Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has revealed the unusual and costly ways Australians are losing their mobile phones overseas, with more than 1,330 claims lodged over the past three years and the average payout exceeding $1,000.
The insurer says the findings highlight how reliant travellers have become on their smartphones, which are increasingly used for boarding passes, hotel bookings, navigation, payments and communication while abroad.
Strange claims highlight common travel risks
Among the more unusual claims was a Bali monkey that snatched a traveller’s phone from a restaurant table before dropping it into the ocean, resulting in a $1,020 insurance payout.
Other claims included phones lost while filming selfies from moving boats, devices submerged after kayaking accidents in Portugal and Fiji, and thefts at crowded events including Thailand’s Full Moon Parties and Manchester’s Parklife Festival.
One traveller also received a payout of almost $5,750 after dropping both a phone and camera into the ocean while photographing a sunset in Fiji.
Insurance reminder for travellers
SCTI Chief Customer Officer Jess Strange said travellers should check their insurance cover before departure, particularly limits for mobile phones and other electronic devices.
She also reminded travellers that insurance payouts generally take depreciation into account, meaning older devices may not be replaced at the value of a new model.
The insurer recommends travellers report stolen phones to local police, contact their telecommunications provider to block the device, remotely erase personal data where possible, and update passwords for banking, email and social media accounts if a phone is lost or stolen.
