AmEx Essential Card Screen Protection Insurance

Hi guys,

I have an Amex Essentials card and have recently broken my Samsung's screen. The phone bounced a couple of times which resulted in cracks to both the front screen and the back glass.

I am not too fussed about getting the back glass fixed but Samsung won't only replace the front screen. They will have to fix both the front and back glass, apparently its to do with warranty policies. I Spoke to two different Samsung care shops and they both said the same thing.

According to Amex Essentials terms and conditions:" Cover does not extend to:
1. replacement of any other parts of the Smartphone, other than the glass or plastic front screen, unless the manufacturer’s authorised process determines a replacement by way of a like-for-like refurbished Smartphone of the exact same model
."

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

The only option I see right now is to take it to a third party repairer and get the front screen fixed but I rather take it to Samsung.

Thank you.

Comments

  • What phone is it

    • Its a Samsung S7 edge

  • +1

    Can confirm Chubb, who administer this policy, will not reimburse you for the back glass. Even if it was incidental in the break. They reimbursed me the front LCD cost less the excess. I had to contact the Samsung store because their receipt was not itemised to get the broken-down cost for the claim.

  • Get the itemized quote from samsung first, the back cover should be cheap.

  • Thank you guys. I got a quote from Samsung- $240 for the front and LCD repair and $120 for the back cover. I am gonna try to email Samsung and request to only get the front one repaired. It would be silly to spend $120 on the back and it only has a couple of small cracks on it.

    Also rang a few third party repair shops and they quoted $360 - $400 just to replace the front screen. Might shop around a bit more if Samsung refuses to repair only the front screen.

    • ask them for the back cover price for part only, then add this to the $240, as they need to remove the back cover to replace the front panel anyway, why charging twice for labor to replace the back cover?

      • Is it the reason why they won't only replace the front panel because they would have to remove the back glass?
        All I got from Samsung customer service was that it's their policy to do a 100% repair of the phone. I get that as a bussiness you wanna make money.

        But my argument is as below:

        I don't think one can justify paying extra to get the back glass replaced in scenario when there is a minor damage which has no effect on the functionality of the phone.

        For instance: if you don't have any type of insurance, it would make more sense to toss the broken one and buy a brand new s7 edge (which I am sure you can buy for $600) and get a full year warranty from Samsung rather than paying 400 to get the broken screen fixed. But if I could only pay 260 and get the front screen fixed then I would consider that as an option.

        You may be able to recycle most parts of the phone but surely some of that would go to landfill. Plus fossil fuel consumption to recycle the parts. Will need to do more research on that.

        Shouldn't big companies have some sort of responsibility to minimize land fill?

  • Sorry to hijack your thread,
    Does anybody know if you are covered by the Essentials Smartphone Screen Insurance if you use gift cards + card to pay?

    Reading terms it needs to be in a single transaction and you need to present your statement showing the charge but nothing about the actual invoice for the phone.

    • On page 3, it says:

      Cover is effective for each Smartphone when You pay the total cost of a:

      • Smartphone outright in a single transaction …

      a) Your American Express Essential Credit Card; or
      b) Your American Express Membership Rewards points.

      Was the total cost paid with your American Express Essential Credit Card? Were the gift cards purchased with your Amex?

      Answer to those questions should set your expectation but I would submit the claim anyway and let them work it out.

    • Anyone can confirm whether a phone is covered if on BYO sim only 12month+ plan?

      • Yes it is, as per the terms and conditions of the insurance.

  • Hi all, some of the above responses indicate that if we have bought the phone outright without using an amex card but if we are paying for a SIM only postpaid plan as the monthly bill, that is acceptable, can someone please confirm if that is the case? Thanks

    • Yes. I did that years ago without an issue

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