Account Based Handset Protection Coverage
Methods and means for device account based protection coverage are provided which allow for account holders to share a protection plan across a shared account, thereby covering a plurality of individual devices and discreet devices. Program users are able to manage their device protection in a manner more consistent with the way they use their device and services. Users are also able to purchase rate-tailored protection plans for all (or some) of the plurality of devices tied to the account, thereby facilitating cost-sharing of service fees with other members associated with the account. Account members can also share claims benefits across the protected group.
1 . A system for providing account based protection for a plurality of portable electronic devices, said system comprising: a processor disposed in communication with software, wherein said software is programmed to bundle a plurality of discrete lines associated with a plurality of individual portable electronic devices within a single account; and apply a plurality of predetermined loss factors associated with said bundled lines in order to assess risk associated with the account and thereby inform an operator of the system regarding a corresponding price structure for the single protection account.
2 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to recognize a prior customer election to automatically add protection for new portable electronic devices added to the bundled protection account.
3 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to recognize a prior customer election to automatically remove protection for portable electronic devices disconnected from the bundled protection account.
4 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said software system is further programmed to recognize a prior customer election to share a predetermined number of claims across the bundled protection account.
5 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to recognize a prior customer election to share a plurality of claim benefits across the bundled protection account.
6 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to provide customers a plurality of tools for managing a bundled protection account.
7 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 6 , wherein said software is further programmed to provide customers a plurality of account level reporting tools.
8 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 6 , wherein said software is further programmed to provide customers tools for tracking claims and benefits across a bundled protection account.
9 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6 , wherein software is further programmed to validate that individual portable electronic devices are registered within the bundled protection account.
10 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6 , wherein said software is further programmed to provide customers product and protection services information upon request.
11 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to recognize a prior customer election to add a line of service to a bundled protection account during a predetermined time period following the date on which a line is first acquired.
12 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to remove a line of service from a bundled protection account after a predetermined time period following the date on which a line is first acquired.
13 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is programmed to issue a single bill to a primary account owner of the bundled protection program.
14 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 13 , wherein said software is further programmed to bill a primary account owner on a single premium coverage basis.
15 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 13 , wherein said software is further programmed to bill a primary account owner on an added line coverage basis.
16 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 13 , wherein said software is further programmed to bill a primary account owner on a banded pricing basis.
17 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 13 , wherein said software is further programmed to discount a plurality of predetermined charges on a bill after initial application of a predetermined rate.
18 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 13 , wherein said software is further programmed to apply a predetermined discounted rate based on a total number of portable electronic devices protected on a bundled protection account.
19 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to evaluate a claims request and initiate issuance of a replacement portable electronic device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied.
20 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 19 , wherein said software is further programmed to initiate issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery to a customer.
21 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 20 , wherein said software is further programmed to initiate issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery on an expedited basis after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined priority customer criteria has been satisfied.
22 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 19 , wherein said software is further programmed to initiate issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via pickup at an authorized retail dealer.
23 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to extend a service provider contract commitment for any line of service in the bundled protection account.
24 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to authorize replacement of any portable electronic device on any line of service in the bundled protection account.
25 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of telephone handset devices.
26 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of personal digital assistants.
27 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to identify individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices and then register said individual portable electronic devices in association with a discrete device identification number.
28 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 27 , wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete line number.
29 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 27 , wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete account number.
30 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said said software is further programmed to collect pertinent data used to determine an associated protection coverage pricing model.
31 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to compare a plurality of predetermined risk factors associated with detected risk events and user behaviors selected from a set of predefined risk events and user behaviors in order to mitigate payment of benefits in the event of customer fraud.
32 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said software is further programmed to amend an individual risk profile associated with a particular line holder in the event a risk event or user behavior is detected that correlates with a predetermined set of risk events or user behaviors.