<p>I highly recommend that when purchasing new computers, get the extended warranty that covers damage for any reason. Best Buy’s covers everything except theft. So the PAP (personal articles policy) covers that.</p>
<p>my son rents a place and did not get renters insurnce. The landlord hired an unlicensed roofer who messed up real bad and the ceiling fell in destroying much of son’s belongings (especially electronics). Landlord says not his responsibility - hoping a judge disagree. In his new place he is getting renters insurance - not that there is much left to insure at this point.</p>
<p>So yes I recommend insurance. Having said that we have not done that for out daughter who’s in a dorm - may look at one of the policies for the laptop.</p>
<p>I will be flamed for this, but why buy an Insurance?..You can self insure.</p>
<p>The electronic gadgets are cheap in price. If your child has expensive ones, make a deal. If stolen, replacement will be cheap things. The costs are pretty low. Just bought another laptop for son for less than $500 (actually it is pretty good). Ipod-$200.</p>
<p>Renters Insurance is like those extended warranties - I never buy one.</p>
<p>Simba, many college students, especially those living in apts., have other valuable things besides new electronic gear- furniture, clothing, books, CD’s. etc. That’s why insurance is a good idea.</p>
<p>I once used my renter’s insurance, when moving from rental property into our first house. My dog, uncharacteristicially tied up in the yard, and hidden behind the moving truck, bit the mailman. He was a very good dog, aside from that one time. We were sent noticed of an upcoming law suit, sent the matter to the rental insurance company, and never heard another word about it. I was greatful to not deal with it otherwise.</p>
<p>Aside from belongings, that is one of the functions of renter’s insurance, taking care of odd occurances. Simba, I agree with your sentiment, was very anti insurance in my early days. But have suffered enough strange mishaps in recent years to put myself in the insurance camp now.</p>
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<p>Why? Are you implying that it’s the kid’s fault? Other than carelessness like not locking the door, why should he have to settle for a cheap replacement?</p>
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And assuming that the claim is allowed, which I believe it will be - I’ll keep folks posted - d will have gotten her expensive computer repaired (cost - about $700) for less than $200 (under $150 premium + $50 deductible). I like that deal better.</p>
<p>Chedva, How was your experience filing the claim with CSI from the Nov. 2007 incident? Mizzou offers a service called Safeware. That program extends coverage for an Apple computer beyond AppleCare (mfg. defects) to cover spills, theft, etc. CSI would be ideal to cover not only the added laptop coverage, but other dorm items as well …</p>
<p>The standard homeowners policy provides up to 10% of your contents at an additional residence. If your college students rents an apartment, you can add this location on to the home policy for about $20 for liability. I would highly recommend adding additional coverage for unscheduled computers or jewelry to the policy. The most important insurance that your student should have for his or her computer is the habit of regulary backing up the computer to a backup. Also, keep the copies of the operating system and software programs in separate and safe place. Nothing worse than having that 20 page term paper in Word evaporate.</p>
<p>the problem with standard homeowners is that you frequently have a high deductible. Mine is 1K.</p>
<p>I have the CSI insurance for 4K of coverage w/$50 deductible.
Haven’t needed it, but if his computer or phone was stolen, it wouldn’t be over my homeowner deductible.</p>
<p>When you add the additional coverage for unscheduled jewelry, fine arts, computers, etc. there is no deductible for losses on these items.</p>
<p>CSI paid for the computer repair, less the $50. deductible. Then, my d’s camera was stolen. They paid full replacement cost for that, too. They were very easy to deal with.</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva.</p>
<p>While homeowners may cover the loss with a deductible, that does not include accidental damage to a laptop. That coverage alone quickly justifies the CSI premium. As far as the data, S is onboard with backups and an inexpensive safeguard is an external drive.</p>
<p>That was exactly my thought, HSBSkier. The repair was over $600, because the case was damaged and kept the mousepad depressed, so commands couldn’t be entered and the machine wouldn’t turn off. So they had to replace the entire case. </p>
<p>As long as there are kids with coffee around the laptop (I don’t think she’ll ever check it again!), I’ll keep the policy in force!</p>
<p>Is College Student Insurance still out there? I tried their website and it has vanished…</p>
<p>Here’s their phone number - (888) 411-4911. I hope they’re still around, because we’ve got a claim pending!</p>
<p>That’s odd – their website was working fine a week or so ago because I went there to see about renewing S’s policy. I just tried it and couldn’t get on. I hope it’s just a temporary glitch!</p>
<p>I called CSI today - their website being worked on, and should be up again tomorrow, 6/17. They are, however, accessible by phone.</p>
<p>We have CSI.
Son just finished freshman year. Damaged phone and lost eyeglasses at home on the same day.
I worried too as the site was up one day and down the next 3. I called firemans fund and they didn’t even know they were part of CSI but promptly called me back with all the info I needed and verified that CSI was still in existance.
Website has been up and down the last 2 days. Claims are made on line.
They do not cover loss, only damage and theft. (We have a vision plan so that helps to replace the glasses.)
I will attempt to file a claim for the phone, but it may not be worth it after the deductible. (I don’t think it will make a dent in the price of his new phone which of course is more expensive than his old one.)
I was told the proof of purchase is a receipt, photo, or owners manual.
They send out automatic renewals 30 days prior to expiration.
I will continue to use CSI.</p>
<p>I know this is an old thread, but we just had an unfortunate reason to submit a claim. The claim was submitted online (police report of theft, copy of the cover of the phone manual, and student id), and was paid within 10 days. As far as the amount of reimbursement, we were paid replacement cost (i.e. not depreciated), which made the insurance very valuable, indeed. Just realized, and am editing, to include omitted info that the policy was purchased through CSI - [CSI</a> College Student Insurance Home](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]CSI”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/)</p>