Dear People:
Losing or breaking a cell phone is the number one consumer complaint. Why? Because it happens all the time. Cell phones break and they get lost or stolen.
99 out of 100 cellular telephones (including Blackberrry, Kyocera and Palm smart phones) all offer insurance; if you lose the phone, you pay a small deductible ($25-$50.00)and a replacement phone is sent to you. But not the IPhone. If you lose the IPhone, there is no insurance program offered by Apple to either replace it, or help allay the cost.
Four months ago, I purchased a 3GS 32G from AT&T for $299.00; plus tax, plus case. I even purchased an additional Care and Protection Plan for $100.00 more. Unfortunately, last week i lost my IPhone. I searched high and low, but could not find it. I contacted AT&T about a replacement IPhone, but now the new price is $500.00; plus I also have to SIGN A NEW TWO YEAR CONTRACT. If I do not sign the contract, then I will have to pay full ertail price of $700.00. I asked the clerk what was difference between them and the Mob? I truly feel I was being extorted. I had to now pay $500.00 and sign a new contract too? That really irked me. (In my opinion, all they were missing was a gun and a mask).
What I also found troubling was that although I had Location Services on, two, different GPS Program, my IED number; as well as Google Maps, etc., no one; neither AT&T nor Apple would help find my IPhone; and they could have done it quite easily. Apparently, I didn;t purchase Apple's additional program called Mobile Me for another $100.00. (I had no use for this Mobile Me program--it was designed for people on the road; although one of its option was a phone location service--which itself has limitations). Therefore, no one at Apple or AT&T would help me; so I was out of luck.
If you ask AT&T about it, they blame Apple and told me that Apple would not allow AT&t to insure the IPhones. Even though a comprable phone like a Palm or Blackberry is equivalent to an IPhone in price. If I had a Blackberry, I would have simply paid a small deductible ($50.00) and I would have been sent another unit. I even called Apple and asked why they did not offer some insurance program on the IPhone, but the young lady had no answer. She asked me if I had a Home Owner's Policy (which I do; Homeowners, Business Insurance, AMEX Protection Plan and not a one can help me).
So now, in order to replace my lost IPhone, I have to pay $500.00, but I refuse. It is not the money, but having to sign a new contract seems like kicking someone when they are down. I cannot give AT&T the satisfaction. Therefore, I am going to simply cancel my business account with AT&T and simply pay the $175.00 cancellation fee. And if I decide on another IPhone, I will get it under my name for $299.00 (and maybe cheaper after Christmas; who knows).This way I will at least save $26.00; while concomitantly not giving those bastards the satisfaction of compelling me to re-sign a contract that I had just signed less than six months earlier; no way. That is bad business.
In conclusion, I was able to locate Steven Jobs apparent email address, and sent him an email regarding this matter, but to date no response. I will keep you posted. So don't lose your precious IPhone; don't break it either. If you do, you will pay. Can you imagine paying over $300 for the phone four months ago, and now having to pay at least $500 a week before Christmas. What a bummer.
Happy Holidays All.
Losing or breaking a cell phone is the number one consumer complaint. Why? Because it happens all the time. Cell phones break and they get lost or stolen.
99 out of 100 cellular telephones (including Blackberrry, Kyocera and Palm smart phones) all offer insurance; if you lose the phone, you pay a small deductible ($25-$50.00)and a replacement phone is sent to you. But not the IPhone. If you lose the IPhone, there is no insurance program offered by Apple to either replace it, or help allay the cost.
Four months ago, I purchased a 3GS 32G from AT&T for $299.00; plus tax, plus case. I even purchased an additional Care and Protection Plan for $100.00 more. Unfortunately, last week i lost my IPhone. I searched high and low, but could not find it. I contacted AT&T about a replacement IPhone, but now the new price is $500.00; plus I also have to SIGN A NEW TWO YEAR CONTRACT. If I do not sign the contract, then I will have to pay full ertail price of $700.00. I asked the clerk what was difference between them and the Mob? I truly feel I was being extorted. I had to now pay $500.00 and sign a new contract too? That really irked me. (In my opinion, all they were missing was a gun and a mask).
What I also found troubling was that although I had Location Services on, two, different GPS Program, my IED number; as well as Google Maps, etc., no one; neither AT&T nor Apple would help find my IPhone; and they could have done it quite easily. Apparently, I didn;t purchase Apple's additional program called Mobile Me for another $100.00. (I had no use for this Mobile Me program--it was designed for people on the road; although one of its option was a phone location service--which itself has limitations). Therefore, no one at Apple or AT&T would help me; so I was out of luck.
If you ask AT&T about it, they blame Apple and told me that Apple would not allow AT&t to insure the IPhones. Even though a comprable phone like a Palm or Blackberry is equivalent to an IPhone in price. If I had a Blackberry, I would have simply paid a small deductible ($50.00) and I would have been sent another unit. I even called Apple and asked why they did not offer some insurance program on the IPhone, but the young lady had no answer. She asked me if I had a Home Owner's Policy (which I do; Homeowners, Business Insurance, AMEX Protection Plan and not a one can help me).
So now, in order to replace my lost IPhone, I have to pay $500.00, but I refuse. It is not the money, but having to sign a new contract seems like kicking someone when they are down. I cannot give AT&T the satisfaction. Therefore, I am going to simply cancel my business account with AT&T and simply pay the $175.00 cancellation fee. And if I decide on another IPhone, I will get it under my name for $299.00 (and maybe cheaper after Christmas; who knows).This way I will at least save $26.00; while concomitantly not giving those bastards the satisfaction of compelling me to re-sign a contract that I had just signed less than six months earlier; no way. That is bad business.
In conclusion, I was able to locate Steven Jobs apparent email address, and sent him an email regarding this matter, but to date no response. I will keep you posted. So don't lose your precious IPhone; don't break it either. If you do, you will pay. Can you imagine paying over $300 for the phone four months ago, and now having to pay at least $500 a week before Christmas. What a bummer.
Happy Holidays All.
