The truth is, even the most diligent person occasionally drops their phone. Even if it’s protected by a sturdy case and a well-applied screen protector, every drop is reason for brief panic.
There are occasions when your worries are well-founded. As a matter of fact, I’ve witnessed cellphones being dumped into pools, ran over by automobiles, and thrown (accidentally) from many floors above. My life doesn’t even come close to being riveting.
Actually, none of those gadgets made it. You should take precautions to prevent the same thing from happening to your precious electronics if you are concerned about it.
By investing in reliable device protection plans instead of dubious retailer-provided extended warranties, customers may have their gadgets replaced if they are lost, stolen, or broken beyond repair for a small fraction of the cost. Plans comparable to those provided by Allstate.
How Allstate Protection Plans Compare
Competitors to Allstate Protection Plans include third-party protection policies provided by credit card issuers and other businesses, as well as extended warranty plans provided by major retailers like Best Buy and mobile phone providers like Verizon.
Let’s compare the services offered by Allstate Protection Plans to those offered by Best Buy’s device and appliance protection division, one of the most well-known “protectors” in the industry.
| Allstate Protection Plans | Best Buy (Geek Squad and Totaltech) |
| Products Include: Mobile Devices, Tablets, Wearables, Computers, Televisions, Video Game Equipment, Cameras, Home Appliances, and Furnishings | Devices such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, laptops, TVs, video game consoles and accessories, cameras, automotive electronics, scooters, hoverboards, and drones |
| New and Refurbished Phones: Yes | Yes |
| Deductible: $0 for non phone plans, $149 for phones | Varies |
| Pricing begins at $9 per month for complete phone coverage. | Starting at $16/yr for phones under $50, but with significant limitations |
| Transferable Plans: No | Yes, you can transfer coverage when you sell the covered item |
Allstate Protection Plans: Security for Smartphones and Other Electronics
Allstate Protection Plans, formerly known as SquareTrade and still accessible at SquareTrade.com, is among the top non-retailer warranty providers for electrical equipment.
Assuring that it is not a scam, it is backed by the Allstate Insurance Company, which is well-known for its dependability and stability.
Allstate Protection Plans’ primary warranties cover mobile devices and other household items respectively. In this context, “everything else” refers to anything else that is valuable enough to warrant the cost of insurance, such as various sorts of electronic devices (tablets, laptops), household appliances, and furniture.
The cost-effectiveness of protection plans from Allstate is remarkable. The lowest monthly cost for any brand-new or refurbished smartphone is around $9. Perhaps there are other things that would be even less costly to insure, but there is a floor below which it would be counterproductive to pay anything at all for continuous protection.
Moreover, there is no deductible for any non-cellular Allstate Protection Plan, setting it apart from other extended warranties and protection plans. As long as the insured item is covered by Allstate, you won’t have to worry about making any out-of-pocket payments. There is a hefty $149 deductible attached to most phone plans.
How to Enroll in Allstate Protection Plans
Signing up for an Allstate Protection Plan is quick and easy. It’s imperative that you supply the following information when negotiating a phone plan:
- The quantity of handsets you wish to guarantee
- Your identity and location
- Your telephone number and electronic mail
- A legitimate credit card number
Other types of devices and durable goods programs require the following information to be provided:
- Definition of the category of product, such as “appliance” or “furniture.”
- How much you spent for it – a sliding scale from $500–$699.99 to $1,000–$1,249.99 is available.
- How long you’d like your insurance to last — Based on the item, you can select a 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-year payment plan.
- Please identify yourself by providing your full name and mailing address.
- Send me an email and give me a call.
- The number of a valid credit card
However, depending on the plan and the object being insured, you may be required to pay for the entire year upfront. This isn’t a big problem for monthly plans, but if you want a few years of insurance on your new refrigerator or cooking range, you should be prepared to pay $200 or $300.
Allstate Phone Protection Plan Highlights
If you get an Allstate cell phone protection plan, what features can you anticipate? All other attributes pale in comparison to these three.
- If your phone is damaged beyond repair due to a covered event, you will be reimbursed for the entire purchase price, less any applicable deductible. Allstate will pay for the cost of repairs if doing so will be less expensive than replacing the item.
There is no time limit on coverage, so you can feel safe using any phone, old or new. As long as you maintain paying your monthly bill, it will stay active on your account. - Protection for New Devices: If you update your phone, you can rest certain that you will be covered for the new device as long as you maintain paying your monthly payments. Your regular payment shouldn’t go up.
- A single phone costs $9 per month to insure, while a family plan covers up to five phones for $45 per month. Individual plans cover up to five phones, but do not offer a discount for additional phones. Alternatively, a family plan that covers up to four phones may be had for about twenty dollars a month. That’s a better bargain for most folks, of course.
- Accidental Damage Coverage: Your plan should have you covered in the event that your phone is broken or stolen due to an unforeseen accident. Allstate will pay for anything you can imagine.
- Coverage from StoresYou may get Allstate phone protection directly from the company’s website, which is the most straightforward choice in most cases. However, Allstate Protection Plans can also be purchased via a variety of Allstate’s retail partners. An Allstate Protection Plan may be available to you at the time of purchase of a phone (or other covered device) from one of these retailers.
- Allstate Protection Plans, like other insurance policies, have coverage exclusions. Important exclusions from coverage include things like aftermarket components, previously undisclosed flaws, and user-installed software on covered devices.
As you might expect, if a device is misrepresented during the purchasing process, Allstate will void the protection plan on that device. Since submitting a claim is the whole goal of acquiring insurance in the first place, it’s important to be forthright when purchasing the policy. - Compensation Caps: Individual plans allow for up to four claims per device over the course of a lifetime, while family plans allow for up to eight claims over the course of any rolling 12-month period.
- At any time during the current month, you can cancel your coverage without penalty. If you decide to cancel your insurance during the first 30 days, you will receive a full refund, including the cost of the first month.
Key Benefits of Allstate Electronics, Furniture, and Appliance Protection Plans
Looking to buy something but a phone, though? We’ve got you covered at Allstate Insurance. What you may anticipate from Allstate’s coverage of your non-phone gadgets, household appliances, furniture, and other belongings is outlined below.
- Accidental Damage: Not all non-phone protection plans provide accidental damage coverage. This sort of coverage is often reserved for gadgets and furnishings. If the policy includes accidental damage, it will cover cracked or broken displays as well as liquid damage.
- Power Issues: This coverage includes basic issues (such as the device not turning on at all), charging issues, and power cord issues.
- Remote and Screen Failure: Devices operated by remotes often have coverage for remote functioning failures (including broken remotes). Devices with displays often provide coverage for screens that fail for reasons other than cracks or breakage.
- Speaker and Sound Issues: This coverage includes any issues with the device’s speakers or sound drivers that are not connected to another covered concern, such as liquid damage.
- Mechanical and Electrical Failure: This coverage applies to household appliances and other covered products that have mechanical and/or electrical systems that are external or internal.
The cost of numerous Allstate Protection Plans can add up fast, and if you already have good coverage for your house or apartment, you may not need them.
Major purchases like a sofa set, home theater system, and kitchen equipment should be covered by a regular homeowners policy if you own your own house. Your homeowner’s insurance company’s valuation of such valuables is the sole open question.
Actual replacement value is equivalent to Allstate if not better. Allstate Protection Plans may be worthwhile even if they only cover the depreciated value of your car, which is only a small portion of the original value after the first two years. It is also worth noting that there are no deductibles associated with the Allstate Protection Plans that do not include telephone coverage.
The Benefits of Allstate Protection Plans
Should you get an Allstate Protection Plan? These are just some of the many benefits offered by this well-liked gadget warranty service.
- There is no deductible for non-phone plans. There is no deductible associated with our other protection options. A deductible of $100 or more might make it seem like submitting a borderline claim isn’t worth it, so this is good news.
- No Limits on Your Phone Service’s Protection. The phone service provided by Allstate is permanent. If you maintain paying your rates, your coverage will continue on every new device you acquire. Basically, you can just turn it on and leave it alone.
Monthly costs for cell phone plans are surprisingly low. Allstate has excellently priced cell phone plans. Pricing starts at about $9 per month per device for even the least affordable option—individual subscriptions. - Take care of pretty much any appliance or electronics in the house. You can insure just about everything of value in your home or business with Allstate. All non-cellular electronic devices are included in this category, from furniture to home theater equipment to household appliances.
- Wide-ranging Protections. Allstate will insure everything you can think of, albeit not necessarily under the same policy. Make sure you’re covered for the disasters that are most likely to strike your belongings by reading the tiny print.
- The pricing for the family plan is fantastic. The family plan from Allstate is only $20 a month, which is less than $5 per device, making it an excellent value.
Drawbacks of Allstate Protection Plans
Unsure if you need an Allstate Protection Plan? Before committing to a plan, think about the drawbacks.
- High Deductibles for Telephone Plans. The deductible for Allstate’s phone plans is $149, regardless of the device’s manufacturer or model or the kind of claim filed. This is considerably steeper than most rivals.
- Increased prices for furniture and home appliances. The furniture and appliance protection plans offered by Allstate might be expensive, especially if you pick for a four- or five-year coverage period. The initial expense is not a deal-breaker, but it is important to ensure you can afford it beforehand.
- If you already have comprehensive property insurance, it may not be necessary. If your homeowners or renters coverage includes your personal belongings, as the majority of policies do, you may not require Allstate’s non phone plans. Unless your insurance coverage offers depreciated compensation, which falls short of the initial purchase price by a significant amount.
- Lack of basic phone service. The substantial phone protection offered by Allstate is commendable. In conjunction with the high deductible, the absence of a low-cost, bare-bones plan is a significant disadvantage.
Bottom Line
The smartphone warranty I bought from Allstate Protection Plans was my first interaction with the company. I found that complete accidental coverage was available to me for $99. This was less expensive than the retailer’s extended coverage, which did not include damage from drops or water spills.
My prior phone was subjected to some severe abuse. After shattering the screen, I had to take it to a service that specialized in replacing such components. When I got my new phone, I calculated that if I had to replace it, it would cost me around $500, compared to the less than $200 I had to pay for it thanks to the contract. The extra $100 or so a year is well worth it for something I use constantly and carry around with me.
For other expensive household items, such furniture and refrigerators, I also recommend looking into Allstate Protection Plans. If you have children or dogs, you know how often these things break. There is no better investment than financial security, and the modest additional monthly cost might save your budget if things go south.
