New figures reveal that Australian travellers spend hundreds and thousands of dollars 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 $1,000.

Last year, it was announced that device theft is on the rise, with a phone stolen in London every six minutes. The new Vodafone survey found that Asia (41%) and Europe (32%) were the top two destinations for phone mishaps.

Other key survey findings include:

• While travelling overseas, one in 10 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 broken, through smashing (41.2%) or waterlogging (13.1%) while travelling overseas.

“Don’t get ripped off by other providers’ overpriced repair and replacement fees. Whether you’re jetting off on an overseas holiday or planning to attend Paris’s most significant global sporting event, 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, and not hanging out of your back pocket or sitting on the edge of your restaurant table.
• Set up the find-my-phone function. This will be your best chance at locating your phone in case it goes on its own European adventure this summer.
• Beware of accessible Wi-Fi networks: Even if you’re desperate to upload those hot holiday snaps, be cautious of accessible Wi-Fi networks that may pose a security threat.
• Use a strong password and two-factor authentication: Secure your phone and protect your identity by using a strong password (think more significant than 1234…) if your phone ends up in the wrong hands.
• Back up your device: Regularly back up your phone in case any mishaps occur to avoid losing all those precious digital memories.
• Get an added layer of protection: Investing in an easy and affordable layer of protection, such as Vodafone Device Care, will help you avoid hefty repair and/or replacement costs in the event you lose or damage your phone.

Vodafone Device Care gives customers an affordable way to fix broken screens, exchange busted devices, or replace lost devices without providing a reason or forking out crazy replacement costs.

Written by: Jason Smith

==================================