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Not sure if this is the right area to post this or if it been posted before, but was just wondering on other opinions of googles hidden costs when buying apps off the market.
Not sure if this only happens in certain countries but I am in the uk and when I buy an app that is priced in euro's there is a 'hidden' £1.50 charge applied to my card, so a $1 app really costs about £2.30. So if I buy 10 apps, google make £15 quid off me!
I feel this is totally unfair and am wondering of the legalities of not even warning about this charge when you buy the app?
And also it does not seem fair that google are making money off the hard work of developers, I know they get a share of the price but then they also get the extra 'card charge'.....the word ripoff springs to mind here!
I live in the states and I haven't experienced this, perhaps it has something to do with the conversion rate?
rosso22 said:
Not sure if this is the right area to post this or if it been posted before, but was just wondering on other opinions of googles hidden costs when buying apps off the market.
Not sure if this only happens in certain countries but I am in the uk and when I buy an app that is priced in euro's there is a 'hidden' £1.50 charge applied to my card, so a $1 app really costs about £2.30. So if I buy 10 apps, google make £15 quid off me!
I feel this is totally unfair and am wondering of the legalities of not even warning about this charge when you buy the app?
And also it does not seem fair that google are making money off the hard work of developers, I know they get a share of the price but then they also get the extra 'card charge'.....the word ripoff springs to mind here!
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Click to collapse
I don't think it is like that. Other people will confirm, but I guess it may be some thing with your credit card or bank, as I believe this does not happen to almost anyone.
antonio1475 said:
I don't think it is like that. Other people will confirm, but I guess it may be some thing with your credit card or bank, as I believe this does not happen to almost anyone.
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Click to collapse
Well it happens to me whenever I buy an app that is in euros, on two different bank cards with different banks, and the money goes to google as it says it on the statement next to the charge.
what I'm getting at is even if it does only happen to a small amount of people (or even just myself), does it make it any less unfair to not warn of this?
And some may say well just buy apps that are in £'s but then I would be missing out on a hell of a lot of apps
rosso22 said:
Well it happens to me whenever I buy an app that is in euros, on two different bank cards with different banks, and the money goes to google as it says it on the statement next to the charge.
what I'm getting at is even if it does only happen to a small amount of people (or even just myself), does it make it any less unfair to not warn of this?
And some may say well just buy apps that are in £'s but then I would be missing out on a hell of a lot of apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it just fits to your problem:
http://www.techeye.net/mobile/android-apps-conceal-hidden-charges
antonio1475 said:
I think it just fits to your problem:
http://www.techeye.net/mobile/android-apps-conceal-hidden-charges
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Thanks for that, explains a lot, I think google should definitely start showing the true price of apps before you buy them, and warn of any charges you may incur....Is it any wonder that people use cracked apps!
To be honest, I hadn't noticed that VAT wasn't included in the prices, I just presumed they had it set up so that your local VAT rate was included (wouldn't be hard to do).
As for the £1.50 charge, that's down to your bank to inform you of it, which I bet they did, but you (like the rest of us) just never got round to reading the small print in the bumf that came with our accounts.
dbzfanatic said:
I live in the states and I haven't experienced this, perhaps it has something to do with the conversion rate?
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Same here. Never seen such a thing. (Also in the states.)
dgalanter said:
Same here. Never seen such a thing. (Also in the states.)
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Click to collapse
Yeah probably a UK thing....they are always finding ways to sting us for more money here
It'll be your bank's handling charge for exchanging £ to €
The same as if you jumped on the ferry and bought a bottle of wine with your bank card rather than cash.
If you don't think your account should incur charges for non £ transactions (ie you're sure it says you won't be charged in your terms and conditions), then contact you bank and complain.
Demand the refund of £1.50 (was VAT added to the charge? I suspect it was so add an extra 20%) and £10 as compensation for their mistake.
xaccers said:
It'll be your bank's handling charge for exchanging £ to €
The same as if you jumped on the ferry and bought a bottle of wine with your bank card rather than cash.
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I'll just pay with with coins next time then eh?........now where's the coin slot on my phone?
And getting charges back from a UK bank......dont make me laugh
thanks for the info
rosso22 said:
I'll just pay with with coins next time then eh?........now where's the coin slot on my phone?
And getting charges back from a UK bank......dont make me laugh
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Click to collapse
Email the developer and ask if you can post them some dosh
If your terms and conditions state that there is no charge for foreign transactions, then under the banking rules you're entitiled to those charges back.
Quite often a polite phone call even when the charges are valid can result in them being refunded.
I've had overdraft charges refunded simply because I phoned up and had a bit of joke with the person in the call centre, they have a thankless job putting up with customers abusing them for mistakes the poor sods aren't responsible for, if you can make one of their's day, they can give in to resonable requests.
Like when O2 barred my phone without warning me because my bank screwed up my direct debit. 4 days after making a manual payment the bar still hadn't lifted, so I got through to a west indian woman and while she was looking into it I said "I just wanna use my phone" in a jokey way, she laughed and sorted it and credited me £15.
Maybe with Google's plan for a web based marketstore they'll be the option to add apps to your basket and pay in one go, so only 1 charge, doubt it though.
I still cannot believe they have not sorted this. The majority of UK debit cards will charge £1 - £1.50 for every transaction, meaning that I (and surely thousands of others) have completely avoided buying budget apps as it just makes them too expensive.
There has been some talk of a paypal or charge through your phone provider option, but no sign of either in the UK yet.
There are a couple of accounts and credit cards that don't charge a set fee, often credit cards have say a 2.5% charge on conversions that's perfectly acceptable for small purchases ... well a lot better than £1.50!
Another person from the states here, and i've never encountered something like this
lol, it's not a big deal. Although i did find out unexpectedly
I hope with carrier billing will come to the rest of the civilized world, until then you have to deal with your local financial laws and jump through hoops.
I have been getting similar. Frustrating and hard to get around without calling the bank to check their daily forex rate and having their list of card charges handy before calculating the actual price manually. Seems a PITB for a $2 app
Im from Mexico and I experienced something similar, I just bought one of the 10 cents Apps and I got the notification of two charges, both from Google, one for the 10 cents and one for $1 US. I know its not my bank, because I've used my card on a recent trip to the US and my bank didnt apply any extra charges, besides on the detail of the transaction it says GOOGLE GOOGLE.COM/CHCA US for the extra...
Any news from google on that?
$0.10 apps really only cost $0.10 for me in Canada
So at work today, I discovered Square Up. A device you plug into the headphone jack of an Android, or iOS device to accept credit card payments. It's practically free. Ten bucks to buy, and they give you ten bucks when you register. However, they take 2.75% of your transactions. Still neat!
Any other devices like that? Accept payments, or not. Anything as cool as this for Android devices?
xSeany said:
So at work today, I discovered Square Up. A device you plug into the headphone jack of an Android, or iOS device to accept credit card payments. It's practically free. Ten bucks to buy, and they give you ten bucks when you register. However, they take 2.75% of your transactions. Still neat!
Any other devices like that? Accept payments, or not. Anything as cool as this for Android devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Square has been around for a while. I had this installed on my N1. But yes cool for a price lol
xSeany said:
So at work today, I discovered Square Up. A device you plug into the headphone jack of an Android, or iOS device to accept credit card payments. It's practically free. Ten bucks to buy, and they give you ten bucks when you register. However, they take 2.75% of your transactions. Still neat!
Any other devices like that? Accept payments, or not. Anything as cool as this for Android devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? $10?!?
Got mines last year was absolutely free. I'm a photographer and it works great for offering my clients a way to pay while on the go or doing a location photoshoot.
Still suprised they charge $10 even though you get it back.
There are similar devices out there similar to square but in my opinion none of them are as good.
So, who's still stuck in a contract and when does it end? What are your plans when it does end? Upgrade or leave and go to a prepaid plan?
My contract ends on 12/14/13 and am counting down the days when I can leave Verizon and never look back. It makes me sick to pay $180/month service for two smart phones when I can go with a prepaid service and save $80-$90. So I plan on waiting it out and not even toying with the idea of upgrading and locking myself into a phone that will become obsolete in 6 months and a plan that is overpriced and includes ridiculous fees and charges.
I will be looking to spend around $200-$250 on a phone. I know that I can get a SGS2 or Gnex right now for that but in 9 months I'm thinking that the price of a S3 will come down to where I can afford it. I'm also looking at a RAZR or RAZR Maxx. Used of course. I originally started looking on Craigslist, but am thinking Amazon is the way to go.
I obviously want the most for my money and something unlocked or unlockable and plenty of support available for the phone.
What other options will I have in that price range?
HTC?
Samsung?
Motorola?
Sent from my CM10 Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
I did the same thing last November. I saw how much Sprint wanted monthly for a smartphone and now I have a smartphone for less than I was paying them for just minutes and texting with no data.
I was looking around to buy a phone and I personally felt it was better to spend a bit more money and get the GS3 (which was about $400 when I got it) so that it would last me longer and not already feel very dated. I put it on a card and I've already paid it off - very minimal interest accrued.
If I were you, I'd get the S4 or something if you're looking to buy at the very end of this year - that way they'll be on the market for a while and you can likely find one used at a decent-enough discount over buying new. I feel like it pays to spend more on something better.
Or you could buy an N4 new if you don't care about removable battery and sd card.
You could also just buy a really cheap phone or flash whatever you have now to a pre-paid service - and save the money you were paying to Verizon and put it aside to buy a better phone.
You have a long time. Ultimately, I wouldn't worry about it yet. See what you can save up between now and then, just wait and see where prices will go by then (The Nexus phones aren't much more to save up for you and I'd bet a new one will be released between now and then - a great value if the hardware is right).
Pennycake said:
I did the same thing last November. I saw how much Sprint wanted monthly for a smartphone and now I have a smartphone for less than I was paying them for just minutes and texting with no data.
I was looking around to buy a phone and I personally felt it was better to spend a bit more money and get the GS3 (which was about $400 when I got it) so that it would last me longer and not already feel very dated. I put it on a card and I've already paid it off - very minimal interest accrued.
If I were you, I'd get the S4 or something if you're looking to buy at the very end of this year - that way they'll be on the market for a while and you can likely find one used at a decent-enough discount over buying new. I feel like it pays to spend more on something better.
Or you could buy an N4 new if you don't care about removable battery and sd card.
You could also just buy a really cheap phone or flash whatever you have now to a pre-paid service - and save the money you were paying to Verizon and put it aside to buy a better phone.
You have a long time. Ultimately, I wouldn't worry about it yet. See what you can save up between now and then, just wait and see where prices will go by then (The Nexus phones aren't much more to save up for you and I'd bet a new one will be released between now and then - a great value if the hardware is right).
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If you're looking for a phone, you're not going to find much for around $200-250 besides well used S2s right now, and S3s aren't going to come down as dramatically as the GNex did when the N4 was announced. The S3 is still a solid powerhouse that will command at least $300 at minimum for a well used one when all is said and done after the S4 drops. If you're just looking to expand your functionality of your phone, but not have to pay the insane carrier prices/payment schemes for equipment, or worse, MSRP, then you may be in the market for a cheap N7 like myself. I was originally looking for a Note or N7, if I could get the Note, that would be the end of it, but since I found a brand spanking new N7 I've been very happy overall with my pair of Androids. I can still upgrade my phone later, but because I'm not relying on my phone to do anything other than handle my data connection and provide me with a physical handheld to use for calls, I'm not quite as concerned about upgrading it anytime soon. I had already anticipated when I upgraded from a beat up Optimus 3D to the S2 that I would have to stick with whatever I got at $250 (I got super lucky, it was only 2 weeks old) for the better part of at least a year before I could even think about upgrading my phone again. I got that itch shortly after when I found myself semi-limited by the phone as far as certain gaming capability. I then eyed a Note or N7 in order to get my gaming fix. The N7 I ended up getting has since been a VERY handy tool for not just getting my mobile gaming fix, but for remote troubleshooting, home network/pc management when I get calls from my roommates for broken services.
Before you make ANY purchase, ask yourself a couple questions about what you really want. Do you want a device to game on? An accessory/toy? An internet connected tool? A better communications platform? I found that I was already satisfied with my phone and only wanted to get a bigger screen, longer battery life, and better gaming support, which made the Note and N7 perfect options. Note if I chose to drop $400 on a used one and have a phablet, or an N7 for $200 and just never take my phone out of my pocket.
Either way, I would recommend looking into Swappa.com, the Marketplace replacement as this is where I found my N7, and Craigslist (though be VERY CAREFUL here) for the S2.
What I mean by be VERY CAREFUL with transactions on Craigslist is that I've heard of people buying a lightly used phone from somebody for decent money on there, only to find the phone doesn't work anymore and rejects the carrier a month or two down the road. This is typically because the original seller bought the phone on a payment plan and have since either stopped making payments, or have dropped the carrier altogether, and the carrier has responded well within the contract and blacklisted the device on the network. Swappa is a lot more reliable for not dealing in possibly abused/misrepresented items, but you'll pay a premium for this peace of mind. Good luck!
I use my phone now primarily for streaming spotify while at work, email, texting and browsing the web. My WiFi connection at work is sometimes unreliable so I rely heavily on my 3g connection. I'm not as concerned about having the latest tech either. I would probably be fine for a couple of years using a gnex or s3. Although I probably would go for the s3 simply because of the removable battery and SD card slot.
Sent from my CM10 Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
Cynagen makes some very good points. I am mainly interested in changing carriers and lowering my contract price, and was looking at buying something new and unlocked. Tethering to a full-featured, higher spec tablet makes a lot of sense if the main use case is data. I rarely use my phone for voice, and most times am within wi-fi coverage.
=RV=
redvelociraptor said:
Cynagen makes some very good points. I am mainly interested in changing carriers and lowering my contract price, and was looking at buying something new and unlocked. Tethering to a full-featured, higher spec tablet makes a lot of sense if the main use case is data. I rarely use my phone for voice, and most times am within wi-fi coverage.
=RV=
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It's an okay idea, but the phone's battery is going to drain FAST if it's constantly tethering. And unless you're paying for tethering, there might not always be a reliable work-around to get it to work anyway.
My S3 lasted about 4 hours of continuous tethering and it was pretty warm. Instead of it being able to manage going to "sleep", you'd have to do that manually - turn your tethering on whenever you want to use your tablet. Which may work depending on patience and usage.
Another idea might be a data-only SIM in a tablet and make calls over VOIP or just keep a spare phone for the minutes if that's what you want.
I have a phone and a tablet and I use my phone more often on a daily basis - it would not be practical to bring my tablet where I most often use my phone - the size difference is big enough to go from "kind of bulky" to "full on leg shield if you can even get it in your pocket".
I'm not knocking the idea, just saying you need to consider the downsides, too. I almost went for it, myself, but with the $30/mo T-Mobile plan I decided just to get the S3. It's a good size for carrying in a pocket, and I have a 10" tablet that's a great size for watching movies, too (bought it from a friend). I'd recommend going to a store and comparing sizes. For me, 7" just didn't fit in - it was too small for what I wanted to use a tablet for and too big to carry around all day - but if you have to carry a bag or something, it might be a better fit.
Pennycake said:
It's an okay idea, but the phone's battery is going to drain FAST if it's constantly tethering. And unless you're paying for tethering, there might not always be a reliable work-around to get it to work anyway.
My S3 lasted about 4 hours of continuous tethering and it was pretty warm. Instead of it being able to manage going to "sleep", you'd have to do that manually - turn your tethering on whenever you want to use your tablet. Which may work depending on patience and usage.
Another idea might be a data-only SIM in a tablet and make calls over VOIP or just keep a spare phone for the minutes if that's what you want.
I have a phone and a tablet and I use my phone more often on a daily basis - it would not be practical to bring my tablet where I most often use my phone - the size difference is big enough to go from "kind of bulky" to "full on leg shield if you can even get it in your pocket".
I'm not knocking the idea, just saying you need to consider the downsides, too. I almost went for it, myself, but with the $30/mo T-Mobile plan I decided just to get the S3. It's a good size for carrying in a pocket, and I have a 10" tablet that's a great size for watching movies, too (bought it from a friend). I'd recommend going to a store and comparing sizes. For me, 7" just didn't fit in - it was too small for what I wanted to use a tablet for and too big to carry around all day - but if you have to carry a bag or something, it might be a better fit.
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Click to collapse
I can confirm that it does drain the battery fast! To address this issue I bought a USB-OTG adapter, and just carry one of my 3 microUSB cables with me at all times. When my phone runs low while I'm on the train or bus or something, I use the USB-OTG cable from the tablet to my phone to keep my phone alive, and while it'll drain the tablet faster, I actually get about a 1.25% charge per 1% drained on the tablet (idle), so it's actually pretty efficient (this surprised me). When I'm in the office, I'll let the phone drain down to warning levels <15% and then use the USB cable to connect it to my desk computer in order to charge up, usually towards the end of the day. The tablet I only really charge at home each night when it's practically dead itself. (I practice stretching the batteries out as far as you can stomach (normally <5%) as you're supposed to with Li-Ion.)
I thought about getting a GSM N7, but when I saw it was an extra $100, plus another $30/mo for a data-only SIM card with unlimited service, when I could tether to my cellphone for free, I chose the $200 one-time & free/mo because T-Mobile just sees Android devices and doesn't care.
Evaluate your end goal, and review all possible avenues towards that goal, I chose the cheapest easiest way for myself, and while you may not have these same avenues available, make sure you do all your research to see if you can get anywhere close.
@Pennycake: I don't know how you only got 4 hours of continuous tethering, I get at least 6 straight on my S2. Check what OTHER processes you have running and see about getting a kernel you can undervolt as well as drop to a super bare minimum speed. (My S2 when WiFi tethering to my N7 sits active @ 192Mhz as that's all that's needed to maintain connection, otherwise it hits deep sleep.)
I don't tether all that often, so it's not a big issue to me (it was on a train ride and I probably won't be travelling again for another year).
Another idea is to use the $30/mo data only and use Google Voice + a VOIP service (like Groove IP) - turning the tablet itself into a phone that way. I read an article about someone who did it and really considered it for a while (in my case, I'm glad I didn't because I don't have the data coverage to make calls everywhere I normally am - sometimes I'm getting only GPRS where I can easily make a call, but not so much over data).
After reading a comparison on S3 compared to One X, it seems as though overall the S3 looks better. Has better battery life, SD card slot, better camera. Now that HTC is out of the picture, I will look into comparing the RAZR phones to the S3. I have heard that Motorola phones have better reception than Samsung. Is this true or just a few people's experience?
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk 2
To op. You can talk about early cancelation. Sometimes it doesn't cost as much as you'd think. I did that with at&t thank god for it. That was the worst and so over priced. I'm with Verizon and love it but you sound like you're paying way to much. I pay 99 a month unlimited text and data (my plan started before this family shared data thing) and 500 anytime min but I use Skype anyway.
I think I might switch depending on the shared data thing since there are 2 users on my plan.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
5imp7y said:
To op. You can talk about early cancelation. Sometimes it doesn't cost as much as you'd think. I did that with at&t thank god for it. That was the worst and so over priced. I'm with Verizon and love it but you sound like you're paying way to much. I pay 99 a month unlimited text and data (my plan started before this family shared data thing) and 500 anytime min but I use Skype anyway.
I think I might switch depending on the shared data thing since there are 2 users on my plan.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Early termination would be too much for us. We currently have three lines, two of which have data plans, the third just an extra line that we added almost two years ago to use it for an upgrade. Our two main lines would cost about 200 each and we would then have to buy two phones.
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk 2
Today, while running with my son on a nature trail, a freak accident happened. The stroller hit a rock in such a way it launched my phone from a holding pouch into the air and onto the ground shattering the screen. (i run over 75 miles a month for the last two years, so never dreamed of this happening) I was devastated, especially since it's a month old and since i'm one NEXT i can't really afford an extra 200 bucks. I went onto the phoneclaim website and tried to file a claim, initially telling me my deductible was 199.99 but my g3 wasn't listed and it told me to call to file the claim.
So, I call the number, speak to someone. She asked me about the damage, and what accessories if any i was claiming. I told her just the phone, no accessories or sim card - since that stuff was in tact. After putting me on hold, she asked me about the color of the phone, repeated the LG G3, asked me to verify identity questions (which amounted to my street address) and said that my deductible was 50.00 which would be applied to my bill. Now, i said
"not that i'm complaining, but this is the 32gb white LG G3 we're talking about, correct? "
"she replies yes sir"
"I said not only did the at&t rep tell me 199.99 when i signed up for the insurance, but the website also told me 199.99 when i entered in my number"
"she said I wouldn't complain either sir, it states 50.00 here with 1-2 business days shipping"
So, what are the odds something bad is going to happen here?
Ie: the wrong phone replacement, not a phone at all, but like a battery or something... i dunno.
Just can't wrap my mind around everyone saying 199.99, then being told 50.00 for 600 phone. ....
should I be worried?
Did they send you a confirmation email? If not, call back with the case # and get them to email that to you.
Storm T said:
Did they send you a confirmation email? If not, call back with the case # and get them to email that to you.
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Click to collapse
They did, but all it states is that the claim is been received and being processed and a tracking number will be provided once it ships.
I'd imagine you're good to go at $50 since she told you that.
Storm T said:
I'd imagine you're good to go at $50 since she told you that.
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Click to collapse
It's a good thing I went back to the site.
They had me for a replacement of the G3 VIGOR, not the G3 D850. When I called back, they asked me a ton more questions plus i have to sign an affidavit and send in a copy of my license. Then she told me an adjuster would call me and let me know if it would be replaced or not. She also said had i not called back i wouldn't have even gotten a new phone because the last person screwed up.
But, seriously... what am I paying insurance for if they will let me know about the replacement... i'm pretty sure we pay insurance for this exact issue.
I dunno, what a headache.
That sucks! I've replaced one that way before and I never had to give them a copy of my license? I'd sure be *****ing. Good luck!
Unfortunately this happened to me a week after I had my phone. The deductible was 165$ & they tried to give me an lg g2. Luckily I called back and had it fixed. It was a quick yet expensive lesson. And yes, I had to do the same with my license and an affidavit. Hope it goes well for you.
Sent from my LG-D850 using XDA Free mobile app
petros855 said:
Unfortunately this happened to me a week after I had my phone. The deductible was 165$ & they tried to give me an lg g2. Luckily I called back and had it fixed. It was a quick yet expensive lesson. And yes, I had to do the same with my license and an affidavit. Hope it goes well for you.
Sent from my LG-D850 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
No such luck for me. I've had my claim denied twice now. I've filled out three affidavits, sent in various pics of the phone and barcodes, license etc. I've mad a trip to the AT&T store all to no avail.
The reasoning is all very vague, like telling me my time of occurrence and date of last usage don't match, or that they've even tried telling me i don't own a G3 lol.
Worst experience ever...
I'll end up trying to contact LG and see if i can just get them to replace the screen for the 200 bucks it will cost or whatever.
sigh.
st0nez0r said:
No such luck for me. I've had my claim denied twice now. I've filled out three affidavits, sent in various pics of the phone and barcodes, license etc. I've mad a trip to the AT&T store all to no avail.
The reasoning is all very vague, like telling me my time of occurrence and date of last usage don't match, or that they've even tried telling me i don't own a G3 lol.
Worst experience ever...
I'll end up trying to contact LG and see if i can just get them to replace the screen for the 200 bucks it will cost or whatever.
sigh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird that they say your " time of occurrence and date of last usage don't match"
Are you rooted and did you remove lots of apps like carrierIQ?
Do you think they are just BSing you?
Lol this makes me want to cancel my insurance...
Sent from my LG G3
Craleb said:
That's weird that they say your " time of occurrence and date of last usage don't match"
Are you rooted and did you remove lots of apps like carrierIQ?
Do you think they are just BSing you?
Lol this makes me want to cancel my insurance...
Sent from my LG G3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that you mention it. I am rooted, i removed the bloat and carrierIQ the day I got the phone.
I might just have to send my phone to LG for a screen repair and call it a day. I'll keep you all updated when they deny my claim again tomorrow lol.
Insurance on anything that depreciates like a smart phone is a scam. I would never and have never gotten phone insurance. I keep one old phone at all times just in case this happens.
t1n0m3n said:
Insurance on anything that depreciates like a smart phone is a scam. I would never and have never gotten phone insurance. I keep one old phone at all times just in case this happens.
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Click to collapse
I would normally agree. I've only ever gotten insurance once, and it was for this phone. I also kept my galaxy s3 just in case this very thing happened. But, since i'm on the next program, i'll be damned if i'm paying 600.00+ for a phone that i can't use, even if it means i have to fork out extra for a replacement.
All that said, they actually approved my claim after several denials - nothing ever changed with the paperwork.
Now i just have to keep my fingers crossed that i get a new g3 replacement (or damn near like new referb). I hope it's not a heap of junk replacement like i've read in other stories about asurion.
Now, i've actually heard great first hand things about square trade insurance, cheaper payments, cheaper deductible, and no questions asked claims. some folks my wife and I work with use it and had nothing but good things to say about them, which is where i'll be headed to after my replacement.
*Shrug* Whatever floats your boat. Cracked screen repair for the G3 is about $150 direct from LG. They are going to send the phone to LG to repair it. Probably at a volume discount. They probably make a ~$100 profit on the G3 every time someone uses their warranty. Every phone claim is a profit for the company. If it is not, then they deny the claim. This is why I call it a scam. You are paying them monthly for the privilege of maybe having to let them profit off of you.
---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:08 PM ----------
st0nez0r said:
Now, i've actually heard great first hand things about square trade insurance, cheaper payments, cheaper deductible, and no questions asked claims. some folks my wife and I work with use it and had nothing but good things to say about them, which is where i'll be headed to after my replacement.
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Haven't heard of this before, this looks like much less of a scam than the Assurian BS scam.
Interesting! Thanks for mentioning it.
I just get a rubber tpu bumper case and a screen protector and forget the insurance
Hi st0nez0r,
We’re glad to hear that ultimately we were able to get this resolved and a replacement device is on its way to you! This is not a typical experience and we’d hate to lose a valued customer. While we understand that paperwork is never fun we have the affidavit process in place for your protection. This helps prevent fraudulent claims against your account and helps keep premiums from rising. We recognize the cost associated with replacing a device which is why it’s our goal to help our customers save money while also getting them reconnected quickly should they experience a covered loss. In addition to covering physical damage, we also cover liquid damage, loss and theft; where most do not.
While we do use both new and certified-like new devices, keep in mind, all replacements come with a 12 month limited warranty. Should you experience any warranty failure, we’ll replace the phone at no additional cost.
We appreciate you sharing your experience, as it helps us to improve the services that we offer. Please let us know if you have any other questions or if we can be of further assistance.
Thanks,
Asurion Social Media Team @AsurionCares
www.phoneclaim.com
AsurionCares said:
Hi st0nez0r,
We’re glad to hear that ultimately we were able to get this resolved and a replacement device is on its way to you! This is not a typical experience and we’d hate to lose a valued customer. While we understand that paperwork is never fun we have the affidavit process in place for your protection. This helps prevent fraudulent claims against your account and helps keep premiums from rising. We recognize the cost associated with replacing a device which is why it’s our goal to help our customers save money while also getting them reconnected quickly should they experience a covered loss. In addition to covering physical damage, we also cover liquid damage, loss and theft; where most do not.
While we do use both new and certified-like new devices, keep in mind, all replacements come with a 12 month limited warranty. Should you experience any warranty failure, we’ll replace the phone at no additional cost.
We appreciate you sharing your experience, as it helps us to improve the services that we offer. Please let us know if you have any other questions or if we can be of further assistance.
Thanks,
Asurion Social Media Team @AsurionCares
www.phoneclaim.com
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This was quite unexpected but appreciated.
Honestly, In terms of cellphones, dealing with Asurion was one of the worse experience I've ever had in the history of owning a cell phone. While I understand the need for paperwork and whatever various methods you use to combat insurance fraud,
beyond those measures is where I had the real problems:
Dealing with rude/obnoxious customer support representatives (just one, but one too many.)
The run around game. Sending me to an AT&T store to obtain info, then to be belittled by another rep for doing what I was initially asked to do. (referring to the same rep as above)
Lack of information and communication during the process. In some cases I didn't get a call or email explaining why my claims were initially canceled. I had to call back for that info.
The website is not all that great either. one example would be filling in your first/last name, phone number, email, and social just for an update. How about a tracking number process or something.
No option to contact/talk to support after paperwork is submitted for review. If you have questions/problems you can't speak to anyone during that process. You're greeted with a phone message stating your stuff is under review and that you'll be contacted. then hangs up on you. I guess this is in place so work can actually get accomplished without being overwhelmed by calls, but still...
In the end I did receive a brand new replacement device. The return process was also a snap.
I've learned my lesson at any rate. I invested the extra money in a spigen slim armor case and tempered glass protector.
Thanks for replying to this post.
I almost had a similar experience with Asurion, but ultimately a good one. It all started with initiating my claim over the phone, just to discover no record of my claim upon following-up. The follow-up rep offered to resubmit or direct me to the website, where I'd be able to print documents required and receive confirmation/ updates upon successful submission.
After downloading, printing and competing the affidavit, I was able to scan and upload, along with my ID. This took less than 15 minutes.
I had a brand new phone, shipped from AT&T within a couple days. I've been a wireless dealer, and the Asurion representative's explanation about hurdles preventing fraud are entirely valid. The $200 deductible + my first monthly premium is not a scam- they ate maximum money on my claim, particularly as my replacement was NOT refurbished. I'm still only paying AT&T for one phone. Asurion bought the majority of the other. My deductible will be used to minimize the loss, likely through repair and reuse for a future claim. Loss/theft is an even bigger loser. Their money is made from premium revenue that exceeds claims expenses.
While it sounds like they could tighten up their call centers, if Asurion has replaced your $600 phone, they've certainly not robbed you.
Sent from my LG-V410 using Tapatalk
This is why I never use the carrier insurance it sucks and the more the customer service... All my devices I always go with SquareTrade, only $5.00 a month and $75.00 deductible.
***Please post if you were also hit after buying an Incipio case***
Just received a form letter dated 2-23-16 from Incipio's CEO (which can be viewed online here) about a data breach potentially affecting online orders made through their website (not sure about Amazon orders) between 9-26-15 and 1-29-16. I ordered my Octane case on 9-27-15 and about two weeks ago there were several false charges made to the debit card I used, which is now cancelled, replaced, and all amounts credited back since I reported it immediately. I think most folks with MXPEs who got Incipio cases would likely fall within this time span, so please be aware if you did and didn't receive or read the letter, which came in an unmarked envelope not saying Incipio or giving any other indication on the outside that it was about this matter.
Because the letter states "...we are unaware of any instance of fraud or identity theft arising from this incident", I called Incipio to report that there does seem to be at least one possible instance, and asked to speak with someone in management to do so, but customer service would only refer me to the 3rd-party security monitoring firm mentioned in the letter who they've hired, but that isn't really one of their functions. I still left my contact info and a firm request to be called back, though something tells me I won't be, but if I do I'll post the response.
This breach went undetected for THREE MONTHS [!!!] and from the letter it sounds like it was only discovered accidentally, and though it's fixed now I'd be very hesitant to do more business with them directly after that poor a level of self-monitoring.
What kind of random charges were made to your account?
I purchased one around that time frame, would like to look for certain charges on my account.
cangri87 said:
What kind of random charges were made to your account?
I purchased one around that time frame, would like to look for certain charges on my account.
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Just stuff I knew I didn't put on the card -- one was from AT&T, another was 1-800-FLOWERS, like common names you would recognize, and most were over $100 so you likely wouldn't miss them. Are you sure you bought within that time frame, because you should get the letter, but like I said it could be easy to chuck out as spam mail. Mine came on Monday so it seems folks are just getting them around now.
I also think the breachers probably didn't use any data until after 2/2/16 when it was discovered, so they could keep exploiting it as long as possible. Once discovered and closed they know right away, then rush to use the stolen data before people can be notified to cancel their cards. That's the usual pattern and explains why it took so long to get hit after my purchase date (~4 months).
Dahenjo said:
Just stuff I knew I didn't put on the card -- one was from AT&T, another was 1-800-FLOWERS, like common names you would recognize, and most were over $100 so you likely wouldn't miss them. Are you sure you bought within that time frame, because you should get the letter, but like I said it could be easy to chuck out as spam mail. Mine came on Monday so it seems folks are just getting them around now.
I also think the breachers probably didn't use any data until after 2/2/16 when it was discovered, so they could keep exploiting it as long as possible. Once discovered and closed they know right away, then rush to use the stolen data before people can be notified to cancel their cards. That's the usual pattern and explains why it took so long to get hit after my purchase date (~4 months).
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Just checked my bank statement and nothing suspicious on my account.
I bought my phone on Jan 1st, and got a case a week later. So around 01/07/16, i guess not everyone was compromised.
cangri87 said:
Just checked my bank statement and nothing suspicious on my account.
I bought my phone on Jan 1st, and got a case a week later. So around 01/07/16, i guess not everyone was compromised.
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They probably got your data since yours falls within the exposed time frame, even if they didn't use it yet. You didn't get the letter yet, I take it? If not, you should soon. I suggest at least calling your bank and tell them about this to see if they recommend replacing your card. And keep checking your account in the meantime because you need to report fraudulent charges right away or may not get reimbursed.
Dahenjo said:
They probably got your data since yours falls within the exposed time frame, even if they didn't use it yet. You didn't get the letter yet, I take it? If not, you should soon. I suggest at least calling your bank and tell them about this to see if they recommend replacing your card. And keep checking your account in the meantime because you need to report fraudulent charges right away or may not get reimbursed.
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Nope no email yet, i checked spam folder and nothing is there.
I'll just leave it as is and live life on the edge
I'll just monitor my bank activity.
the fraudulent charges on your account, were they local charges? Diff state? or just online purchases?
cangri87 said:
Nope no email yet, i checked spam folder and nothing is there.
I'll just leave it as is and live life on the edge
I'll just monitor my bank activity.
the fraudulent charges on your account, were they local charges? Diff state? or just online purchases?
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It was a snail-mail letter, not an email, I guess sent out to the affected customers' billing addresses, so that's what to check for. The link in the first post is a copy of what I received, apparently filed with (and made public by) the CA State Attorney General's office, which I just happened to find while searching for more info about the breach. The charges were all out-of-state but I don't know how they were made.
I'm sure Incipio sold scads more cases during that period than the relative few for our phones, and likely the majority were for iPhones, so I'd expect posts like this may be showing up on other forums here and in the Apple world.