Signal Insurance through US Cellular

To Whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my sheer disgust in the way Signal does business. My husbands phone was damaged due to water damage and his screen was unclear. He gently tapped it to clear and it remained dis functional. At this time we made a claim at Signal which was denied due to his tapping the screen! We took it to a US Cellular technician and they replaced the screen at our expense. The phone itself still was not functioning properly so we then called Signal again as the US Cellular technician suggested saying the portion you accusingly say was due to my husbands mistreatment has been rectified out of our pocket. The water damage due to weather and my husbands working conditions has still left the phone dis functional. Again they denied the claim. When asked what exactly they do cover ....the CSR had no real answer and kept going in circles in his poor excuse for a description. I told him we were dissatisfied and that I would contact management and US Cellular to inform them we had been given a mis-truth in what to expect for coverage by the Salesman at the store we originally purchased these phones. We had been misdirected. I called US Cellular and the CSR said Signal should have covered this claim now that the phone was dis functional due to the water damage and he tried claiming it with their Resolutions Department. We will see what happens. As for Signal, they cover nothing and collect $5.95 a month per phone and can sleep at night. We were told if it is damaged, lost or stolen it is covered???? Apparently, they have made a lot of money lying and scamming people into thinking that with this insurance we can sleep at night. You are better off telling them it was stolen...being honest today as seen gets a good hardworking person NOWHERE!!!

Kacprzaks-Chicago, IL

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I filed a claim today at a US Cellular store when the local agent told me that I could get a replacement phone after dropping the phone in the toilet. I went to the store to buy a new phone. I was very happy that I was getting a new phone! When I got home, Signal called to say that my claim was denied because the phone was not active on that date. I looked up the actual date of the event I attended and I was off about a month. I was still in the 90 day window. I called US Cellular and the Signal. I also e-mailed the Signal. They said because I got the date wrong they would not replace the phone. I went to the store to cancel the Signal Insurance on my phone and the agent at the US Cellular store shrugged his shoulders and grinned when I told him they denied the claim. I thought his behavior was flippant. Then another guy who worked there and two of his customers start defending the guy. Even the cleaning lady said he was "doing his job". I AM THE CUSTOMER> It does not matter what you think. I am your bread and butter for the last six years. The people that I have talked to on 611 are very nice. The local people are not. I paid for this insurance for 6 years at $5.95 a month without one claim before today. Guess that one will not be paid either.

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I was told no matter what happens to your phone, always say it fell into a big river. Like the Mississippi River. I was told this from a U.S Cellular employee. He has gotten a phone anytime he said that. I had a phone that when I went to open it, I found that the phone was shattered. I figured it got hit in Chuckee cheese or sometime along the line. I called the insurance company when I got home and tried for a claim. They told me that it was normal wear and tear for a phone to be shattered inside of my pocket. I took it into U.S. Cellular and they took a picture of my phone and faxed it to the insurance company to show them what they consider normal wear and tear. They called back within 5 minutes and said they don't cover wear and tear and they consider that wear and tear. So U.S. cellular gave me a phone for the $50 bucks that it would have cost with the insurance. This insurance company is a crock! Nothing but crock! Now my phone is broke and I just called. So far the claim has gone through, and the guy had said that there shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully nothing changes!

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that seems pretty odd to me. my husband has had to have his phone replaced once and my son has had his replaced twice now. we have never had any issues getting service with Signal. in fact I found they took care of us rather quick.

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the signal carries an incident/accident policy which is outlined in the insurance policy. For example if its dropped in the toilet it will be covered. However if you woke up the next morning took it to the store and they told you it has water damage, but nothing happened to cause it that is not covered, under the insurance but under an alternative us cellular program that you have to have the insurance to be covered under with the same costs and everything. I am not saying its the perfect program, and unfortunately it sounds like the signal rep. with the water incident got the clm wrong. However, just because one rep. is unsure and wrong doesn't mean the whole company is rotten. Working myself in customer service representatives are more wanting to assist you if you are congenial and somewhat respectful but once you start yelling and using threats, it flips a switch and no one, in life either, wants to help somebody like that. The golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated yourself, works good in everyday life and in business.

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The Signal insurance works like any other insurance company - they try to obtain all the necessary information to file the claim properly. All the information we provide as a consumer is taken and evaluated accordingly. I have never had an issue filing a claim with The Signal. They take into consideration the circumstance of the issue, how it happened, when, etc. It's not their fault if we provide wrong information, leave things out, and when it's denied, we turn around and get mad. Have your information ready and what is needed and there shouldn't be a problem. Of course, not everything is covered and you have to READ your contract and what is covered under your insurance.

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Actually, the blame is on Signal. I have worked in the US Cellular Corporation for over 10 years now and have seen my fair share of problems with the 3rd party insurance company. Signal Plus Insurance is to cover everything/anything that the Manufactuer Warranty will not within the first year; after the first year of purchasing a new phone passes, it is to cover anything except Software defects. Before you go on saying, "Oh, its not Signals Fault... Mr. I work for a company that is crooked and I still stand up for them"... Think again. It will be a great day with US Cellular drops these ridiculous excuses for an Insurance Agency and see how much money they get to rip off of people then.

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I filed a claim on 7-21-08 and I was sent a phone that did not work. I sent it back recieved another phone that worked for a week. I sent it back after taking it to U.S. Cellular and recieved another phone that U.S. Cellular could not get to work. The person at U.S. Cellular working with me called Signal and told them that I wanted to cancel my claim and sold me a phone through their store for the $50 I would have paid Signal. I was told that Signal would refund my money to my credit card when they recieved the phone back. It has been 3 weeks Signal has confirmed they recieved the phone BUT I have not recieved my $50 back.

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I sympathize with you completely. I worked for over 25 years in the insurance and claims business and I have NEVER experienced the level of incompetence, negligence, and harrassment I have from SIGNAL Telecommunications Insurance Services! They have "lost" every Sworn Proof of Loss" I sent them. THESE WERE COMPLETED IN A U.S.CELLULAR OFFICE AND FAXED IN AS I SAT THERE!! Then they said I have the wrong serial # WHILE WE HAVE THE PHONE IN OUR HANDS!! - This may be more than negligence, it may be a policy to deny or delay payment of claims. Therefore, I am filing a formal complaint with both federal and state (MAINE) authorities about this. Unbelievable.

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THAT IS SOOOOOO TRUE THE SAME HAPPENED TO ME, EVERY TIME MY PHONE GETS DAMAGED, I JUST SAY IT GOT STOLEN,ITS WAY EASIER...

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Blame is not on Signal.

If you were to read your Policy from your carrier, it describes what is covered and what is NOT covered. Sure its easy to point the finger as to why it was not covered, or as to why you don't understand why this is not something that can be fixed or repaired. It is in the policy you have purchased. same as it is with your auto Ins. Homeowners policy. Its not for EVERYTHING that goes wrong with that item, is for what is covered with the Policy.. Oh your not going to belive me . . take a look at Flooding, I bet you its NOT covered with your standared Homeowners insurance ?? Take a look at it. How about Mechanical troubles with your vehicle . . guess again !! certain items even though it say Bumper to Bumper coverage, ITS not for everything in your vehicle either.. BEST WAY TO FIND OUT WHY, is read your policy. Then point your finger at those who do Insurance Policy work

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<i>CSR said Signal should have covered this claim now that the phone was dis functional due to the water damage and he tried claiming it with their Resolutions Department. </i>

oh really?? I was told that the insurance doesnt cover water damage at all. whether it be that you dropped it in the toilet, or fell out of your pocket in the rain. wet=no coverage.

and reporting it lost is better then stolen. reporting it stolen you have to have a police report. or at least this was my understanding.