I lost my mobile phone and I cant claim it from my insurer?

Question

I ve lost my phone today as I was shopping in the town centre I went into a few shops I may have dropped it somewhere.I went into every shop and inquired but no luck. When contacted the insurer they said to get a crime reference number from the Police.But the police wont do it if the mobile phone was LOST. May be they do if its stolen but isnt it clear that the phone was stolen?I pay mobile phone insurance and i am covered for theft and damage.But I cant claim without a crime reference from the police.What are my options? Thank you

Answer 1

Hi,
I know exactly how frustrated you are!! I went through your situation a few years ago...maybe my story will help you in some way....
I bought a cell phone and a friend of mine lost it. I wasn't really worried though because I had insurance on it and the insurance was supposed to be a $50.00 deductible along with the insurance that I paid every month on my phone.
Anyway, I called the police and reported my phone lost. The police gave me a claim number and then I called my wireless company and explained how my phone was lost and how I got a claim number from the police.
The wireless company suspended my phone so that I wouldn't be charged for calls on it. (the wireless company suspened my service for 30 days).
After my 30 days, I had to cancel my service and pay the early termination fee.
Then I had to pay for a brand new phone and they didn't even deduct my $50.00 deductible from my new phone because of one reason or another.
Anyway, it was all more trouble than it was worth!!
Well about 6 months later (after I paid the early termination fee and I was content with my new phone) I got a least expected phone call from my wireless company, heres what happened next....
The phone company told me that someone contacted them and reported that she had found a phone (it was my lost phone that this person was talking about) Needless to say, the phone company gave me the person's name and work number to where I could reach her, so I called her.
The lady explained to me that she found a phone and when she asked the wireless company if anyone reported a lost phone...the phone company indeed told her that a phone was reported lost.
The lady told me that her grown daughter found my phone but that she didn't return it back to me sooner because her daughter liked my phone so much that her daughter wanted to keep it!!
The lady said that she let her daughter keep my phone but made her promise to never use it or make calls on it!!
I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this lady...6 months went by and in all that time, she let her daughter keep my phone instead of turning it in to either the police or my wireless provider. I felt like I was voilated in some way.
Anyway, I had to drive to where the lady worked and pick up my phone. (the drive wasn't right around the corner either)
Well afterwards, I called the police station and I told them that my lost phone was now found. Then I called my phone company and told them NOT to turn my phone service back on to my lost phone because I was still content with my new phone. But they misunderstood me and they turned off my new phone and they turned on my lost phone!!
Again, I called them and told them that I didn't want my lost phone turned on and that I wanted to keep my new phone turned on. I explained to them, that I had already paid an ealy termination fee for my lost phone and I payed full price for my new phone and how the insurance on my phone was a waste because I didn't even get my $50.00 deductible taken off of my new phone!!
Needless to say, again...all this wasnt worth it!!
Anyway, I'm going to stop here with my story since you probably get the idea of what I'm saying by now...I lost out big time with all this!!
I hoped my story helped you in some way. Good luck with your phone and I wish you the best so that you don't have to go through what I went through!!

Answer 2

Not alot, I had the same thing happen. I was told when I phoned the police how did I know it was stolen? Did I see someone steal it? When I said no, it was just gone they said they couldnt help. As I probably lost it. Without the Crime Refrence Number the Insurance company wouldnt deal with it at all.

Answer 3

Tough. Insurance policies, like extended warranties, are not worth the paper they're written on. It's just another way to screw you for money when you buy the phone.

All you can do is tell the provider to cut off the phone (so no more calls can be made), then I suggest you go out and buy the cheapest pay as you go phone you can find (£20). Then if you lose it, you won't be so bothered.

Unlike some, I regard a phone as a means of communication, not a fashion accessory.

Answer 4

I lost my phone years ago. I simply contacted the police department and reported the phone stolen. They gave me a report number and I contacted the phone service company ( Verizon ). Paid a $50 (fifty dollar) deductible and they sent me a new phone. The whole process took me all of 10 minutes.

Try contacting the police department again and report the phone stolen. Good Luck ...

Answer 5

Just report to your phone provider that your phone is lost and to suspend the number. Otherwise you will be held responsible for calls that are made on it. Purchase another phone and cancel the insurance. I had the explained to me from T-Mobile and it isn't worth the money.

Answer 6

You probably aren't covered for your own negligent acts. i.e. misplacing the thing. The reason most insurers don't cover said acts is simply this: What would prevent the average person from tossing the phone as soon as they got tired of it? You will also find that policies will cover normal "wear and tear", but not damage due to customer abuse (for the same reason as above).

Sorry.

Answer 7

so u can't file under the insurance...simply tell them u lost the phone and tell them to turn it off and set up another phone at your expense....this happens all the time...it is really no big deal...the insurance is a waste of time and money as u can only file under the terms agreed upon...don't waste your money next time as you can see it is not to your benefit...FYI

Answer 8

Keep bothering them till they replace it dont take no for an answer because thats what they hope you'll do. I know it happened to me and finally I got a new phone.

Answer 9

You need to get a police report.

Answer 10

Call the number, if someone answers yell

"give me back my bloody phone you jerk"