842 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jaredstenquist.com%2F2009%2F06%2F02%2Fverizon-and-asurion-worked-out-well%2FVerizon+and+Asurion+worked+out+well2009-06-02+15%3A09%3A29Jaredhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jaredstenquist.com%2F2009%2F06%2F02%2Fverizon-and-asurion-worked-out-well%2F to “Verizon and Asurion worked out well”

1. 2. Oct 2009
   10:11 am
   donna2417
   

   I have cell telephone service through AT&T and decided to take their insurance on my son's phone. The company that contracts to them is Asurion. Since my son's phone had not been holding a charge well(12-24 hours/charge) over the last month I went to the local AT&T store and was given a card with no company name but a phone number to contact for insurance. My husband made the call, explained to the representative the problem and was told that the phone would be replaced, but the company did not have the same phone available (an LG Shine) and that we would be sent another model that might be a new or refurbished model. The model number was given, but I'm afraid that meant nothing to us since we were given no choice or time to research what we were being sent. My husband was then told that a $50.00 deductable would be charged to our phone bill. We were given no chance to find out what model we were to receive, we had never clearly been informed about the deductible and were taken totally off guard by Asurion. I was listening as my husband spoke with the representative and was horrified by the expense and immediately searched for prices for a replacement battery. After I found the battery for $15.99, my husband immediately called Asurion back. This occurred within approximately five minutes after hanging up from the first call (definitely in less than ten minutes). He was told that he could not cancel and that the charge was nonrefundable.I went on to call AT&T to complain about their service provider. The customer service representative from AT&T tried to assist me, going so far as to contact the company and carry on a three way call, to no avail. The same stance was maintained. Although AT&T offered to credit my account the charge I feel that Asurion gave extremely poor customer service. When I complained to the AT&T customer service representative about the poor quality of the company that they use to service their accounts she started the process for me to lodge a complaint. She came back on the line saying that she had located a number for a complaint service with Asurion. She put me through to talk to that representative who very kindly condescended to make an allowance and credit the money back to my account after I returned "without activating" the phone I would receive.I at that time expressed my dissatisfaction with their company policies and explained my intent to log complaints against them.I feel that since their site advertises "next day" shipment (I checked the site after the contact) and my call came within ten minutes of the order they could have assisted me without putting me through so much. They absolutely refused to provide assistance until I threatened to file complaints and blog about their company. This takes advantage of all other customers who are rushed into an expensive decision with no recourse who are either not willing or unable to complain bitterly. People should not have to waste time and energy and become distraught due to questionable company policies.I would like to see a change in the way customers are informed of what they are getting for the money they spend on insurance. They should be clearly informed that the phones they have insured will not necessarily be replaced with the same model, that the phone they receive may or may not be new, and that there is a $50.00 nonrefundable deductable. I also found out in the course of my conversations today that if some poor soul had two claims on this insurance within twelve months they would be dropped immediately. Asurion needs to make sure that all of their customers are clearly informed of these policies.Consider thirteen months of paying $4.99, add on the $50.00 "deductible" and when the phone comes it is a different model, refurbished and not covered by the type of service I have with AT&T. I can't see how this was a good deal. Better to have saved the money and gotten a new phone under warrenty.By the way, I just received a call from the "CEO of Asurion's office" a few minutes ago. Am I supposed to be impressed?
2. 2. Oct 2009
   2:11 pm
   donna2417
   

   I have cell telephone service through AT&T and decided to take their insurance on my son's phone. The company that contracts to them is Asurion. Since my son's phone had not been holding a charge well(12-24 hours/charge) over the last month I went to the local AT&T store and was given a card with no company name but a phone number to contact for insurance. My husband made the call, explained to the representative the problem and was told that the phone would be replaced, but the company did not have the same phone available (an LG Shine) and that we would be sent another model that might be a new or refurbished model. The model number was given, but I'm afraid that meant nothing to us since we were given no choice or time to research what we were being sent. My husband was then told that a $50.00 deductable would be charged to our phone bill. We were given no chance to find out what model we were to receive, we had never clearly been informed about the deductible and were taken totally off guard by Asurion. I was listening as my husband spoke with the representative and was horrified by the expense and immediately searched for prices for a replacement battery. After I found the battery for $15.99, my husband immediately called Asurion back. This occurred within approximately five minutes after hanging up from the first call (definitely in less than ten minutes). He was told that he could not cancel and that the charge was nonrefundable.I went on to call AT&T to complain about their service provider. The customer service representative from AT&T tried to assist me, going so far as to contact the company and carry on a three way call, to no avail. The same stance was maintained. Although AT&T offered to credit my account the charge I feel that Asurion gave extremely poor customer service. When I complained to the AT&T customer service representative about the poor quality of the company that they use to service their accounts she started the process for me to lodge a complaint. She came back on the line saying that she had located a number for a complaint service with Asurion. She put me through to talk to that representative who very kindly condescended to make an allowance and credit the money back to my account after I returned "without activating" the phone I would receive.I at that time expressed my dissatisfaction with their company policies and explained my intent to log complaints against them.I feel that since their site advertises "next day" shipment (I checked the site after the contact) and my call came within ten minutes of the order they could have assisted me without putting me through so much. They absolutely refused to provide assistance until I threatened to file complaints and blog about their company. This takes advantage of all other customers who are rushed into an expensive decision with no recourse who are either not willing or unable to complain bitterly. People should not have to waste time and energy and become distraught due to questionable company policies.I would like to see a change in the way customers are informed of what they are getting for the money they spend on insurance. They should be clearly informed that the phones they have insured will not necessarily be replaced with the same model, that the phone they receive may or may not be new, and that there is a $50.00 nonrefundable deductable. I also found out in the course of my conversations today that if some poor soul had two claims on this insurance within twelve months they would be dropped immediately. Asurion needs to make sure that all of their customers are clearly informed of these policies.Consider thirteen months of paying $4.99, add on the $50.00 "deductible" and when the phone comes it is a different model, refurbished and not covered by the type of service I have with AT&T. I can't see how this was a good deal. Better to have saved the money and gotten a new phone under warrenty.By the way, I just received a call from the "CEO of Asurion's office" a few minutes ago. Am I supposed to be impressed?

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