1 month old Droid2 dropped and now seemingly stolen.

[intro]

This sucks. I feel like a complete idiot. I had the droid in a sweatshirt pocket and with the rubber innocase on it must not have made any noise when it fell out in the parking lot of the grocery store. I retraced my steps, checked to see if it had been turned in. Nothing.

When I got home I tried installing an app called plan B remotely but I'm assuming the phone was turned off rendering it useless, besides I had no text plan to update with. When family called it went straight to voicemail. Had full battery when I dropped it. I changed all my email passwords and luckily my gmail address was new and had nothing personal in there but would all my old facebook messages be accessible if that app was open? I hope not.

I then called Verizon to suspend the account and report it stolen (what enrages me is this phone doesn't even have a damn sim card...it's useless to whoever found it unless they plan to scam someone on ebay or something.) Here's where it gets interesting:

I bought the phone through Dell mobility and ended up paying a $400 deposit because of lack of credit. At the time I thought it ridiculous and I did accept the protection plan over the phone considering the investment. Dell mobility is now trying to tell me I never asked for the protection plan and I did my best to remain to calm. They are supposed to be getting back to me after 24-48 hours. They are going to "review" the phone records. I know I requested the plan but it looks like they didn't charge me for it. How do I fight this? I can't imagine what's going to happen now. The $400 deposit? Down the toilet? $400 for another phone in the case that there was some misunderstanding I won't be able to argue?

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

*snip*

Dell mobility is now trying to tell me I never asked for the protection plan and I did my best to remain to calm. They are supposed to be getting back to me after 24-48 hours. They are going to "review" the phone records. I know I requested the plan but it looks like they didn't charge me for it. How do I fight this? I can't imagine what's going to happen now. The $400 deposit? Down the toilet? $400 for another phone in the case that there was some misunderstanding I won't be able to argue?

Well even if you did request it they are in no way obligated to give you a service you havent paid for...good luck

 

[intro]

I guess I'm wondering what the worst-case scenario is here then?

The stolen phone was free.

What happens to the original $400 deposit? Does it stay on the account for the duration of the contract and now I have to pay the full price of the phone? Which is more than $400 I'm assuming.

This is a disaster.

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

Well if you are under contract then yeah a new phone will be full price...fyi lack of credit deposit is just a tactful way of saying screw you out of your money. You won't be seeing that money back for 12 months I believe

 

[sonofaresiii]

*snip*

Well even if you did request it they are in no way obligated to give you a service you havent paid for...good luck

Hell yeah they are. It's not that he didn't pay for it-- it's that they didn't charge him for it. They can charge whatever they want, including nothing-- if he asked for the service and they charge nothing, that's their mistake. And that's a theory I would absolutely test in court if it were me.

Of course, proving it is a different matter entirely.

 

[sonofaresiii]

Oh p.s. for the OP-- I've never done this kind of thing myself, but I've heard it mentioned that there's a *small* chance your phone is covered in your homeowner's insurance if you have it. Look into that.

Oh, and what you said about the thief probably trying to screw someone out of their money on ebay? That is exactly what's going to happen. There's no way anyone would steal a phone and try to use it themselves.

But hey, maybe check craigslist in your area over the next few days and see if there are any astoundingly good deals for a droid 2?

edit: IF it was stolen. But, I would call local lost and founds first. Maybe someone found it and actually did the right thing? (not likely, since they'd probably try and call *home* or whatever first... but still, couldn't hurt to ask the local police dept. or ask the local grocery store. And maybe go look around the parking lot-- it may have just gotten run over.)

 

[intro]

Thanks. Yeah. I looked everywhere and the phone was turned off so I'm thinking it's gone.

I've already been looking on Craigslist.

As far as the homeowners insurance...I rent. I'm an art teacher and single father. LOL.


I'm feeling a bit discouraged at this point. I assume if Dell mobility gives me problems and says the recording shows I didn't request the protection plan then I'm looking at dropping full price for a new one without a contract (since I already have one right?) and that's $549 from what I've seen. I hate to say it but I remember having to ask the person I was speaking with (in India I think) to repeat a lot of information...maybe there was a misunderstanding that I will come out losing on. I hope they do the right thing. I've had the phone less than a damn month.

 

[sonofaresiii]

You can get a used one off ebay instead of shelling out for a brand new out of contract, and if Dell Mobility doesn't honor their insurance with you, I would definitely file a bbb claim... those claims go straight through to the higher ups at the corporate level, and every time I've filed one the company has bent over backwards to make sure I get everything I asked for. Downside is it takes several months.

 

[zerocool79346]

Thanks. Yeah. I looked everywhere and the phone was turned off so I'm thinking it's gone.

I've already been looking on Craigslist.

As far as the homeowners insurance...I rent. I'm an art teacher and single father. LOL.


I'm feeling a bit discouraged at this point. I assume if Dell mobility gives me problems and says the recording shows I didn't request the protection plan then I'm looking at dropping full price for a new one without a contract (since I already have one right?) and that's $549 from what I've seen. I hate to say it but I remember having to ask the person I was speaking with (in India I think) to repeat a lot of information...maybe there was a misunderstanding that I will come out losing on. I hope they do the right thing. I've had the phone less than a damn month.

Sorry about your misfortune man, hopefully Dell will make it right but if they don't, don't buy a new one. Hunt craigslist and ebay, I've seen Incredibles (much better phone in my opinion, but I'm slightly biased I suppose) X's, and Fascinates going for ~$200 so I would bet that you can find a D2 for around the same price.

 

[intro]

i was thinking rather than trying to match up numbers and make sure i'm not getting a stolen phone i might just try to go for a refurbished without a contract. as much as i've fallen in love with this phone there is no way in hell i'm paying $549 for it. i wonder what the price is through verizon?

another thing i'm wondering is, the odd chance that it did get turned in at say the police station and had been turned off to conserve battery, what would the police do first? call folks in my contacts list?

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

Hell yeah they are. It's not that he didn't pay for it-- it's that they didn't charge him for it. They can charge whatever they want, including nothing-- if he asked for the service and they charge nothing, that's their mistake. And that's a theory I would absolutely test in court if it were me.

Of course, proving it is a different matter entirely.

Proving it is the problem. I have no doubt the op requested it, but how can he prove that if he hasn't been charged? Are they obligated to perform every customer request, or provide everything requested? They could simply say He made a mistake and alter the recorded phone call.

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

i was thinking rather than trying to match up numbers and make sure i'm not getting a stolen phone i might just try to go for a refurbished without a contract. as much as i've fallen in love with this phone there is no way in hell i'm paying $549 for it. i wonder what the price is through verizon?

another thing i'm wondering is, the odd chance that it did get turned in at say the police station and had been turned off to conserve battery, what would the police do first? call folks in my contacts list?

Meet the craigslist seller at a store where a rep can verify its clean...Also I wouldnt hold my breath waiting for police help on a stolen phone

 

[Adauth]

Seekdroid would have saved you a big headache.

 

[ambientdroid]

Seekdroid would have saved you a big headache.

Not if it's been turned off.

 

[Adauth]

Not if it's been turned off.

The phone itself or GPS?

 

[Deleted User]

Intro some times things work out. A friend of mine lost his Iphone over a weekend. He was just about to sort out getting a new one when he got a call from a taxi driver who had found it on the floor of his cab. Another friend lost his phone and did not have a clue until he got a call from the local police to say it had been found in a park and handed in. Of course we are a nice bunch in Brighton on England's south coast.

 

[intro]

This story gets me angrier by the minute. I swear to God I'm not sure who are the REAL thieves here. I finally got to make some calls from work to Dell mobility and Verizon both. At Dell mobility I was calling the corporate escalation line I had been given so I figured I'd have a better shot. Wrong. The woman reviewed the call and said I didn't take the insurance...but I HAD made a whole other phone call after this and asked for it and THAT call is a ghost in their system, furthermore, she tried to lie to me and tell me that I could always ask for the insurance now and then wait the 30 days to file the claim (without mentioning that at that point I'd basically be saying I'm in the wrong and skipping over the fact that Assurion would never honor my claim post-theft.)

I then called Verizon who it least gave me the straight story. Assurion would never honor a claim post-theft. Period. If I could get someone from Dell mobility to call Verizon and admit their mistake Verizon would file an in-house claim that would allow me a replacement (NEW not REFURBISHED as Assurion would have sent according to the Verizon rep) phone for a $100 deductible. Perfect. I call Dell mobility back and speak to the same manager. They refuse to own up to the fact that they could have made a mistake because there is no record of a call. WTF. Needless to say I called Bank of America and filed a claim on the $400 deposit for my phone.

At this point I'm losing it. I try to go ahead and file an in-house claim by myself with Verizon. Doesn't work of course. Then I begin to feel like I can't be without a phone like this. The rep has offered me a certified pre-owned and I'm just like ok I give up, how much? $449. Huh? I press her to tell me the new price...$449. LOL! Turns out they cannot sell me a cheaper pre-certified phone, that's why it's at new price for me because my phone was stolen. I don't know what to think anymore.

Then my day only gets better of course. I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist and come across this suspicious ad: http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/mob/2347796638.html
That looks JUST like my phone. Does this ad raise any eyebrows with folks, it did with me. I called and he said the phone was sold already. I asked if it had come with anything else and he hung up on me. i tried calling again and again and got a woman's voicemail. Maybe it was a stretch without concrete proof but I called the police officer I had filed a report with on Sunday and left a message about the ad asking for his thoughts.


This really sucks.

 

[sonofaresiii]

The post was deleted by the author, but yeah sounds a little shady.

Good luck man.

And I reiterate-- if you can't get Assurion/whoever to own up to their mistake, file a Better Business Bureau claim. They will bend over backwards apologizing. Make sure you keep records of when you called and who you talked to.

 

[intro]

I'm looking to buy one off craigslist now. Thanks for the advice. I will do that. Any clue where to start? I have names. I have the email address and mailing address of the corporate folks at dell mobility. Should I send a quick email to them first?

The craigslist posting read like this:

Not a single scratch on it.
Was kept in a case, only used for 6 months, than upgraded to Droid X.

PERFECT Condition, Clean ESN.

Selling today only, because I will be very busy this week and the following.
Looking for the best offer .. So far best is $140 ..

 

[MyNamesTooLong]

Its a phone...not worth the headache you are causing yourself. buy a phone on cl and chalk it up as a life can suck move on experience.

 

[ninja_reject]

When something like this happens to me, I try to think of it as a very expensive lesson. Otherwise I go crazy, obsessing over it. A hoodie pocket is not the safest place for your phone. Lesson learned, buy a new phone. I'm really sorry that happened btw, I know just how it feels.

 

[sonofaresiii]

As with buying any used phone, have him meet you at a verizon store or activate the phone with him there, see if you can get his name & address if it feels shady. The fact that he's trying to sell it today only at best offer is just the TINIEST bit suspicious, but there's no reason to think he's lying, so just make sure you can activate it and you're good.

I'm looking to buy one off craigslist now. Thanks for the advice. I will do that. Any clue where to start? I have names. I have the email address and mailing address of the corporate folks at dell mobility. Should I send a quick email to them first?

The craigslist posting read like this:

Not a single scratch on it.
Was kept in a case, only used for 6 months, than upgraded to Droid X.

PERFECT Condition, Clean ESN.

Selling today only, because I will be very busy this week and the following.
Looking for the best offer .. So far best is $140 ..

 

[shawn1224]

MyNamesTooLong hit the nail on the head. Quit beating yourself up over this. At this point it looks like all is lost so just chalk it up and move on. Next time around, make sure you get confirmation of insurance, other than that i wish you the best.

 

[RiverOfIce]

Oh p.s. for the OP-- I've never done this kind of thing myself, but I've heard it mentioned that there's a *small* chance your phone is covered in your homeowner's insurance if you have it.

Be very careful if you use homeowner insurance, it is actual insurance. If you try to claim 400 dollars on it, and they allow it, you will get hit with higher fees and cost from future insurance.

99% of the time, you will pay more in a year if you claim, then you would just buying another phone.

To the op, unfortunately, they would have mailed you the extended warranty, no paper work, no coverage. Same goes for your auto, home, and health. Which means if you house burns down with your fire insurance inside it, you can and will be screwed over by your home insurer.

 

[AngryHatter]

Hell yeah they are. It's not that he didn't pay for it-- it's that they didn't charge him for it. They can charge whatever they want, including nothing-- if he asked for the service and they charge nothing, that's their mistake. And that's a theory I would absolutely test in court if it were me.

Of course, proving it is a different matter entirely.

You'd lose.