I'm in Oklahoma, and I work for State Farm. I took out an insurance policy on my new Blackberry Curve 8320 from T-Mobile, and I'll tell you the details of it. I had to submit my receipt and then a print screen of T-Mobile's page for the phone showing the retail value ($449).

Cost was $30 a year, or about $2.50 a month. Zero deductible. Any claim is accepted besides normal wear and tear. They will replace the phone and it won't count as a homeowner's claim either.

It's called a personal articles policy. You don't have to have anything else with State Farm to do one. I would strongly suggest taking this one over the crappy overpriced insurance they offer at T-Mobile. Just thought it might help some people.

BTW - you can insure any phone, but it's retail value has to be over $400 at the time of application. Hence, the iPhone isn't insurable now since it's only $399. Only those that insured it when it was $599. If you're gonna take insurance out, this is one route I'd offer.

Is it's availability limited by states or anything?

Hey thanks for this tip! I just called my SF agent and added my Curve for $30/yr. I had just today lamented to a friend how I am loathe to fork over $5.99/mo for phone insurance so this couldn't have come at a more opportune time

My agent also told me the coverage is worldwide, not just if you lose your phone in the US.

I have taken advantage of just such thing with my insurance company!

Nice! If I get a new unit I will have to look in to this.

No, it's availability isn't limited by states.. You can have this in any state. I just couldn't speak for what other state's RATES were. Some states might cost more than Oklahoma's.. But maybe not. I also insured my iMac, my fiancee's engagement ring, and my TV with this plan. I know that my homeowners would cover some of it, but I don't want a claim following me for 5 years raising my rates. Plus this is a zero deductible. It covers "mysterious disappearance", theft, accidents (drop in toilet, use as hockey puck, etc), fits of rage (thrown against a wall), etc.. Well I wouldn't admit to the fits of rage, but ask your particular agent about that one.

Dang, I wish I got a commission on these! LOL

Anyone out there an agent that can hook me up? I dont currently have state farm and don't have homeowners. Would I be able to add my phone on a relative's homeowners plan?

You don't have to have any type of insurance with State Farm. At least not in Oklahoma.

do you know if other insurance companies besides SF carry this policy, and if so would Allstate be one of them? see we are from Oklahoma but live in Orlando. and have allstate, do you have to be an SF member to be able to get the insurance or is not necessary? Thanks

Not to the best of my knowledge. I'm not familiar with any state's insurance rules, much less a different state in a different company. However, I don't think you have to have any lines with them in Oklahoma (as in car, homeowners, life, etc) to get a PAP. If you do, I've been doing the apps wrong for a year and a half.. Which isn't hard to believe but that's another story!

Call your state farm agent and ask. It'll give you a 0 deductible and pay almost $50 less a year.. Definitely worth it.

i would like to purchase some type of insurance. my father doesnt want to add it to his home owners because of various factors. i live in the same household as him. does any know of any other way i could get insurance? any ideas

Your pops doesn't want to add it because

A) his deductible is probably over 500, most likely 1000 bucks. Much more than your phone.

B) If he did add it, and if you broke it, it would be a homeowners claim against his house. You are only allowed so many per company. What happens when he makes a claim on your phone, then next month, someone steals his TV and golf clubs, you get cancelled, then a snowstorm caves in your roof? That phone doesn't seem so important anymore, does it?

C) It's nothing you can "add". You are a household family member. What is yours is his. If you moved away to college taking everything with you.. Had a fire, all your stuff is covered under HIS homeowners policy. Until you're married, out of school, or 25. So technically, it is covered under his policy. It's just not worth enough to worry about.

Listen, I don't know how old you are.. If you're under 18, there's a high chance you can't even take out an insurance policy on your own. Have your dad sign you up for the T-mobile one, or have him call a State Farm agent locally and ask about a P-A-P. Otherwise, buy a foam case and wrap it in bubble wrap, son.. You break it, you buy it.

I just called a State Farm agent and they said they couldn't do it because I purchased the phone for $250 (upgrade). Has anybody heard anything different.

I haven't tried yet, but from the fact that others were able to get it, I would say just try a different agent.

I think you would have had to pay over $400 in order for it to be insurable. And have had the receipt showing that you paid $400 or more.

well that sucks.. i dont think i can insure my Curve then because I got mine thru my corporate discount site for $175 when it first came out and you guys are stating that I need to show a receipt that it was purchased at $400 or more.

is there any way I can get around this?

I am just going by what the first poster said. (I think in the bottom paragraph of his post.) I am thinking that State Farm will require that you pay more than $400, even if the retail value is more than $400. You may want to contact them to see, though. Or you could send a Private Message to the original poster.

NO! It doesn't matter how much you paid.. It's what it would cost to replace! Call your agent back (you probably spoke to the new secretary anyway).

I'll give you an example and have it make sense.. You have a buddy who sells you jewelry for wholesale cost. He sells you an engagement ring for 10 grand. However, you get an official appraisal and it's worth 15 grand on the regular market. How much insurance should you put on it? 15 GRAND! State Farm needs to insure it for what it'd cost them to replace it. They can't get you those discounts again..

They have to insure it for $449 because that's the manufacturers price! And since that's over $400, it's insurable there at the cost I told you. Call back, tell them the phone is valued at $449 and you have paperwork documenting that (just print off the t-mobile's blackberry 8320 webpage).. As well as a purchase receipt.

You'll be done in 20 minutes, and if you pay with credit card over the phone, you don't even have to go into the office.

Cool. I am glad you reposted here because it did seem strange that they wouldn't insure it, as it is valued at $449. I was trying to figure out why they wouldn't.

Success! The third state farm agent I called finally took it. He wasn't sure at first so he said he called the underwriter and they told him that it could be done for $30 a year (same deal as with the first poster). If anyone is having trouble I would suggest asking the agent to call the underwriter. I live in NYC so it definitely works outside of Oklahoma. Hope this helps you save some dough.

yeah. my dad doesnt care about something so petty. he he worried about the number of claims and what not. i would like to try to get something my self, im 21 but i would have to use the same address as him so i think it would conflict. thanks for you help.

It should not conflict if you're with State Farm. Take the insurance out in your name. I promise you, if you PUT IT IN YOUR NAME ONLY, but you still share the same address.. You will not hurt your father's claim records if you have one. P-A-P's do not affect your claim records with any other line.

For example..

You insure your cell phone on a PAP.. Pay 30 bucks. It breaks next week because you got drunk and used it for a hockey puck. State Farm pays $449 and you get a new phone and sim card. (actually you get a check for $449, you can buy whatever you want with it).. but let's say you buy another 8320 Curve.. You come back and try to put another policy on there.. You may run into trouble doing it, but you'll be fine. You break it AGAIN, they'll pay again, and you won't be able to write a third one for 3-5 years. Two strikes you're out.

However, breaking it twice, doesn't matter to your homeowners or renters or auto or whatever. It shows up as a non-chargeable claim. It can NOT hurt your other policies outside of PAP's. Trust me on this.

If the State Farm agent gives you any sass about doing it, or what you paid for it.. or whatever.. Please ask him to call his "Fire Underwriter" and confirm it. Any fire underwriter will accept it. Most agents just don't know this.

Any chance you could PM me with your Agent's contact? Since I live in LI (work in NYC), it's make it much easier than for me to try and find an agent that won't give me problems. Thanks.

Please PM the agents name also. I'm in NY. I'll call him tomorrow.

I have been getting a lot of messages asking for where I got the insurance so I will just post it. I don't think the guy will mind some extra commission!
The number to call is (212) 873-3262 and ask for Alex Vukel. You can pay over the phone using a card but the address (just in case) is

305 W 72nd Street
Apt 1-B
New York, NY 10023-2659

I got in touch with State Farm corporate.. Here's what they said about eligibility for this.

If you DO have some State Farm insurance, particularly fire insurance (meaning homeowners, renters, boat, etc) then you're virtually guaranteed to get this policy, provided you haven't broken 2-3 phones on a policy before.

If you DO NOT have any State Farm insurance, you can still apply. However they will need your social security number and will run a loss history check. If you are an arsonist or have a history of finding a hail storm with your roof.. Then you MAY be denied. But it's highly unlikely if you're clean for 3 years. I'd say 80% of people without State Farm still get approved.. Maybe even more than that, really.