Everyone who’s anyone has a cell phone. For most Americans, their cell phone is little more than a personal convenience, allowing them to quickly and easily communicate with friends and family. For some entrepreneurs and business associates, though, a cell phone is a key business tool, maintaining communication lines and contact lists for hundreds of vital business contacts. So what happens when a cell phone breaks? Can you be covered for the financial losses incurred by replacing a cell phone, or is it easier to go through the process of cell phone repair?

Cell phone companies often encourage consumers to purchase cell phone insurance when they buy their phone. Never, ever purchase it at the desk; take some time to think it over. These policies typically run in the $5 / month range, which seems reasonable enough, and they offer to repair or replace your phone if it’s broken or damaged by dropping it, getting it wet, running over it—basically anything that can happen.

However, cell phone “repair” often means sending the phone away, leaving you phoneless until it’s returned. And “replacing” a cell phone doesn’t mean what you think, either; consumers are often stuck with refurbished or repaired cell phones—if they get their model at all, since one of the little-known practices of cell phone insurance companies is replacing your phone with a “comparable” model when you file a claim.

Unfortunately, when filing claims for cell phone insurance, you may find that your insurance doesn’t really insure. Most cell phone insurance policies only cover a limited number of accidental events; anything that can be attributed to wear and tear from “normal” usage isn’t covered under these policies.

Because of the strict limitations and high cost of cell phone insurance ($5 more adds up to more than half the cost of most cell phones in the first year), it’s often much faster and more reliable to visit a certified cell phone repair technician.