New figures reveal Australian travellers are spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on replacing and repairing their mobile phones.
According to Vodafone, 23.3% of Australians who have travelled internationally in the last five years and had their phone lost, damaged or stolen, paid up to $500 to repair or replace their device. As many as 22.4% reported paying up to $250 and 21.2% forked out up to a staggering $1,000.
Last year it was announced device theft is on the rise with a phone stolen in London every six minutes. The new Vodafone survey found Asia (41%) and Europe (32%) were the top two destinations for phone mishaps.
Other key survey findings include:
- While travelling overseas, one in 10 of participants’ phones were reportedly pickpocketed (11.1%) or swiped from a person’s hands (8.8%) or table (8.8%).
- Over half (54.3%) of those surveyed reported their phones reported broken, through smashing (41.2%) or waterlogging (13.1%) while travelling overseas.
“Don’t get ripped off by overpriced repair and replacement fees from other providers. Whether you’re jetting off on an overseas holiday or planning to attend the biggest global sporting event in Paris, Vodafone customers don’t need to worry about having their phone stolen or smashing their screens.
“With Vodafone Device Care, we are taking the expense and worry out of getting you re-connected. For a small fee, you can return a broken phone or get a replacement for a lost or stolen one without ever having to give a reason,” said a Vodafone spokesperson.
Following the release of these figures, Vodafone has provided its top travel tips to help customers protect their devices:
- Always keep an eye on your phone: Ensure your phone is in a secure location like the inside pocket of a zipped-up bag, not hanging out of your back pocket or sitting on the edge of your restaurant table.
- Set up find-my-phone function: This will be your best chance at locating your phone in case it does go on its own European adventure this summer.
- Beware of free Wi-Fi networks: Even if you’re desperate to upload those hot holiday snaps, be cautious of free Wi-Fi networks that may pose a security threat.
- Use a strong password and two-factor authentication: Secure your phone and protect your personal identify by using a strong password (think bigger than 1234…) in case your phone ends up in the wrong hands.
- Back up your device: Be sure to regularly back up your phone in case any mishaps do occur to avoid losing all those precious digital memories.
- Get an added layer of protection: Investing in an added layer of protection that is easy and affordable such as Vodafone Device Care will help you avoid hefty repair and/or replacement costs in the event you do lose or damage your phone.
