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Found: My lost Eris

grvthang

Android Enthusiast
Jan 5, 2010
530
62
Brooklyn, NY
I lost my Eris a month ago, and got a replacement from Assurion. Lo and behold, my lost Eris turned up today.

Since it no longer has phone or 3g services turned on, I guess I can use it for web-surfing (via wifi) and games. I've been wanting to root my new Eris; would it work to root the old one and experiment with different ROMS on it ?
 
I lost my Eris a month ago, and got a replacement from Assurion. Lo and behold, my lost Eris turned up today.

Pardon me for asking, but what is it that is holding you back from contacting Assurion and telling them you found your phone?

They'll likely merely want the replacement returned and will probably be happy to pay for shipping.
 
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Pardon me for asking, but what is it that is holding you back from contacting Assurion and telling them you found your phone?

They'll likely merely want the replacement returned and will probably be happy to pay for shipping.

Would he get his $90 back?

My guess is after the claim is payed out, they dont really care what you do.

Kind of like if they pay out for a car accident, but you choose not to fix your car.
 
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If you file a claim for a lost/stolen (or for that matter damaged) phone you have to pay the deductible whether you return the missing/damaged device or not. So, no, you can't get the $90 back. If the phone is found, Assurion expects you to return the phone to them. Also, if the claim is for a damaged phone and you don't return the phone that was replaced you are very likely to find yourself charged full retail for the phone that wasn't returned. Further, it is my understanding that the ESN for a lost/stolen phone is reported to Verizon and as such nobody would be able to activate a "found" phone in the future.
 
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If you file a claim for a lost/stolen (or for that matter damaged) phone you have to pay the deductible whether you return the missing/damaged device or not. So, no, you can't get the $90 back. If the phone is found, Assurion expects you to return the phone to them. Also, if the claim is for a damaged phone and you don't return the phone that was replaced you are very likely to find yourself charged full retail for the phone that wasn't returned. Further, it is my understanding that the ESN for a lost/stolen phone is reported to Verizon and as such nobody would be able to activate a "found" phone in the future.
+1

i agree on everything except i do not think that assurion could expect you to return the new eris and not give you back the 90 dollars. i would probably call them and let them know of the situation though, but i do not think you are obligated to. once the transaction has ended and they have 90 dollars and you have a new eris no one is getting hurt if your eris turns up. assuming you legitimately lost it that is.
 
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You shouldn't activate the phone so dont try, or you'll get hit somehow. I lost a phone years ago, and then it turned up a year later (during moving).

oddly enough on the Sprint network you can actually use two phones on the same line, the phone could recieve calls but not make calls out... I had an old phone that I turned on after upgrading to a new phone and I noticed it would receive calls fine still. funny.

Return it is the best option, or just ROOT it, disable mobile data, and use it as a PDE (Personal Digtal Entertainment unit). Which is what I plan on using it for my kid as a hand me down once I upgraded next year. if you keep it in wifi mode it shouldn't call home... but who knows these are tiny computers now a days... best option would be stay clear of the custom Verizon OS and use some CM6 ROM or stock android OS that doesn't originate from a branded Verizon ROM.
 
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Unless something has changed recently, telling Asurion your phone was lost or stolen doesn't ruin your ESN. Only if you call and tell Verizon directly, they will shut it off and mark it as stolen. Otherwise, you'll get your phone replacement and the old line will still be on if you never notified Verizon.

I dont know what Asurions contract says. However, my guess is that that phone is yours and I dont see why you cant use it.

Of course, i understand how this can easily seem like insurance fraud.
Bottom line, if someone want to lie and cheat insurance companies, they'll always find a way to do it.
But for the honest mistakes like this one... what's wrong with the little guy winning one?

A few years back my wife lost her phone, paid Asurion $50 for a replacement. Sure enough, a few days later she finds it in one of her purses.
We kept it as a spare and I actually ended up using it some months later.
No problems activating it.

If this is against out contract, then so be it. But i dont believe it is.
 
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