Samsung has introduced a new repair plan for its high-end Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones, replacing the existing ADH (accidental damage from handling) programme.

Called Samsung Mobile Care, or SMC, the new plan offers up to two screen repairs in a 24-month period. It costs R69,99/month, with the first month free. Alternatively, customers can purchase the two-year plan for R1 299 as a once-off payment.

Without the SMC cover, consumers run the risk of paying up to R10 000 to have their device fixed,” Samsung said in a statement.

Samsung in South Africa is one of the first global subsidiaries to roll out the service offering, said the company’s director of integrated mobility, Craige Fleischer.

With every phone repair, Samsung said it will conduct a battery test and should the battery’s capacity be found to be less than 80% of what it’s meant to be, the company will replace it for free.

SMC is customer specific and non-transferable. Should the original device no longer belong to the original owner, then the SMC benefit is not valid, Samsung said. Proof of purchase for the Galaxy S8 or S8+ is required for an SMC incident to be valid and for the repair process to happen.

“The SMC service plan is only available from Samsung on the rewards programme,” said Fleischer.

Samsung’s ADH is available for devices prior to the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The company emphasises that it is not doing away with the ADH service on previous devices and SMC is not a replacement for ADH.