vB Easy Archive - Lockline in-store?

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Lockline in-store?
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Posted by: Rcadden

Lockline says a replacement isn't available, but my local store has the phone in stock. Has anyone ever gotten them to do a replacement in-store? I know they used to, but I thought I heard them getting away from that?

Posted by: cingtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

Lockline says a replacement isn't available, but my local store has the phone in stock. Has anyone ever gotten them to do a replacement in-store? I know they used to, but I thought I heard them getting away from that?

Unless Lockline authorizes it, simple answer is no. About a year ago, after my second claim, I was sent to the store by Lockline for replacement. Stores normally are not involved w/ insurance claims.

Posted by: Rcadden

so but it's been heard of for lockline to authorize it. I realize it's not standard procedure, but it could happen?

Posted by: Binx75075

The insurance claims were handled in the store when I worked for Cingular from 1998 to 2001, but I think that they are strictly shipping out the replacement phones now.

Posted by: schreibers

Depending on the situation Lock/Line can authorize an instore replacement. As to what the critera are for that you'd have to talk to them about that as Cingular doesn't really have anything to do with it. In the situations i've encountered Lock/Line contacted the stores directly to get everything setup for the customer.

Posted by: Bob_BaBuey

This is from the Lockline website FAQ:

Can I pick up the replacement phone from the Verizon Wireless Store?
No, the program provides direct fulfillment of your equipment for a quick and convenient replacement of your wireless equipment.

Posted by: RYOBI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob_BaBuey

This is from the Lockline website FAQ:

Can I pick up the replacement phone from the Verizon Wireless Store?
No, the program provides direct fulfillment of your equipment for a quick and convenient replacement of your wireless equipment.

Thought this was the cingular forum?

Posted by: .7

Quote:

Originally Posted by RYOBI

Thought this was the cingular forum?

He's is obviously drawing a comparrision.

In over 6YRS I have never seen a Lockline insurance claim fulfilled in a COR store.

Posted by: mbranscum

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripy

He's is obviously drawing a comparrision.

In over 6YRS I have never seen a Lockline insurance claim fulfilled in a COR store.

They don't anymore, however corporate stores used to fullfill Lockline claims in store. I had a v60 replaced in store but that was around 1998.

Posted by: ASimpleFarmer

i've had a customer come in with a paper written by lockline to do it in store

that paper provided a reference number or something like that where we could look it up on lockline's website. from there we comfirmed it and gave an instore insurance claim.

usually its done for extreme cases i hear.

this was done in a corp store

Posted by: hfelsh

Lock/Line - and in fact, all three cell phone insurers = will only send out REFURBISHED phones. They do not send out new handsets. This is part of the reason that a class-action lawsuit has been filed in Miami (do a Google search), and which should be interesting.

Case in point: my son's SE S710a got damaged, I called Lock/Line to replace it. They said they don't have it in stock, and wanted to send a "comparable phone", such as a Razr V3 or a SE 520a (I think, it was a SE flip phone.) long story short, it took an email to the Office of the President to get Cingular to send me a new SE S710a.

The lawsuit should be interesting, as they're asking for claimants to get back a.) all "insurance" premiums paid between 2001 to the date of the ruling, and b.) reimburse any insurance cost (such as the $35 I paid 3 times last year) that a person has paid.

If that goes thru, looks like Lock/Line or Cingular will be paying me close to $750 (so far.)

Posted by: cingtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by hfelsh

The lawsuit should be interesting, as they're asking for claimants to get back a.) all "insurance" premiums paid between 2001 to the date of the ruling, and b.) reimburse any insurance cost (such as the $35 I paid 3 times last year) that a person has paid.

This type of litagation is useless. If I wreck my car, I know that my auto insurance is not going to cut me a check for what I paid the dealer. Cell insurance is like any other type of insurance, you are not going to paid full reimbusement for your loss. While these idiots in Miami are at it let's file a class action suit against every insurer of every kind. Even if the lawsuit is successful, you might get a check for $5 and the lawyers pocket the difference. That really accomplishes a lot. Folks whose homes are destroyed by hurricanes have to pay deductibles from their settlement checks, why would it be different for a cell phone?

Posted by: CA

All I can say is when my 11 month old Dell Laptop stopped Dell sent me a brand new laptop that was even better than the defective one. I didn't get a refirb(used) one or one that was missing features. If I wrecked my car and was sent a different one...

Insurance insiders call these cellphone policies "Cheese Policies" like in Swiss.

To me it's a matter of integrity. Dell has it... Lockline doesn't.

Posted by: celltechy

i think computers are a little different... not exactly the same thing... the way technology advances with computers, it costs them nothing to give you an upgraded computer... Cars and cell phones I believe are on the same playing field but of different value

Posted by: kmac1914

Quote:

Originally Posted by celltechy

i think computers are a little different... not exactly the same thing... the way technology advances with computers, it costs them nothing to give you an upgraded computer... Cars and cell phones I believe are on the same playing field but of different value

How is that?
If anything, cell phones would be closer to computers than to cars--since as you said, the way technology advances, it costs nothing to give an upgraded model...or even the same one.

Posted by: audiovoxx

ive seen it happen at my store.... but yes my manager had to speak with someone from lockline and get approval

Posted by: hfelsh

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingtd

See, here's where you're wrong. Yes, there is coverage for your house, that will pay the replacement cost for a house. There's also auto insurance that will pay the cost to replace the car. My argument to Lock/Line (and then the OOTP Cingular) is this: I bought a "premium" phone, and paid a premium price. Lock/Line says they will replace it "...with a phone that has similiar features..." In other words, a keypad, a camera, and the ability to dial.

Now let's apply that to a car, shall we? Say I bought a Mercedes SL600 convertible roadster (if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.) Let's say it gets stolen, and my insurance pays to replace it. But instead of another SL600, they send me a Volkswagon Cabriolet, and say "We replaced it with a 'like-kind' vehicle." Sure, they both have 4 wheels, doors, and are convertibles, but are they the same? No.

Lock/Line and the other "insurers" advertise "We will replace your phone..." and only in the small print do they say that the person will only get a refurbished unit, and will only get the same model IF they have those. If not, they get whatever Lock/Line decides to send them. Sorry, that's not right.

IF the phone were so old and not in production any more, that's another story. but a current phone, still being sold? Should be replaced with the exact same thing, and the customer should only pay the deductible. That's it. If Cingular or Lock/Line has to eat the cost, well, they're the ones playing the insurance game.

I paid the deductible to replace my phone. And after enough calls, I got another SE S710a - brand new, from Cingular. Insurance is a gamble, for both the insuance company, and the individual. It doesn't matter what type of insuance you're talking about. The company is betting that you'll pay more into it than you take out if you file a claim, and you're betting that paying that monthly fee is going to save you money if/when you do file a claim.

Posted by: Jaymcp

I'm not too impressed with Lockline either. I have had my phone for over 2 years and needed to file a claim for the first time yesterday, needless to say they weren't very helpful. The phone they offered as a replacement wasn't even comparable in my opinion and I had no choice but to take what they offered or get nothing. I chose nothing, and I'll deal with a half broken screen at least I can see what numbers I'm dailing.

I did call Cingular CS and they did seem to be aware of the fact that people aren't happy with Lockline. After speaking to a couple people they offered to let me upgrade to any phone for a minimal cost, but the phone I want isn't available for a few more weeks so I'll have to wait. All in all I was happy with what they offered me.

Posted by: Canadian Maniac

Quote:

But you saw the fine print and still agreed to their conditions, no one forced you to.

Posted by: hfelsh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Maniac

But you saw the fine print and still agreed to their conditions, no one forced you to.

Actually, no, I never did. I got insurance thru ATTWS (back in the day) and Cingular Blue continued it. There was never a Lock/Line "contract" per se, that I signed or anything, just a charge on my monthly bill that I agreed to. In order to get a copy of the Lock/Line contract, the customer has to call them and request it. That's also named in the class-action suit. The only way I found out that I would be getting a refurbished phone (the first time I made a warranty claim) was when I called Lock/Line to file the claim, and they told me. And th only time I found ou that I would not be getting the same phone, again, was another time I filed a claim, and the Lock/Line rep told me that.

Posted by: CA

Your going to find this hard to believe, but when I call ATTW with a dud phone they then added insurance for me! And the sent me out a phone.

Nextel b2b does it also. They can start a policy at your first problem and charge you then. I asked the rep if I could just cancel a day after and he said yes, but you wont be able to get it again on the same phone, and then he laughed.

In both cases no contract was offered or signed.

Posted by: badinplaid

The suit is valid.....if you wrecked your car...you wouldn't get full value for claim but the insurance company wouldn't present you with a used Kia to replace your 25 day old Lexus and say that they are comparable.

When they send you a refurb of their choosing to replace the factory new phone that you had covered is wrong. Especially when they try to through the deductable get you to pay more for the phone that the unit is worth.
That is what the suit is alleging.

Posted by: cingtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by badinplaid

The suit is valid.....if you wrecked your car...you wouldn't get full value for claim but the insurance company wouldn't present you with a used Kia to replace your 25 day old Lexus and say that they are comparable.

When they send you a refurb of their choosing to replace the factory new phone that you had covered is wrong. Especially when they try to through the deductable get you to pay more for the phone that the unit is worth.
That is what the suit is alleging.

'Fraid not. Terms and Conditions clearly state that they will replace with a like phone and nothing about replacing with a new phone. Simple contract clause protects them. Any lawsuit like this will get tossed. Just because you did not read the T&C doesn't excuse anything. My initial example was that you would be cut a check by an insurance company for a claim on your car, not given a replacement vehicle. And I can guarantee that you would not be given a check for full replacement of a new car. No difference here.

Posted by: TimIL

I avoid the whole issue by insuring my phone under my home (or renter's) insurance policy. Only deductible ($30) to pay if lost/stolen, otherwise I file a claim and will get the covered amount to buy a comparable phone of my choosing. I pay $17 per year (less than $2 per month) for $500 coverage.

I haven't had to use it, yet, so, I'll still have to see how easy it is if I need to...

Tim

Posted by: badinplaid

Whichever way it goes. I am rooting for the us as consumers. If this suit, which hasn't been thrown out but is being certified for class action status, helps bring about the divorce of the Service providers from the cell phone makers, I am for it. We would not be having this discussion if there were a level playing field as far as the purchase of phones goes. If the price of the phone was the same for a long time customer as it is for joe schmo off the street we wouldn't be arguing. But the fact that you have tiered pricing, based upon weather or not you you are a new customer or not, and how long you wish to sign a contract for we are not granted any freedom in the marketplace.

Take the new Moto SLVR, Cingular is offering it for between 99-159 with 2 year new customer agreement and 349 if you aren't eligible for that offer. You can get the unbranded L7 quad band for a little over 200 online and the triband L6 for a little over 100 online.

The suit is for deceptive business practicies, that kind of price fixing is at the root of the issue.

Tell me truthfully, wouldn't you rather walk into a Best Buy and see a selection of phones, and pick the one you want, and not have to worry about weather or not it is branded to your carrier. Or travel abroad and only have to purchase a new sim card and some prepaid minutes for your trip as the Europeans can do when they come here.