Row.co.uk Blog


 

You arrive home to find lights flashing and water spurting out of your washing machine. Could you afford to live without it? Home appliance insurance protects all of your brown and white goods against accidental damage and mechanical or electrical breakdown.


Do I need home appliances insurance?

If a new appliance breaks down within the first 12 months, you benefit from the manufacturer's guarantee, so you shouldn’t have to pay for any repairs or replacement. But if a fault occurs after the first year, your manufacturer’s warranty won’t cover the cost.


Some people choose not to pay for extended warranties or appliance insurance as policies can be over-priced. However, to go without can be costly as bills can mount up if you need to repair a household appliance, especially when you consider call-out or labour fees and costs for parts.


When looking for a new home appliance insurance policy, make sure to check the following:


  1. How many appliances can be covered under a single policy?

Choosing the correct level and type of cover is just as important as the price when it comes to choosing home appliance insurance. You should compare levels of cover and check the things you’re not insured for. Whatever you do, don’t make assumptions about what is included, as for some insurance companies, certain areas of coverage may be optional extras.




  1. What is the maximum amount covered?

When taking out a new home appliance insurance policy, it is important to find out the maximum amount that would be covered in the event of a claim. If your item was damaged, would the maximum amount cover the cost of repair or replace?


  1. What is the monthly cost?

You should always check the monthly cost of your insurance to ensure you can keep up with payments. If you fail to do this, your cover will become void and you will end up paying to repair faults.


Some companies offer discounts for online applications, as well as a reduction if you pay for your premium annually. You might also want to consider combining cover for more than one appliance rather than taking out separate policies.


For example, dishwasher insurance cover and washing machine insurance may be expensive if you take it out separately but by combining the two onto one policy you could hack a chunk off your premium.


  1. What is the limit per claim?

All policies have set limits for how much you can claim at any one time, and how many times you can claim over the period of cover. It is important to check this as you don’t want to risk not being able to claim within a close period, should you suffer a malfunction again.


For smaller claims, you might want to think about the impact claiming might have and whether it’s financially worth going through with it.


  1. What is the customer services like?

A good insurance company provides immediate advice and assistance, and should handle your claim smoothly, efficiently and swiftly, providing they have all the information they need.


From your point of view as the insured, knowing the best way kick-start a claim and assist your insurer in the claim process goes a long way to ensuring the best outcome for you.




As you can see, there are lots of things to look out for when renewing or buying a new home appliance insurance policy. For further information, take a look at our home appliance insurance page to help choose your policy.


*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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Cracked Your Smartphone’s Screen? Here’s What You Need to Do Now

Row.co.uk Blog

Dropped your smartphone accidentally and cracked the screen? This is something that has happened to almost all of us at some point or the other. Whether it was accidental or intentional, cracked screens look ugly and can even pose a danger to your fingers, lap, and face. This is because when a screen cracks, the crack spreads further, and tiny shards of glass keep falling.

Before you consider buying a new phone, there are certain things you can do to fix the problem. However as the very first step, ensure that your phone is backed up and all the data is stored in a secure location.

·      Call the Manufacturer

Of course this will be the first thing on your mind; it’s always a good idea to contact the company that made your smartphone. Almost all smartphones come with a warranty period, so if you crack your screen within the period, you can get your screen replaced for free. However, some companies do not cover accidental damage.

For example, Apple offers AppleCare which is valid if you buy the service within 60 days of purchasing a new iPhone. But they charge you for accidental damage. Nevertheless, they will either replace the screen or the entire phone, depending upon the extent of the damage.

·      Contact a Local Repair Shop

If you are uncomfortable sending your smartphone to the manufacturer, then you can search for local mobile phone repair shops in your area. They are much cheaper, but before you hire one, make sure that they provide some form of guarantee that their repair work will not break down too soon. Furthermore, there is a risk of such outlets utilising low quality components which can void the manufacturer’s warranty and insurance on your phone.


·      Check with a Phone Insurance Company

There are services which offer insurance for covering accidental damage to your phone such as Row.co.uk. From as low as £1.49 and up to a 20% discount, Row.co.uk covers accidental damage to your mobile phone which also includes a cracked screen.

·      Do-it-Yourself

If you have hands-on experience in repairing electronic devices, then this route will save you quite a bit of money. However, even the slightest hesitation or doubt can cause further damage to your smartphone. You will need to find a repair kit for replacing the screen on your smartphone. For example, a new Galaxy S6 screen costs around £7.59 on Amazon. You can find many tutorials on websites such as iFixIt on how to replace a cracked screen.

In some instances, your smartphone’s screen must not have developed large cracks. If the crack is smaller and the screen displays and works properly, then you can use a temporary solution. Take packaging tape and wrap it over the screen of your phone; this will prevent the crack from spreading and you can continue using it till you come across a better solution.


*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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