wells Fargo, to their cardholders.
This coverage offers protection against damage to, theft of, or involuntary and accidental parting of your cell phone.
Here’s how it works:
- Payment Method: If you pay your monthly cell phone bill using your credit card, you are automatically eligible for this protection.
- Protection Coverage: This protection covers your phone if it is damaged or stolen.
- Reimbursement: The plan may reimburse you up to a certain amount, typically around $600.
- Supplemental Benefit: This benefit applies in excess of any other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity you may have.
- Terms and Conditions: Terms and conditions may vary, so you should check with your credit card provider for specific details regarding this protection.
What does Wells Fargo Autograph Phone Protection cover?
The Wells Fargo Autograph Phone Protection offers a variety of coverage aspects.
Below is a breakdown of what is covered, how long you’re covered, the deductible, and the maximum coverage per cell phone and covered card.
What is Covered?
The Wells Fargo Autograph Phone Protection reimburses you for the cost to repair or replace your cell phone if it’s damaged, stolen, or unrecoverable due to involuntary and accidental parting.
However, cracked screens, cosmetic damage, or scratches that don’t affect the cell phone’s functionalities are not covered.
To be eligible for coverage, two conditions must be met:
- Make sure to pay your monthly Wireless Bill using your Covered Card. It’s important to keep up with your payments.
- The Wireless Bill charge must post to the Covered Card Account the month before the Cell Phone gets damaged, stolen, or becomes unrecoverable due to involuntary and accidental separation.
- Coverage applies to all cell phones that appear on the Wireless Bill.
How Long Are You Covered?
Coverage starts on the first day of the calendar month after posting the Wireless Bill charge to the Covered Card Account.
Failure to pay the Wireless Bill with the Covered Card in a given month results in coverage suspension from the first day of the following calendar month until a charge is posted on the Covered Card Account.
Coverage resumes on the first day of the next calendar month after a charge is posted on the Covered Card Account for the Wireless Bill.
Deductible
A $25 deductible per claim will be deducted from the amount reimbursed for repairing or replacing the cell phone.
What is the Maximum Coverage per Cell Phone?
The coverage is limited to the lesser of the following:
- The cost to repair the cell phone is less than the deductible.
- The cost to replace the cell phone with similar features and functionality at the current market value at the time of loss less the deductible.
- $600 per claim.
What is the Maximum Coverage per Covered Card?
The coverage is limited to:
- A maximum of 2 paid claims per 12-month period.
- $1,200 per 12-month period.
The coverage is supplemental to an excess of valid and collectible insurance or indemnity.
After all insurance or indemnity has been exhausted, Wells Fargo will provide coverage subject to this benefit’s terms, conditions, exclusions, and coverage limits.
What is not covered by Wells Fargo Autograph Card Cell Phone Protection?
Cellular Telephone Protection can be a valuable perk, but it’s important to understand what it does not cover. Here are the exclusions that apply to this coverage:
- Resale or professional use: Any cell phone purchased for resale or for professional or commercial use is not covered.
- Lost Cell Phones: If your cell phone mysteriously disappears without evidence of a wrongful act, it will not be covered.
- Cosmetic damage: Cracked screens, scratches, or cosmetic damages that do not affect the phone’s capabilities or functionality are not covered.
- Accessories: The protection does not extend to cell phone accessories beyond the original equipment that came in the original packaging.
- Third-party care: If someone else is in possession of your phone or the delivery service is handling it, any loss incurred will not be covered.
- Fraud, abuse, and other causes: Losses due to fraud, abuse, gradual deterioration, vermin, inherent product defects, product recalls, war, rebellion, radioactive contamination, and risks of contraband are not covered.
- Government confiscation: A loss from confiscation by any government, public authority, or customs official is not covered.
- Natural disasters: Losses resulting from Acts of God (including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes) or consequential losses from such events are not covered.
- Illegal activity: Losses arising from illegal activity or acts are not covered.
- Misdelivery or voluntary parting: A loss due to misdelivery or voluntary parting with the cell phone is not covered.
- Additional charges: Taxes, delivery and transportation charges, and any fees associated with the cell phone service provider are not covered.
- Consequential or incidental damages: These types of damages are not covered.
- Data loss: The loss or corruption of data and applications is not covered.
- Unlisted devices: Any cell phone that is not on the wireless bill, along with tablets, smartwatches, or any other device connected to a cellular service other than a wireless telephone, is not covered.
Always check with your credit card provider for specific details regarding what is and isn’t covered under their Cellular Telephone Protection plan.
How to Use Wells Fargo Autograph Card for Cell Phone Protection?
Using the Wells Fargo Autograph Card for Cell Phone Protection is straightforward. This coverage can be a lifesaver if your phone gets damaged or stolen.
Here’s how you can take advantage of this valuable card benefit:
- Check Other Coverage: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers secondary cell phone insurance. This means you have to exhaust any other coverage before claiming with the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
- Notify the Benefit Administrator: If your phone gets damaged or stolen, notify the administrator within 60 days of the incident. You can do this by calling 1-800-316-8051. Alternatively, you can also open a claim online.
- Submit Required Documents: Within 120 days of the incident, submit the necessary documents. These include your eligible card account statement showing the monthly payments for the month before your phone was stolen or damaged, a copy of the device summary page from your cellular wireless phone bill, and any other requested documents.
- Wait for a Decision: After submitting all the required documents, wait up to 15 business days for a decision. The Benefit Administrator will notify you as soon as your claim has been processed.
Conclusion
The Wells Fargo Autograph Phone Protection covers your cell phone against damage, theft, or loss.
However, certain conditions and limitations apply. You need to pay your monthly wireless bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph Card, and there is a $25 deductible per claim.
The maximum coverage per claim is $600, and you can make 2 claims or up to $1,200 per 12-month period. This coverage is supplemental to any other valid insurance or indemnity you have.
