Insurance Fraud
I just had a customer come in who wanted a new phone. The thing is - he wasn't eligible for an upgrade and his current phone is a fairly nice one (a V551). I explained this to him and told him that he could purchase a new phone for retail price, but that I would recommend just keeping his current phone until he was eligible for upgrade.
Then, completely serious, he says to me, "I have insurance on the phone. Why can't I just tell you that I lost it and have you replace it with a new one?"
"Ummm. . . that would be insurance fraud, and I've already seen that you have your phone right there."
"Well, can't I just say that I'm having problems with the speaker - isn't there a warranty or something?"
"Are you having problems with the...
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Then, completely serious, he says to me, "I have insurance on the phone. Why can't I just tell you that I lost it and have you replace it with a new one?"
"Ummm. . . that would be insurance fraud, and I've already seen that you have your phone right there."
"Well, can't I just say that I'm having problems with the speaker - isn't there a warranty or something?"
"Are you having problems with the...
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Well done. He is stupid, and deserving of the mocking that he has fallen victim to!
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Even if he broke his phone intentionally... wouldn't he just get another V551 through insurance? 😳
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yeah. the point is that that is fraud. Why would you tell a rep that you were planning on doing it. If he is dishonest, he can just walk around the corner and do it, he doesnt have to advise a Cingular rep that he is going to rip off the insurance company.
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Cingular designed it to where people will abuse the insurance as long as those 2 year contracts are in effect. They know that most of those plastic pieces of junk isn't going to last that long.... 😎
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Let the buyer beware. Cingular doesn't force a two year contract on anyone, except for those that live on a small, private island and only has the internet as a source of reaching the outside world.
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And customers wonder why the deductibles and uncovered handsets are on the rise. Between people like this guy and employees using it for their own personal upgrade program the insurance company's margins are getting pretty thin to be competitive.
We had a store doing about 40 insurance claims a month before it went to the current system and more than 75% each and every month were call center employees. They even had a system in place. Buy a cheap used phone and go in a month later and claim it was lost.
We had a store doing about 40 insurance claims a month before it went to the current system and more than 75% each and every month were call center employees. They even had a system in place. Buy a cheap used phone and go in a month later and claim it was lost.
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TW,
I remember doing those claims for our call center in Lubbock(not as much of your story of the same V60 being passed around). Yes, employees have the inside knowledge to manipulate the system to their benefit. Fraud or no, lockline is avaliable to those who wish to subscribe at $3.99 a month. I am not buying that Lockline isn't making money. There is a reason why you can only file two claims in a one year period. After those 2, you are costing LL more than they are making and therefore you are dropped. Think how many people have phone insurance and have never used it after subscribing for "X" amount of years.
Yes, this guy is being stupid about filing a claim. Yes, he will get the same model, seed stock or if for some reason it isn...
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I remember doing those claims for our call center in Lubbock(not as much of your story of the same V60 being passed around). Yes, employees have the inside knowledge to manipulate the system to their benefit. Fraud or no, lockline is avaliable to those who wish to subscribe at $3.99 a month. I am not buying that Lockline isn't making money. There is a reason why you can only file two claims in a one year period. After those 2, you are costing LL more than they are making and therefore you are dropped. Think how many people have phone insurance and have never used it after subscribing for "X" amount of years.
Yes, this guy is being stupid about filing a claim. Yes, he will get the same model, seed stock or if for some reason it isn...
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You a smart guy!!!
Hey, you need to call me about the sub thing. I got some info for you about those commissions for which I was a little wary.
I like the "tiered" insurance proposal. You should take it to the corporate office there on Dallas Parkway.
They took one of my ideas and turned it into a national sales pitch for a certain product.
You never know.
Hey, you need to call me about the sub thing. I got some info for you about those commissions for which I was a little wary.
I like the "tiered" insurance proposal. You should take it to the corporate office there on Dallas Parkway.
They took one of my ideas and turned it into a national sales pitch for a certain product.
You never know.
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Thats ok, i had a customer who tried it, lockline investigates it now for 24-48 hours before claim is processed, they found it was fraud, and cancelled his insurance, then he called us to get a free phone, since we never advised him that he would lose his insurance for "commiting a mitake" yeah fraud's a bitch aint it???
He got no, and can't migrate either, he lives in CA,. and got 10 months to go on contract, and got 1 line so no blue phone either 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
He got no, and can't migrate either, he lives in CA,. and got 10 months to go on contract, and got 1 line so no blue phone either 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
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Did you notate his account about what his plans are? That'd be what I would've done.
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Hi guys. Indulge me, please: I'm a former Cingular rep and now just a subscriber so I'm just asking this for my own consumer awareness....Am I understanding you all right that insurance claims are no longer done in retail stores? Is it through mail/telephone contact? Is that in all markets? Thanks in advance for your insight.
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Dino,
This is correct. All insurance/warranty work is done via the mail now. What sucks about insurance is that they send like for like, and it is a refurb, seed stock phone. It wasn't like the old days when it was done in store, and there was a choice of 4 or 5 phones. Not really much of a good deal as it use to be is it?
Will
This is correct. All insurance/warranty work is done via the mail now. What sucks about insurance is that they send like for like, and it is a refurb, seed stock phone. It wasn't like the old days when it was done in store, and there was a choice of 4 or 5 phones. Not really much of a good deal as it use to be is it?
Will
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it was my understanding (in my call center at least) that when someone files a valid insurance claim, sends their faulty phone in/puts a hold on their stolen phone, then SSG sends out a new handset, not a refurbished handset. i know that Sun Comm sends out refurbished handsets, but we don't.
i could be misinformed, but i'm pretty that's how it's handled.
xoxo
i could be misinformed, but i'm pretty that's how it's handled.
xoxo
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Maybe for Cingular, know for certain that Lockline for Blue sends out refurb phones. Been several posts by Lockline reps stating to that effect.
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