Hey all, I will be switching to T-mobile in the near future and am looking for honest positive or negative opinions as to whether Protection 360 is worth it. Hopefully I will be getting the $0/a month S23, and having an $18 monthly charge kind of defeats the purpose of having a free phone. I am always super careful with my phones and I've never had one break---however usually I get a phone around $300 or less so I've never been too worried about it either.

Bonus question: If I don't get P360 and something DOES happen, do I owe the whole balance or just what hasn't been "paid" off? And could I potentially just put the sim card in another unlocked phone until the 2 years is up and nobody would ever be the wiser?

So there are 6 tiers to Protection 360 Insurance.

Tier 5 is listed as Tier 5/BYOD, the monthly cost is $18 and the deductible is $99.

Tier 6 is for high end devices and the monthly is $25 and deductible is $199.

Currently a BYOD is defined as "Any device that is compatible with the T-mobile network that was not bought from T-mobile or it's subsidiaries."

And Tier 6 is defined as the tier for high end or expensive phones, and verbiage in the terms and conditions all point to Tier 6 phones being bought from T-mobile, keeping it separate from the BYOD category.

So I'm trying to find out where this exception in the BYOD categorization is defined.

If it's not defined properly and they've been overcharging everyone with a BYOD high end device, it could spell class action lawsuit, just saying.

This all has come about as I'm one of the idiots who actually reads this kind of paperwork, and I can't find anything publicly available in any of the documentation saying that BYOD category has exclusions or exceptions, or even that Tmobile has the ability to change terms at will. Because it has to do with insurance signed contracts it seems pretty locked up from what I can read, and what they're doing by bumping high end BYOD devices is actually breaking contract with high end BYOD owners.

Anyways, I'd love to see if someone can show me something I missed, because I can't find anything.

Thanks!

Official response from T-Mobile:

Upon investigating in the system, I found that Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the only device with us which comes under Protection <360> due to it's higher purchase price. This device was not available when the documents was prepared due to which all other BYOD phones come under tier 5 of the Protection <360> plan. Since the Galaxy Z Fold3 was launched later, being the highest tier phone, it by default went under tier 6. I hope this clarifies the situation.

Unfortunately this isn't how contracts work, and unless they officially amend the contract or email updated terms and conditions, they can't just arbitrarily go against the verbiage of the contract.

Edit: Welp, apparently either no one's going to read this post, or they're going to try really hard to read between the lines or whatever. I apologize in advance for not writing this post 140 characters at a time in a twitter thread so people can better understand it.

Okay, I know there are some posts out there. Honestly? I see some from 4 months ago, but they have the price as $18 somehow... I'm currently paying $26.69/month (with taxes and fees) as of 11/30/2023 for the P360 add-on. The service plan went up and it's just getting a little up there.

For context I have the Z Fold 5 (switched with a promo, and with service and phone I was used to 125-135, but the bill is now approaching 160). If I removed P360, what would the price difference be for screen (both front and expanded) replacements and entire device replacements, for having P360 vs no coverage? I appreciate any answers I can get. Also, I understand that P360 includes McAfee internet security, and the basics of insurance. It's just that I've also seen posts saying that the repairs/replacements can be equal if not less than, not having p360 vs having it. So that's why I'm trying to figure all this out. For the record I don't break my phone a lot and I don't replace screens often either; I like the idea of having "just in case coverage" but like I said if the cost without it will be equal or less, then I don't want to feel like I'm throwing money (I get the McAfee perk) away. Thank you!

Happy Friday! My AppleCare+ Theft & Loss expired in January. I called Apple to go monthly to it wouldn’t lapse but they said I had to wait and choose the option in my phone. Turns out I never got a prompt to re-enroll and can’t get it now.

I enrolled in Protection 360 this month and wanted to ask if anyone found value in having their phones insured through P360? I’m only enrolled because I’m from Chicago and theft is on the rise taking public transportation to work, as is everywhere else I’d imagine.

TD;LR: Is P360 worth it…for 18/month? 🥴

This is a FYI about T-Mobile’s device 360 plan for Apple devices.

They are charging you more for them pay for Apple Care. Apple care is $13.49 for iPhone 16, $11.49 for iPhone 14. They will tell you “we’ll setup Apple care for you” but charge you $18/month.

Do yourself a favor and tell them to pound sand with “Protection 360” and setup Apple care yourself.

Just got a new iPhone from T-mobile, which is financed monthly. I know I declined the Protection 360 service when I did my payment online on their website, but then I received the bill and saw I'm being charged for it. As I read through the detailed bill, it says “Protection 360 Tier 5 TE was added to your line ### via Store Representative on ….. You will be billed $18.00 per month plus taxes and fees for this feature.” which confused me because when I picked up the phone in the store, the guy there never said anything about it.

I also remember my mom buying her phone (monthly payment too, I believe) at the same T-mobile store and never got charged for the Protection 360, but that was years ago, so I don’t know now. I want to cancel it, but I’m not sure if I could?

Years ago I had insurance and was really glad to have it. But now I am more secure financially and just realized that it costs $216 a year! I used to use Jump, but now I "manually" jump by trading in my phone and taking the credit from Samsung. So I am no longer leasing.

I should dump the pointless insurance right?

Hi

I have an iPhone X with Protection 360 Tier 5. I have a cracked screen and a small crack on the back.

It’s my understanding that I can either go into the Apple store to get it taken care of or file the claim online or via the Tech PHD app.

Is there any difference between how either one would handle it? It sounds like if I file the claim online or use the Tech PHD app, they will send me a replacement iPhone X and I’ll mail mine in and pay the deductible whereas with Apple, they may just replace the screen and the back rather than the whole device, and I’ll pay the same deductible?

Any idea whether the cracked screen and small crack on the back would count as one or two accidental damage claims?

There have been many discussions among Redditors over phone protection plans and which in their best opinion is the way to go. For iPhones, the big question is whether to protect the investment through Apple or through T-Mobile. The same goes for some Androids, for example, the new Google Pixel 8 series. Google currently offers its own protection plan for two years if paid upfront or five years over a monthly fee.

But the heat where the divide comes in is the benefits of each plan offered and the cost. Some say Protection<360> is a waste of money while others say it truly benefits in the long run. In that argument, it appears the latter of that argument is to appease those who keep devices longer after AppleCare+ has run out if they purchase through T-Mobile and the same with Google. Some say AppleCare+ is better, because if the phone is stolen or goes bad, you do not get a refurbished phone compared to the carrier insurance. There are so many sides to this debate can’t even keep up.

Currently, as an example, I have two lines paying nearly $100 a month in total that includes two protection plans. This debate has opened me up to possibly changing the way how I choose protection plans in the future, ultimately opening the court to dribble and lower the bill to $81.

So, what are the thoughts on this in better detail so that a consumer can coherently grasp that they’ll pay for a plan that benefits them in the long run? What about those that upgrade in the short run? Also, in an economy like we are in now what about that phone bill month-to-month to not waste money?

Does T-Mobile always enroll longtime customers in an $18 month 360 protection plan when they buy a new phone (not financed)?

And then you have to call T mobile to get it removed. Not the same t mobile I used to love.

So I have an iPhone X (paid off, if that's important), but I wanted the new 11 Pro Max, so I went to Apple & bought it from them as T-Mobile has it on back order through mid October. Anywho, my question: I have Protection 360 Tier 5 on my account for my X, so will that automatically extend to my 11 Pro Max? Should I drop Protection 360 Tier 5 ($15/m) from my T- Mobile plan and just pay for AppleCare+ through Apple ($15/m) since they're both the same price anyways? When I log on to my T-Mobile account it shows "Unknown Device", but next to insurance it shows "Protected". I'm not sure how accurate that is though. Of course, I plan on going into T-Mobile to speak with a rep about this later on, but I was just wondering if you all had any insight, wisdom, or experience with this type of situation before.

Hello! Was wondering if someone can help clarify whether or not I should renew my AppleCare+ or if it’s not necessary since I have Protection360??? I’m just confused since this message popped up on my phone that I have 3 days to renew it.

I decided to check the bill that my mother and I are in and we both have the protection 360 which is 16$ a month. This, though appears small, adds up to a lot considering how long I've had this phone with me(S9).

My mother also has a phone but, after like a year and this will make it 2yrs now, I've never broken it, no cracked screen or anything(I buy protective gear for the phone and for my mom). Just wanna know if anyone here, with experience can vouch if perhaps 360 is worth it? if not, please let me know so I can untick the box and no longer have to pay 16$ a month.

I really appreciate your help!

Edit: Thanks everyone for your response! I really apprieciate it!

So there are 6 tiers to Protection 360 Insurance.

Tier 5 is listed as Tier 5/BYOD, the monthly cost is $18 and the deductible is $99.

Tier 6 is for high end devices and the monthly is $25 and deductible is $199.

Currently a BYOD is defined as "Any device that is compatible with the T-mobile network that was not bought from T-mobile or it's subsidiaries."

And Tier 6 is defined as the tier for high end or expensive phones, and verbiage in the terms and conditions all point to Tier 6 phones being bought from T-mobile, keeping it separate from the BYOD category.

So I'm trying to find out where this exception in the BYOD categorization is defined.

If it's not defined properly and they've been overcharging everyone with a BYOD high end device, it could spell class action lawsuit, just saying.

This all has come about as I'm one of the idiots who actually reads this kind of paperwork, and I can't find anything publicly available in any of the documentation saying that BYOD category has exclusions or exceptions, or even that Tmobile has the last say. Because it has to do with insurance it seems pretty locked up from what I can read, and what they're doing by bumping high end BYOD devices is actually breaking contract with high end BYOD owners.

Anyways, I'd love to see if someone can show me something I missed, because I can't find anything.

Thanks!

Official response from T-Mobile:

Upon investigating in the system, I found that Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the only device with us which comes under Protection <360> due to it's higher purchase price. This device was not available when the documents was prepared due to which all other BYOD phones come under tier 5 of the Protection <360> plan. Since the Galaxy Z Fold3 was launched later, being the highest tier phone, it by default went under tier 6. I hope this clarifies the situation.

Unfortunately this isn't how insurance contracts work, and unless they officially amend the contract or email updated terms and conditions, they can't just arbitrarily go against the verbiage of the contract.

I've already searched within this subreddit and seen so many posts saying that protection 360 is not required and it's just a way for them to get commission, but the guy who switched us from Verizon to T-Mobile is my husband's friend and is claiming we HAVE to have protection 360 for 3-4 months to receive the discount he's giving us. He hasn't told me what the discount is supposed to be. On top of that, he quoted us paying $160ish until we remove the protection 360 and then he said it'd be $140ish. Our first bill was $262. Our second bill isn't ready yet, but it says our plan alone (experience beyond?) is $190. We only have 2 phones, and we traded in our old ones and are seeing a discount for the devices, but it's definitely not what we were told it would be. I'm beginning to regret switching, but we only did it because he told us we'd be saving a bit of money. Now I feel like we're getting screwed over.

(He's supposed to be looking into what the "issue" is with our pricing today, but I'm getting frustrated after reading how much they lie and not sure what to do.)