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!

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?

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? 🥴

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

When I switched to T-Mobile I think 3 years ago now I purchased an expensive device and was offered "Insurance" "Protection 360" for the reason that my job, and usage of the device puts it at higher risk of getting damaged as in screen broken...

1-2 Years ago my device started having issues T-Mobile was able to Switch it out on their end as the device was not damaged after it started not holding charge, at first I was told to call "Assurant" which they told me they did not have the device in stock and offered another entire brand of device rahter than honoring the "Coverage" which was advertised with T-Mobile which to get repair rather than sending a whole new device... (T-Mobile was only able to resolve because there wasnt actual physical damage to the device.)

Unfortunately on November, 4th, 2022, my device slipped out of the case when I picked it up some how and cracked the screen, I filed a claim as advertised a "Screen Repair" is still advertised as $29 by T-Mobile however that isn't being honored, and T-Mobile tells me to contact "Assurant" which they only offer a Galaxy Note 10, which doesn't even have near the same photo quality, has a slower interface, and reason I stick with my One Plus Series over Samsung because I don't agree to Samsungs Terms OF Service thus I can't use their device anyways, I tried their phones before horrible...

Anyways to the point I am told I can either accept the device they are offering with lower end specs, or don't get it repaired, or replaced, (While I can send it into the manufacture) and pay $350 to get a new screen, the inusrance doesn't provide reimbursement, or honor the other parts of their contract which Assurant says they no longer provide, but as of the date of the incident and coverage documents provided by T-Mobile says its an option...

REPLACEMENT OPTIONS Should We choose to replace Your failed or damaged Covered Device because either We are unable to repair it, the repair cost exceeds the current retail replacement value of Your Covered

- Replace Your Covered Device with a new or refurbished, device that is equivalent to new in performance and reliability. While We will try to accommodate specific replacement preferences, this request is not guaranteed. The price of the replacement device will not exceed the Maximum Coverage Per Claim.

- Issue a cash credit equal to the value of the replacement device, not to exceed the Maximum Coverage Per Claim. The cash credit, with Your authorization, will be deposited in Your account with the Seller to pay the balance due on the claimed device or may be used by You toward the purchase of any eligible replacement device of Your choice or used to upgrade to another device;

- Provide a settlement equal to the value of the replacement device, not to exceed the Maximum Coverage Per Claim.

Also under Tier 3 which is my phone it advertises $29 Screen Repair...

Anyways point is why I've been paying like $30 a month for coverage when they can't honor the contract to begin with, once I get this issue resolved, or take to small claims if need to be, I am canceling my warranty, and switching to Allstate Protection plans for cellphone, I've worked with Allstate as a customer before had a surge fry my PC graphics card and power supply, all I had to do was submit video, photos, and proof of thge surge and they had the reimbursement of the repair within 72 hours, that's real protection / service...

Any way to get T-Mobile to honor the contract, or Assurant, or do I have to go Small claims?