I have had a claim accepted for a smartphone by tower.  The phone is under 5 years old so it falls under replacement value.  The actual phone - Windows Lumia 800 is no longer around and they have stipulated that they will replace with a huawei 9 Lite which has a retail value at Noel Leeming of $350.  Now I do not want the Huawei so I asked if they could pay me the money, and they won't.  My options are - I am told:

Pay excess of $100 and take the huawei

Take a store credit of 250 less the excess - so basically I have to buy something.

Policy wording says "We will arrange for the repair, replacement or payment for the loss, once your claim has been accepted."

When talking with them, i sounded like the calculation of a store credit is based on their cost rather than the cost to me if I were to buy the huawei.  I have asked to clarify whether the 250 has the excess accounted for - I am a bit confused on that.

I havent had a claim in a long while and not for a smartphone.  Is this what I can expect from having insurance.