Does Rooting Actually Void the Asurion Insurance?

[Saiyaman156]

I did some searching and came up with nothing definitive.

Here is my perspective on this. I read through the entire document for the Wireless Phone Protection by Asurion. It say anywhere in the ToS that phones with modified software will not be covered.

Let's start with covered property in Section A.2, Covered Property:

[...]The wireless device owned by you for which: 1) the unique identification number (International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), Electronic Serial Number (ESN), or Mobile Equipment ID (MEID) of such wireless device is reflected in the records of the Wireless Service Provider at the time your coverage initially became effective; and 2) for which airtime outgoing usage has been logged with the Wireless Service Provider on your account after coverage became effective;[...]

Rooting does not change any of the identification numbers as far as I know. Awesome, so far so good. Let's move on to what isn't covered. I have picked some that could possibly be used against you, but I feel don't mean a thing.

Property Not Covered (Section A.3)

e. Property that has been entrusted to (including to and from) others for any service, repair or replacement, other than Asurion Insurance Services, Inc., or its designee.

I know when I root it, I am not giving it to anyone else, I am doing the modification.

h. Wireless Equipment whose unique identification number (ESN, MEID or IMEI) has been altered, defaced or removed.

Again, I am pretty sure none of that is changed by rooting.

I see no mention of software modifications, perfect. Now we can move on to things that cause Exclusions. The blanket statement from this section (B.2) is, "This insurance does not apply to loss or damage caused by or resulting from any of the following:" I read that as saying that you can do things as long as it doesn't damage the hardware.

e. Electrical and Mechanical Breakdown
Mechanical breakdown and disturbance caused by battery power or any artificially generated electrical current.

Looks like modding the hardware or software for overclocking will definitely exclude you from getting a new phone from Asurion.

i. Programming, Repair Work
Programming, cleaning, adjusting, repairing, modifying, or performing any other work upon Covered Property.

Ah-hah! Programming ehh. Normally this would be the point where rooting is voiding this warranty. But reading the header where it talks about causing damage, I think we are okay for rooting. We can dig a little more in to one more exclusion of interest.

j. Virus
Computer virus or any other malicious code or similar instruction that:
(1) Disrupts the normal operation of the Covered Property; or
(2) Results in destruction of or unsuitability of data or programs stored in the Covered Property.

Again, I think this does not apply to us, since we aren't really disrupting the "normal operation" of the phone at all. Even if we extend this to what smart phones are normally doing, web browsing, running applications, taking pictures, etc. I firmly believe that having root access does not interrupt the normal operations.

If you end up disagreeing with Asurion, you have already agreed to arbitration, which is a little scary, but I think doable. I went ahead and attached their ToS brochure.

Any comments on this?

 

[gafly]

Report it as "lost" or "in several pieces" ...problem solved.

 

[Saiyaman156]

Report it as "lost" or "in several pieces" ...problem solved.

Nothing quite like insurance fraud.

 

[mnasholm]

^ haha

But you can "unroot" so just do that before you ship it off

 

[xelhabb]

Saiyaman,

for what its worth. I previously owned a Blackberry Storm 9530 with Asurion coverage. The so-called big no-no was to install beta O/S builds, an action that allegedly voided the warranty, etc etc. However, I installed numerous Beta O/S builds and went through 4 warranty exchanges. I made one Asurion claim as well and there was no issue.

Even a bricked phone can be refurbished. So it is my perception that installing a beta OS or rooting your phone is not going to damage it to the point that it can't be restored back to full function. Like a computer, a phone can be re-imaged. So if Asurion is going to cover a negligent act such as dropping or physically breaking your phone and rendering it unusable, I fail to see why they wouldn't replace a rooted phone.

This is just an opinion but the logic is rather sound.

 

[Saiyaman156]

I think the terms of service are on our side for rooting phones. As long as what you do with root doesn't cause physical harm to the system, I think that Asurion could care less. So overclocking is probably a no-no.

 

[xelhabb]

I concur. I also see no reason to overclock this phone.

I am coming from the Storm 9530 and this phone screams in every aspect.

 

[ottscay]

Overclocking definitely does (and should) void the warranty/insurance. Overclocking can cause heat damage to the internal electronics making the phone not even usable for refurbishing. Not that OCing can't be fun, but don't do it without accepting the risks.

As for rooting...I agree that there is little reason for it not to be covered since it won't do any permanent damage to a phone, although it still falls under the area of "if you aren't willing to take the risk you probably shouldn't be doing it".

 

[Rob.G]

Anytime I've ever had to replace a phone under insurance, it's been DEAD... so I kinda doubt rooting or anything else would matter. Once (if?) they bring it back to life, they'll reload the OS anyway, so it wouldn't matter.

My wife's BB Storm got run over by a car (literally). It still worked. There were some dead pixels afterward, but they actually "healed" within about a week. My BB Storm, by comparison, got a little wet in a jacket pocket during a motorcycle ride and was completely dead.

My wife is still using her Storm; I had mine replaced under the insurance, but now have a DX and my BB is in a drawer someplace.

Rob

 

[pinhead875]

I just sold my 9530 for $80! I'm loving my new DX.

 

[doctorlove316]

I just sold my 9530 for $80! I'm loving my new DX.

WOW, really? I was thinking of just duct taping an M80 to mine just for kicks but if I can get $80 for it, I'm all over that business.

 

[pinhead875]

Yeah man, put it on Craigslist. I had it sold in 2 hours. Try for $100!! I had a ton of interest, I could have gotten more. But hey, I'm ok with $80!

I got the 9530 at Costco, so it probably helped that I threw in all the Costco extras (case, car charger, headphones, etc.).

 

[Dirrk]

Heres how I would handle it

My phone fell in the ocean. Finish the claim. Hang up. Oh I forgot to mention that was after I rooted it and overclocked it to 1.5ghz and ran wifi tether to long and my phones battery was 115 degrees and you burnt your hand and you dropped it into the ocean.

The question here is should you tell them why you dropped it into the ocean?

 

[dan1668#AC]

If you break it and it wasn't because of rooting/hardware damage from apps via the rooting there will be no issues.


OR just flash it back if you can still access it ;D

 

[Zach Fraunhofer]

Report it as "lost" or "in several pieces" ...problem solved.

What none of you seem to realize is that Knox is pretty much a samsung snitch, as soon as you get root access Knox gets a red flag and reports it to samsung. The big question is whether or not samsung reports it to your insurance provider.