This credit card helped me get a new phone for free when mine was damaged
I could blame it on motherhood or being in my forties, but the truth is that I've always been a bit forgetful and accident-prone. I once walked off an airplane with a single AirPod in my ear, while the other AirPod was tucked safely into its case in the seatback pocket (I got it back from lost and found at the end of my trip). Another time, my laptop was destroyed midflight when the person in front of me reclined their seat a few years back.
So, when I found out my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is among those that come with cellphone protection when you use it to pay your monthly mobile bill, I knew it was in my best interest to switch my payment method. Making that switch was either really smart or a bad omen, because I've since used the cellphone protection twice this year.
My accident-prone life
Earlier this year, I dropped my phone on the kitchen floor one morning before putting on the protective case, and the screen suffered a large crack that needed to be repaired. I paid only a $50 deductible, and the rest of the screen replacement fee was covered just by paying my monthly bill with my Venture X card. If not for the insurance, I would have paid $350 for the repair.
My phone suffered an even worse fate a few weeks ago while on assignment in Curacao. While the gorgeous scenery helped to soften the blow, a faulty waterproof case rendered my phone useless after a short snorkeling adventure at my resort. (Side note: I've since heard from many people that the waterproof phone pouches are much more reliable than the cases designed specifically for your phone model.)
The next morning, after my phone suffered water damage, the screen turned on and off at random as if possessed by a spirit. Shortly after, the entire screen turned green and said its final goodbye (i.e., it went dark and never turned on again).
I did purchase a cheap phone in Curacao so I could communicate with my family and let them know I was safe. But knowing my credit card's cellphone protection would help me fix or replace my phone when I returned home allowed me to enjoy the rest of my trip ... and some more snorkeling (sans phone).
Venture X cellphone protection details
The qualification guidelines, coverage details and claim filing process vary based on which credit card(s) with cellphone protection you have, but to qualify for cellphone protection with the Venture X, I simply need to use the card to pay my monthly mobile bill. Each month that I pay the bill with the Venture X card, I am covered for the following month.
Related: Best cards for phone protection
The protection covers every line on my bill and can be used up to two times in a 12-month period (which means I need to be extra careful until next year). Cardholders are eligible for up to $800 per claim after a $50 deductible.
Venture X cellphone protection reimburses you for loss, theft and damage that isn't covered by another insurance policy (like homeowner's insurance or AppleCare). It doesn't cover things like cosmetic damage or cellphones stolen from checked baggage.
Filing my cellphone protection claim
I began the claim process by visiting the Card Benefit Services website, as stated in my credit card's benefits guide. I filled out some general information about my claim and, because I've done this before, I knew that I would need to upload a few pieces of documentation to begin the claims process:
- A copy of my cellphone billing statement from the month prior to my phone being damaged
- A copy of my Venture X monthly billing statement showing that I paid my wireless bill with my eligible card
- A copy of the device summary page from my wireless provider showing that the damaged phone is linked to my wireless account
From there, a representative called to let me know everything looked good and I needed only to provide a repair or replacement estimate from an authorized repair facility like the Apple Store or Best Buy. I headed to the closest Apple Store, where they informed me they don't repair water-damaged phones and gave me a printed-out estimate for the replacement cost of my phone.
I submitted this estimate with my claim, and my reimbursement was approved the very same day. I opted to receive my funds via direct deposit.
I knew I was eligible for an upgrade on my now-ruined phone, so I visited my wireless provider to learn my options. I find cellphone plans unnecessarily confusing, but in this case, everything worked out in my favor. I signed up for the right plan at the right time and was able to trade in my damaged phone toward my upgrade. (Most plans only allow you to trade in a phone in good, working order.)
I only needed to pay off the remaining balance on my current phone to get a newer model iPhone for no cost, other than taxes and fees. My cellphone insurance reimbursement more than covered what I owed on my current phone, so I essentially got the new phone for free just by using my Venture X to pay my monthly wireless bill.
Bottom line
While I would have preferred for none of this to happen in the first place, I did come away with a new phone at no cost to me — save the embarrassment of telling everyone I knew that I ruined my phone in a foreign country.
Thanks to my Venture X card's cellphone insurance, I've easily covered the card's $395 annual fee several times over this year. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that I don't have any more cellphone mishaps, but I'm glad to know I'm covered if I do.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.