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Credit cards are often promoted by showcasing their main perks, such as travel points or cash back — but frequently, their ancillary benefits are overlooked.
These perks usually come in the form of things like travel insurance, emergency assistance, extended warranties, and return protection, but one that can be very beneficial is cell phone protection.
According to a recent Samsung study, 93% of those studied use a smartphone for work every day. And even though the average selling price of smartphones in 2018 declined 2% to an average of $384, owning multiple devices can add up quickly — especially if you’re a business owner who provides phones to employees.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is one of a handful of credit cards that offer a solution to protecting those valuable cell phones outside of your typical cell phone insurance. It’s also a favorite business credit cards among those looking to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points and reap the benefits of business-related expenses.
What does cell phone protection usually entail?
Cell phone protection usually comes in the form of insurance, where you pay a monthly fee for the protection of your cellular wireless telephone device and, in most cases, a deductible when you submit a claim. You can usually get this month-to-month insurance two ways: through your wireless carrier — which often uses a third-party company such as Asurion — or by purchasing it directly from a third-party company such as SquareTrade.
Depending on your wireless carrier, cell phone protection programs vary in price, from around $10 to $30 or more per month, with deductibles that can range from $50 to several hundred dollars. Exact coverage depends on your program, but Asurion’s policies may cover damage, malfunction, loss and theft protection, and any accessories that came with your device. SquareTrade, on the other hand, covers damage to and malfunction of your cellular phone, but the maximum monthly premium is only $8.99 per month with a deductible of only $25 to $149 per claim.
The cell phone protection offered by a handful of credit card issuers is a little different in that there’s no monthly premium. The coverage is included as a perk that comes with the credit card. But you usually have to pay your cell phone bill with the credit card to receive the benefit.
The coverage provided is also often supplemental to any insurance you already have on the cellular phone — such as protection provided by your cell phone carrier, homeowner’s or renter’s policies, or automobile insurance — and may only be applied after all other insurance is exhausted. There’s also usually a limit on how many claims you can submit per 12-month period and how much each claim will pay out. And, you’ll likely still pay a deductible.
What Ink Business cards include a cell phone protection plan?
If you're looking for the best business credit cards that offer purchase protection, all three Ink Business cards should be on your list. Of those, each may cover a new cell phone for 120 days against damage and theft, but only one includes a cell phone protection plan: the Chase Ink Business Preferred.
The Ink Business Preferred protects your cell phone and any other eligible cell phone listed on the same bill. You can get up to $600 per claim in protection against covered theft or damage with a maximum of three claims in a 12-month period. This benefit is shared between you and your employees listed on your monthly cell phone bill, and a deductible of $100 is required per claim.
But being an Ink Business Preferred cardholder alone doesn’t qualify you for this perk. You must use your card to pay for your monthly phone bill, and that phone line must be listed on your most recent cell phone statement for the billing cycle prior to when the incident occurred. Keep in mind that coverage will be suspended if you stop making payments with your card. To make sure you're covered, all you have to do is double check your phone statement and card statement each month.
Protection begins the day following your phone bill payment and remains in effect until the last day of the calendar month. You can be reimbursed for damage, theft, or involuntary and accidental parting of the cell phone being claimed within 60 days of the incident.
In the event you want to file a claim, you'll need some essential information on hand to fill out the claim form with Chase credit cards and answer any questions regarding the phone. Some of the info you'll want to have ready includes:
- The make, model, and serial number of your phone
- A description of the incident
- A recent cell phone statement and credit card statement
- If your phone was stolen, you'll need to provide a police report.
FAQs about Ink Business Preferred cell phone protection
What isn’t covered under the Chase Ink Business Preferred card's cell phone protection benefit?
Here’s what is not covered under the Chase cell phone insurance benefit:
- Cell phone accessories
- Losing your cell phone without evidence that it was stolen
- Cosmetic damage to the cell phone or damage that doesn't impact the phone’s functions
- A replacement cell phone not purchased from a cell phone carrier’s store or from an authorized cell phone retailer
Your phone will also not be covered in the event that the damage or loss results from abuse or intentional acts on your part.
What is covered under the Chase Ink Business Preferred card's cell phone protection benefit?
Here’s what is covered under the Chase cell phone insurance benefit:
- Damage to the cell phone that impacts its functionality
- Theft of your cell phone or the cell phone of an eligible employee
Are employee phones covered under the Chase Ink Business Preferred's protection plan?
The Ink Business Preferred's protection plan covers eligible employee cell phones listed on your monthly bill. Remember, you must use your card to pay for your monthly phone bill in order to get this coverage.
How many claims can you submit?
You may submit up to three claims in a one-year period. There is a $100 deductible for each claim you submit.
What other credit cards offer cell phone protection
Chase is not the only card issuer to provide cell phone protection. Other credit card issuers also have this benefit as a perk with certain credit cards. Among these credit card companies are Wells Fargo, Citibank, and others. So you have plenty of choices when it comes to credit card offers and rewards program, even if you're prioritizing cell phone coverage.
Here are a few credit cards you might consider:
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- The Platinum Card® from American Express1
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card1
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Every credit card issuer works a little differently, so before you choose a card or file a claim, be sure to read the details in your particular card's benefits guide.
What other benefits does the Ink Business Preferred card provide?
The Chase Ink Business Preferred does have an annual fee of $95, but the many great benefits it offers in addition to the cell phone insurance may make it a worthwhile rewards card for business owners.
Benefits
- You can earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening after account opening
- Earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- Earn unlimited 1X points per $1 on all other purchases
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch, and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
- Add employee cards at no additional cost
Using the Ink Business Preferred to pay your cell phone bill unlocks a benefit that not many other rewards credit cards offer. You can use the cell phone protection benefit as a stand-alone measure or combine it with additional cell phone insurance to make sure all of your bases are covered.
If having generous rewards, bonus points opportunities, ample redemption flexibility, and the added benefit of cell phone protection is of interest to you, the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card could be a great choice.
Hot Welcome Bonus
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Current Offer
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases