£342m of mobiles dropped in toilet

Tuesday, 05 June 2007 12:00

Britons are dropping 855,000 mobile phone handsets into the toilet every year - worth a collective £342 million.

But that is just a fraction of the 4.5 million handsets lost and damaged every year, making mobile phone insurance more useful than many say.

"Of the 18 million new handsets bought in the UK every year, roughly 4.5 million will end up lost or damaged," said Karen Darby, from mobile phone comparison service SimplySwitch.com.

"With handsets now costing up to £400, and people often opting out of the insurance package, there's more reason than ever to look after your mobile."

As well as phones being flushed away, some 810,000 handsets have been left in pubs, 315,000 forgotten in taxis, 225,000 left on a bus, and 116,000 have gone through a washing machine's spin cycle.

However, mobile phone insurance must be treated with caution.

People must ensure they check the exclusions on their policies, to make sure they are covered for the common phone mishaps.

Additionally, in many cases home contents insurance can be used to cover electronic equipment that you carry with you outside the home, meaning your phone, iPod, and digital camera are all covered.

"With at least three quarters of the UK population now owning a mobile phone, we really are a nation that loves to talk," Ms Darby said.

"Because most people now rely on their mobile to stay in touch, it's a good idea to keep a copy of your phone numbers on a computer or spare sim card.

"That way, if your mobile goes missing, all is not lost. As phones continue to shrink in size, they also become easier to lose, so people need to take extra care."

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