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If you have a Wells Fargo consumer credit card, you can enjoy complimentary Cellular Telephone Protection (Protection). This benefit covers the costs associated with damage to or theft of your cell phone. To activate this Protection, simply use a Wells Fargo personal credit card to pay your monthly cell phone bill. The coverage extends up to $600, with a $25 deductible, offering financial protection against covered incidents.
The following Wells Fargo consumer credit cards provide the Protection:
- Rewards Card: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Cash Back Card: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- 0% APR Card: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
When does this Benefit Apply?
Cell Phone Protection becomes effective when you use eligible Wells Fargo consumer credit cards to pay monthly cellular phone bill. The coverage initiates on the first day of the calendar month following a payment for the cellular phone bill. And it remains in effect when you continue to charge monthly cell phone bill to your Wells Fargo card. If you miss making a cellular phone bill payment in a particular month, your coverage will be temporarily suspended. However, it will resume on the first day of the month following any cellular phone bill payment made with the eligible card.
The coverage does not extend to cell phone bills paid with other types of Wells Fargo payment cards, such business credit cards, debit cards, commercial cards, or cards linked to a line of credit. Additionally, coverage is not applicable to cell phones that are rented, borrowed, or received as part of a prepaid plan.
While this Protection is provided, it may not match or exceed other applicable coverage. This is supplemental coverage not otherwise covered by another insurance policy, such as cell phone insurance or renter’s insurance. In situations where you may have insurance coverage, your Protection will be applied after all other insurance. For example, if your cell phone is stolen during a break-in to your house or your car, you may already have a homeowner or automobile insurance to cover the loss. In such situations, your Protection will reimburse you for the theft not otherwise covered by another insurance policy.
What Qualify for the Coverage?
The Protection offers eligible Wells Fargo credit card holders reimbursement for damage to, theft of, or involuntary and accidental parting of their cell phones. Specifically, the Protection covers the repair or replacement of the original cell phone, subject to a $25 deductible, with a maximum benefit limit of $600 per claim and $1,200 per 12-month period. It is also worth noting that this benefit does not cover lost cell phones.
If you have existing personal insurance that covers theft, damage, or involuntary and accidental parting for your cell phone, the Protection will reimburse you for the deductible portion of your current cell phone insurance once all other insurance has been exhausted.
In the event that your cell phone requires replacement, you will receive the replacement value. If the cell phone is repairable, the reimbursement amount will be determined by the diagnostic for repairing the cell phone, subject to the benefit maximum and deductible. Otherwise, if your cell phone needs to be replaced, the replacement value is determined as the lesser of suggested retail value of a similar model replacement cell phone or the actual cost to replace the cell phone.
What Do Not Qualify for the Coverage?
The Protection benefit does not provide reimbursement for the following situations:
- Electronic Issues: Cases involving electronic problems like the inability to charge, mechanical or battery failure without evidence of physical damage.
- Software Issues: Problems related to the software of the device.
- Accessories: Damage to cell phone accessories, excluding standard battery and/or standard antenna provided by the manufacturer.
- Commercial Use: Cell phones purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use.
- Loss or Mysterious Disappearance: Cell phones that are lost or mysteriously disappear without evidence of a wrongful act.
- Common Carrier Control: Cell phones under the care and control of a common carrier (e.g., U.S. Postal Service, airplanes, delivery service).
- Stolen from Baggage: Cell phones stolen from baggage unless hand-carried and under your personal supervision or under the supervision of your traveling companion.
- Rented, Borrowed, or Prepaid Phones: Cell phones that have been rented, borrowed, or are part of prepaid or “pay as you go” plans.
- Cosmetic Damage: Cosmetic damage to the cell phone or damage that does not impact its capabilities and functionalities.
- Damage Resulting From Various Causes: Damage or theft resulting from abuse, intentional acts, fraud, hostilities, confiscation by authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or inherent product defects.
- Misdelivery or Voluntary Parting: Damage or theft resulting from misdelivery or voluntary parting with the cell phone.
- Additional Charges: Taxes, delivery and transportation charges, and any fees associated with the cellular service provider.
How to File a Cellular Telephone Protection Claim
If your cell phone experiences damage or theft, you must notify the Benefit Administrator within 60 days of the date of the damage or theft. You can contact them at 1-866-804-4770 (or call collect at 1-303-967-1096 if outside the U.S.). Alternatively, you can submit a claim at cardbenefitservices.com. Complete and sign the claim form provided by the Benefit Administrator. Additionally, submit the requested documentation within 90 days of the date of the damage or theft.
To facilitate the processing of your claim, please provide the following documents:
- The completed and signed claim form.
- A copy of your cellular wireless service provider billing statement demonstrating that the entire monthly payment for the cellular phone bill was made the month prior to the date of damage or theft and has been paid with the eligible card.
- In cases where your cellular service provider’s billing statement does not show payment with the eligible card, include a copy of your card’s monthly billing statement that corresponds with the above cellular phone monthly billing statement.
- A copy of the device summary page from your cellular phone bill or other sufficient proof indicating the claimed cell phone model linked to your cell phone account.
- In the event of theft or criminal action, a copy of the police report is required.
Claim Processing
Depending on the nature of the claim, the Benefits Administrator may request additional verification. For example, you may need to submit supplemental documents, such as an itemized repair estimate from an authorized repair facility, the damaged cell phone for evaluation of its damage, and an itemized store receipt for the replacement cell phone. If your cell phone is damaged, do not discard it until the claim has been fully reviewed.
Under normal circumstances, reimbursement will occur within ten business days of receiving and approving your claim form and all necessary documents. It is essential to provide all required information promptly to ensure a smooth processing experience.
Wells Fargo Credit Cards that Offer Cellular Telephone Protection
If you have a Wells Fargo credit card, you may enjoy the benefit of complimentary cell phone protection. Here are a few Wells Fargo cards that you may apply online.
| Credit Card | Bonus, Rewards, and 0% Interest | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | (rates & fees) | $0 |
 | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | (rates & fees) | $0 |
 | Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 0% on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months from account opening (rates & fees) | $0 |
If I pay annually for my cell phone bill, am I covered?
Does the WellsFargo CashWise Visa credit card offer cell phone protection?
Yes. Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Credit Card also offers Cell Phone Protection. But the Cash Wise credit card has phased out and has been replaced by the Active Cash Card.
Can these consumer credit cards be used to pay company cellular phone bills, and thus be eligible for the cellular phone insurance?
You may use a consumer credit card to pay company cellular phone bills, but the eligible cell phone covered by the protection plan must be the company cellular phone, not a personal cell phone that is not on the monthly bills. When you submit a claim, you will need to provide a copy of device summary page or other sufficient proof of the Cellular Wireless Telephone model currently linked to your cellular wireless telephone account.
Can I file a claim even I do have a insurance with my phone provider?
Wells Fargo’s Cell Phone Protection is supplemental coverage not otherwise covered by another insurance policy (for example, cell phone insurance programs, or employer’s insurance policies). It may be applied after all other insurance is exhausted. You will need to file a claim with your phone provider’s insurance first.