Well i went to my local three store today and got a shiny new phone signed the contract etc then asked regarding if i have to pay for the first month insurance to be told sorry we no longer provide mobile phone insurance and advised going to my bank or house insurance on new handset/contracts.I contacted three customer services by twitter which they confirmed the sales person in the store said the company has done this due too much fraud being commited.I think that is completely ridiculous that they are they only network that will not insure a handset.So at the moment i am walking about using a brand new handset £500 with no protection.I have heard bad news about 3rd party insures i.e., protect my bubble etc.If i had known that i would of purchased my phone from phones 4 u or carphone warehouse.But by the time i was told all the agreements and credit checks were completed.

I think this will go one of two ways - either they'll remain the only network to not provide insurance, realise how unpopular it is then do a u-turn, or other networks will follow suite.

I remember a few years back when O2 started charging for handsets and drastically reducing the number of free handset deals they did. It was as if all the networks wanted to do it and were just waiting for one of them to pop their head above the parapet before they started doing it.

Understandable as many customers now have insurance coverage included in their home policies and many premium bank accounts now include mobile phone insurance also.

There are lots of specialist insurers who offer a range of policies to cover theft, damage and fraudulant use at a variety of prices on-line. Checkout moneysavingexpert's website for advice on this topic.

It's not actually that big a deal really is it?

Personally, I've never, ever taken out mobile phone insurance and, never ever lost or had a phone stolen.

As already been stated cover can be obtained elsewhere (if not already covered by home insurance). So all in all, bit of a non story.

Not exactly it is down to personal preference.I am sure other people will share the same view.Insurance being done by the network operator is more efficient if the phone is lost or stolen.

As they see the phone is cut off and they black list the imei number on the handset (all done in one call).

Going by online review`s or certain third party companies does not show good light.

Not surprised and I should think others will follow suit. Mobile phones (up to £600 each) are covered under my home insurance for accidental damage, loss and theft at home or out and about at no extra cost to the premium.

I just took out a new contract on O2 and they wanted £10 a month! No ta.

Of course you sill still have to contact your provider to get the phone/imei blocked as well as contacting your insurance etc but I would much rather that small inconvienience than being down an extra £240 over the lifetime of my contract.

OP, why don't you put the same amount of money youo would be paying for ins. into a savings account? Then, in a years time when you feel the need to upgrade your phone...buy a new one. Or better still go to the pub.

The vast majority of people will never use their mobile ins and will simply be paying money for nothing.

Failing that, check here
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ins...hone-insurance

Never paid for additional phone insurance and only claimed once in the last 20 odd years on my contents insurance.

Its really no that big a deal, cant understand why you think making more than one phone call is a big inconvenience.

Insurance from the networks is a waste. For what they charge a month you could probably add your phone to your house insurance for the a year.

My wife lost her phone a few years back. Our phone insurance is with LloydsTSB (part of a premium account including travel insurance, AA membership etc). Anyway, they were able to disable the phone with the IMEI and a new phone was in my wife's hands within a few days. Impeccable service (and I know how bad LloydsTSB can be as a long standing customer and ex-member of staff).

Also, the insurance from a network will surely be through a seperate company who act for the network (I guess).

It`s not a big deal but i was disappointed .As i said three are the only network not to offer it now.

It would of been nice to have been told that before i got the phone.Two weeks ago when i called three to ask regarding plans and phones i did ask about insurance and they said they even gave the first month free.When i got the phone there was no mention of a withdrawal of the service until i asked as they normaly bite your hand of trying to sell insurance.And threes customer service that i spoke to on the day was not even aware until they checked themselfs.

For example nearly any high value eletrical item you can get insurance for from most eletrical retailers.

I am looking into this with my bank as it will work out better in the long run.

Some bank account deals are good value when you factor in all the benefits.

My bank gives me charge free banking, mobile, laptop and travel insurance plus green flag recovery for £12 a month. I don't think I could get the same benefits buying separate policies elsewhere.

One word of advice, check the small print as you often need to tell the bank's insurer the make, model and IMEI number of your handset if it is valued at over £300.

When i last claimed my phone stolen from my home contents insurance it took 3.5 weeks to get another phone in my hands.

Orange took 24 hours using their insurance for a smashed phone, it costs more but you get what you pay for.

Well i got it insured with my bank today but as excepted there are a few niggles.

Firstly i have to wait two weeks for the insurance to become active from registration.

And there is a lmit on claim time must be made within 48 hours mind you that should not be a problem unless i am stranded on a desert island !.

But at least it will be insured just hope i dont have to go through any claim.To experince the claim process.

I've been with Orange for about 15 years and have always used their insurance. On the one occasion I've had to claim (my handset had completely packed up) I gave them a call on a Saturday at about 5PM and at 8.30 the next morning a courier was at my door with a new phone. Fantastic service.

This is one of the reason`s i do prefer network insurance as yes it is more expensive but you are getting rapid service,Going though a third party is got going to be as quick..

When I bought my phone from a Three Store last year they never even pitched insurance. I do have insurance through them and I got it via customer services. I've not heard anything about this so I guess they're still honoring it for existing customers.

And yes, the insurance isn't actually Three operated, it's under some third party.

How much does it cost you?

You say you have claimed once. Assuming it costs around £10 a month, which seems about average for mobile phone insurance through a network, you have paid £1800 over that 15 year period.

This thread reminded me that my mobile insurance, via my bank account, still had details for our old phones. Now updated with the details of my phone and my wife's.

And who said internet forums were a waste of time!!!!

I see Vodafone last night have started advertising their insurance service.

Three have partnered with 'protect your bubble' and are telling customers to go for insurance through them. Tbh three's insurance used to be through a third party before so its not that much different now, only you can't take it out in store.

www.protectmybubble.com/Three

How much have to paid in 15 years for insurance in order to make 1 claim?

You could have easily bought a new top of the range phone and had change left over.

No thanks I will stick to throwing it on the house insurance. It doesn't cost me any extra and chances are I will never have to claim.

Famous last words...

Too many dodgy claims I guess! That's probably why they don't offer it anymore. I would say the company that underwrite the insurance made that decision.

In the past 5 years phone insurance premiums have been going up and up. Blame the consumer!