AT&T Wireless Phone Insurance Ripoff! Bowie Maryland

I signed up with AT&T 5 days ago and got a deal in which I received a free NEC 525 mobile phone and I signed up with a 1 year agreement. I also signed up for an additional $5 to be charged to my phone bill monthly for phone insurance. I was told that if something happens to my phone-- if it gets lost, stolen, or damaged, whatever, it would be replaced for me with my insurance and some small fee, or something. As it happened, 3 days later, while at work, my phone fell out of my apron and stopped working. I figured, no sweat... thank God for phone insurance, right? WRONG. When I called the company to have my phone replaced, they told me that since it was damaged before my insurance activation, (2 weeks after sign up) it could not be done. Activation??? If I am being billed this month for my insurance, which I will be, then that insurance needs to be activated the moment I am in possession of a 400 dollar phone!!! Furthermore, I was not even notified of this delayed activation, and it doesn't make any sense. AT&T needs to be consistent with their service agreements and completely honest with their customers.

Shana
Bowie, Maryland
U.S.A.