New Delhi, March 12: Mobile handset maker Nokia India announced insurance scheme against mobile handset theft and accidental damage, in partnership with insurance firm New India Assurance.
"Through this initiative, our effort is to address one of the major concern of mobile phone buyers and enhance their buying experience with us. Insurance cover will be provided on purchase of new Nokia mobile phones from today onwards, initially across 10 cities," Nokia India's Director Retail Kannan Gopalakrishnan said.
The plan will be available on all Nokia devices purchased through Nokia branded retail stores across the country, initially in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Cochin.
The customers will have to pay premium of Rs 50 or 1.25 per cent of mobile phone cost, whichever is more, at the time of purchase to avail this offer.
Mobile phone lost through thefts, burglary, malicious acts, riots, theft of device from locked or unattended building, or any act of violence will be covered under insurance and payment will be processed within 5 days, Gopalakrishnan said.
"Customer will be required to make police complaint, inform its service provider and furnish acknowledgement to us for claim. It is not mandatory to get an FIR for making claim. He will have to approach for claim within 48 hours of loss. We have surveyor who will verify the claim after which amount will be paid to customer," New India Assurance's General Manager Segar Sampathkumar said.
The customer will not get any claim if mobile device is lost overseas or because of forgetting it at some place or any any other simple loss. Mobile phone damaged in an accident, damage caused by external impact on the device due to dropping, accidental entry of fluid in the device will also be covered under the offer.
The insurance will be valid for a year from date of purchase of handset. The insurance company will calculate value of device which will depreciate 10 per cent for claim made within three months of purchase, 25 per cent between 3 to 6 months and 50 per cent between 6 to 12 months.
Sampathkumar said that customer can renew the insurance after 12 months from NIA but that renewal will be independent from its partnership with Nokia and have different terms.
Gopalakrishnan said that the company will try to make it very clear to customer about the case when he will not get benefit of the insurance.
