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3g Iphone Stolen still within 30 day Period

N

nozracer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 15, 2008
1
0
My friend's 3G iPhone was stolen 1 day ago:eek:, he obtained a police report
(don't ask me why), so he was wondering if when he goes back today to at&t can he cancel his contract and go back to his old plan, or would they make him buy another iPhone? he already paid the $200.00 so he owes nothing to at&t? Remember hes still within the 30 grace period. :confused:
 
If he doesn't have the iPhone to return, then he's stuck on the 3G plan for the next two years, unless he pays an early termination fee, which is around $175. I'm sure that he'll have to pay the unsubsidized pricing to get another iPhone 3G, which is $399 and $499 for the 8GB or the 16GB. That really sucks that he got his new iPhone 3G stolen, how did he have that happen in one day?
 
nozracer said:
My friend's 3G iPhone was stolen 1 day ago:eek:, he obtained a police report
(don't ask me why), so he was wondering if when he goes back today to at&t can he cancel his contract and go back to his old plan, or would they make him buy another iPhone? he already paid the $200.00 so he owes nothing to at&t? Remember hes still within the 30 grace period. :confused:
Click to expand...

Yes, he would still owe AT&T for the full price of the phone. Just because it was stolen doesn't relieve his obligation to make AT&T whole on the deal if he can't return the phone when canceling within the 30 day window.
 
nozracer said:
My friend's 3G iPhone was stolen 1 day ago:eek:, he obtained a police report
(don't ask me why), so he was wondering if when he goes back today to at&t can he cancel his contract and go back to his old plan, or would they make him buy another iPhone? he already paid the $200.00 so he owes nothing to at&t? Remember hes still within the 30 grace period. :confused:
Click to expand...

I remember when this happen to me heartbroken, anyhoo if he bought it with a credit card they may cover the stolen phone. I know that visa covers it .
 
Hopefully he bought the phone with his american express card. AMEX offers a standard 90 days of theft/accidental damage coverage. All they need is a copy of the police report and they will replace it for you.
 
See if he activated the gps =D That you can figure out exactly where the phone is.

I was talking to some co-workers today. I don't see why apple couldn't remotely activate the gps chip and have it start signaling the phone's location on their servers. I mean if they wrote that into the software, which they most likely didn't.
 
nozracer said:
My friend's 3G iPhone was stolen 1 day ago:eek:, he obtained a police report
(don't ask me why),
Click to expand...

He filed a police report because he was SMART. It is funny that you'd question that. ;)

By filing the police report he may be able to claim it under homeowner's or renter's insurance. Also, did he pay by credit card? If so, check with them, they may cover it.

Unfortunately, I do believe AT&T will ass him out as far as the contract goes, but it is worth a try to ask.
 
jessica. said:
He filed a police report because he was SMART. It is funny that you'd question that. ;)

By filing the police report he may be able to claim it under homeowner's or renter's insurance. Also, did he pay by credit card? If so, check with them, they may cover it.

Unfortunately, I do believe AT&T will ass him out as far as the contract goes, but it is worth a try to ask.
Click to expand...

Only problem with the homeowner's/renter's insurance will be the deductible. I would guess it's higher than $199 or $299.
 
This sounds like another one of those "If I were to 'lose' my iPhone" posts where someone is looking to get a cheap iPhone out of contract.
 
If the police care and if the phone is on, they could locate it using cellular triangulation. Not sure if they could locate it using GPS though, but you never now!

Have him call AT&T asap and report to them it's stolen.
 
Do you mind sharing the circumstances of this robbery?

It is one thing if someone broke into his house and stole a bunch of stuff and nicked his iPhone. Another if he left it on the foodcourt table in the mall while he went to the bathroom and someone made off with it.

Just curious about the circumstances that would result in someone having their iPhone stolen within 1 day of buying it.
 
marksman said:
Do you mind sharing the circumstances of this robbery?

It is one thing if someone broke into his house and stole a bunch of stuff and nicked his iPhone. Another if he left it on the foodcourt table in the mall while he went to the bathroom and someone made off with it.

Just curious about the circumstances that would result in someone having their iPhone stolen within 1 day of buying it.
Click to expand...

or grabbed out of his hand while on a call
or ripped off his hip from a case/holder
or pick-pocketed while in queue somewhere
or misplaced by a 'friend' whilst looking at it
or 'borrowed' by a 'friend' to call a taxi when leaving in the morning...
 
Rather than go with AppleCare, I checked with my insurance agent regarding a special policy covering electronics such as my laptop and iPhones. It's surprisingly inexpensive. I cover my laptop for about $15/year and iPhones will be about the same each. Best part - no deductible and it covers theft and damage. I'd recommend everyone look into that option if they're interested.
 
I was just about to ask this same question for a buddy of mine that got his new 3G phone stolen in Atlanta. Is there something that AT&T can disable to make the phone useless to whoever has it? Or is it just a matter of them putting a new SIM card in it and using it like that?
 
chadrob30 said:
I was just about to ask this same question for a buddy of mine that got his new 3G phone stolen in Atlanta. Is there something that AT&T can disable to make the phone useless to whoever has it? Or is it just a matter of them putting a new SIM card in it and using it like that?
Click to expand...

They can blacklist the IMEI number, however I don't know if it's blacklisted for other carriers too if he were to unlock it and use it on T-Mobile, overseas, etc.
 
nickspohn said:
If the police care and if the phone is on, they could locate it using cellular triangulation. Not sure if they could locate it using GPS though, but you never now!
Click to expand...

The phone doesn't need to be on. The battery just has to have a charge. This is one benefits? of the E911 chip that all phone have nowadays.
 
jessica. said:
By filing the police report he may be able to claim it under homeowner's or renter's insurance. Also, did he pay by credit card? If so, check with them, they may cover it.
Click to expand...

Why would someone file it under homeowners. There deductibile is usually way higher that the cost of the phone. Not to mention the fact, every time you file a claim you insurance rates WILL go up.

Hopefully he put it on a credit card that has the theft reimbursement. Another reason I use Amex .
 
If my phone was stolen I'd file a police report. Apple must implement something that tracks the GPS when you want it to, it would help alot.
 
Have your buddy check with his credit card company because they may offer insurance on certain purchases if they are lost or stolen. My sister did this a while ago when someone stole her purse with her new palm pilot in it, the credit card company took care of everything.
 
ooo said:
See if he activated the gps =D That you can figure out exactly where the phone is.

I was talking to some co-workers today. I don't see why apple couldn't remotely activate the gps chip and have it start signaling the phone's location on their servers. I mean if they wrote that into the software, which they most likely didn't.
Click to expand...

You don't need GPS to track a phone. You can track all phones by the IMEI number, SN and any other identifying numbers. The problem is they don't do that because it cost money and I think only the FBI, CIA, and NSA widely use that technology.
 
why apple looks the other way...

there are many ways a stolen phone could be located. it would be relatively easy for apple or at&t to pull up the identity of whoever activated a stolen phone, but they're in this business not to make friends...just money. if they helped you get your phone back, they'd be screwin themselves out of the sale of another unit- as you would have most likely purchased a replacement.
 
butfuq said:
there are many ways a stolen phone could be located. it would be relatively easy for apple or at&t to pull up the identity of whoever activated a stolen phone, but they're in this business not to make friends...just money. if they helped you get your phone back, they'd be screwin themselves out of the sale of another unit- as you would have most likely purchased a replacement.
Click to expand...

Holy old butfuqin' thread.....

Perhaps that's the reason. Perhaps Apple/AT&T just don't want to get involved in tracking down thieves. Perhaps there is some sort of privacy law that prevents them from locating the unit. Only AT&T and Apple know....
 
Some credit cards offer insurance from items stolen within the first month or two from a purchase.

Check your credit card, you might get lucky!
 
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