Travellers are being urged to read their policy terms more carefully, as one of the most important items on any trip — a mobile phone and its charger — is not always fully covered by travel insurance.
According to Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s “Future of Travel” study, Australians named their phone and charger as their top travel essentials, even ahead of a toothbrush. At the same time, the phone is the item most likely to be damaged or stolen while on holiday, and the costs associated with being left without connectivity abroad can be substantial and are not always reimbursed by insurers.
The company explains that cover for electronic devices depends on the specific policy. Certain valuables must be listed separately in the contract and attract an additional premium for extra protection, and there are also limits on personal belongings. It is also important to consider the value and age of the phone: insurers usually take wear and tear into account, so for the loss or damage of a three-year-old smartphone they will not pay out an amount equivalent to a brand-new model.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance notes that most claims for damaged phones overseas are due to everyday drops. However, there are also more unusual incidents: for example, in Bali a monkey snatched a phone from a table and dropped it into the ocean, while in another case a tourist in Fiji slipped on rocks while photographing the sunset and dropped both their smartphone and camera into the water.
Experts advise preparing in advance for potential phone problems while travelling. If a device is lost or stolen, you should remotely wipe its data, change the passwords to your email, social media and banking services, and remove the phone from the list of trusted devices used for two-factor authentication. In the event of theft, you should contact the local police as soon as possible and obtain a report for your insurer, as well as notify your mobile operator so they can block the SIM card and the device via its IMEI. In addition, travellers are advised to inform relatives and companions about the loss of the phone and agree on alternative ways to stay in touch.