Will your warranty cover your latest smartphone repair? The answer to that all depends on the type of warranty that you have and the type of repair that you need. Read ahead to find out more.
A Manufacturer’s Warranty:
When you first purchase your smartphone, it will come with a general manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty will only cover repairs and replacements that relate to manufacturing defects. It will not help you with any other types of repairs or replacements. If the problem can be attributed to the user (for example, dropping the phone and cracking the screen), the warranty cannot help.
If you’re outside of that warranty timeline, the manufacturer is no longer responsible for covering these repairs and replacements for you. Typically, this timeline will end after a year.
If you used a credit card to purchase your smartphone, your manufacturer’s warranty could last longer than the original timeline. Your credit card can essentially extend your manufacturer’s warranty, potentially doubling the time that you can access coverage for defects. Check your credit card’s policy to see whether you’ll have this lengthier protection.
An Extended Warranty:
Plenty of retailers offer extended warranty programs for users that want more protection than the manufacturer’s warranty offers. An extended warranty program typically stretches the length of a warranty’s coverage and increases the type of repairs that are covered. For instance, the Applecare+ extended warranty offers coverage for cases of accidental damage. So, if you’ve signed up for this plan, and you accidentally crack your smartphone’s screen by dropping it on the ground, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you’re covered.
You should know that your extended warranty might not offer full coverage for repair services. You may only receive partial coverage. You’ll have a heavily discounted rate in comparison to a customer without a warranty. However, you will have to pay the remainder out of pocket.
If you’re signed up for an extended warranty program, you should double-check your policy to see which types of repairs it covers and how much you can expect to pay once you get to the store.
Also Read: What Is the Difference Between an Award and a Reward?
What If You Don’t Have Enough Coverage?
In that case, you will have to pay for your repairs out of pocket. In some cases, that may not be a hefty sum. Doing something like replacing your smartphone’s dying battery should cost you less than $100. Replacing a cracked screen or repairing water damage will likely cost you more — especially if you have one of the best smartphones on the market.
What if you don’t have enough savings? In that case, you could put the charge onto your credit card. If you don’t want to use your credit card, there are other fast and convenient options available online (specifically with convenient application processes) — like a personal line of credit loan. As long as you meet the qualifications for a line of credit, you can fill out an application in a short amount of time. It could take you five minutes to complete!
With an approved personal line of credit loan, you could request a withdrawal within your set credit limit. That amount could be withdrawn from your line of credit and deposited into your bank account. Then, you could use it to cover your urgent smartphone fix right away.
Don’t assume that your warranty is the perfect safety net. See what coverage you can get before you need repairs!