Need to vent...

[kthomas]

I recently purchased a new phone (Samsung Galaxy Nexus), in late December, and by doing so extended my contract with Verizon down in the States. I'm currently up in Canada, but I am starting a new job in Houston, on Feb. 20th.

Here comes the venting part. Tonight, I was out at the local hockey rink playing hockey with my friends. I placed my phone in a toque in a pocket in my bag, thinking it would be alright. It was in a fairly inconspicuous spot, someone would definitely need to rifle through my bag to find it. The neighborhood is fairly safe, and I was only about 20 feet away from where it was at all times. Well, apparently someone decided to take it while I was playing hockey, while I was only a few feet away.

This really pisses me off. I paid $300 for that phone, and just signed a 2 year contract with Verizon to get it. I am also expecting a lot of work related calls in the next week on that number (a lot of people I need to deal with in the next week to polish off the final details of working as an expat in the States). This kind of screws me over, as I can't just go to the mall to get a new phone. As you probably know, Verizon is not up here. Now I'm without a phone that I need, with no new way of getting one until I head back to the States, and I have to pay off contract pricing for a new one now. This means $650 for the phone I had. Timing really sucked on this one...

People sure do suck sometimes

. Oh well, I guess it could've been a lot worse! It's hard for me to complain when I know there are a lot people in the world that have a lot worse problems then I do.

Hope everyone's night is going better than mine!

 

[wizdumb]

Re: Need to vent...

Sorry to hear about your phone getting stolen, but maybe there's hope. If you have access to a computer and/or another phone, perhaps you can track it on Google Latitude, or just keep trying to call it?

Even though Verizon is not local, you may be able to call customer service and have them either deactivate or possibly track the phone. Since they should know the ESN /MEID, they should know when it connects to their network. Fortunately, Verizon phones don't use SIM cards, and are much easier to trace.

At the bare minimum, call Verizon and report it stolen. Same with the local cops (or mounties... whatever Canada has).

Hope you can get it back!

 

[BALLISTIC]

Re: Need to vent...

Maybe, instead of bitching that someone took your shit, you should have kept it on your body, then you could save yourself and us from this useless post.

 

[kthomas]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BALLISTIC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Maybe, instead of bitching that someone took your shit, you should have kept it on your body, then you could save yourself and us from this useless post.</div></div>

In hindsight, I should have. I was afraid of cracking the screen while playing hockey. It's never been an issue before at that rink for myself or any of my friends. Guess I know better for next time.

 

[kthomas]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wizdumb</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sorry to hear about your phone getting stolen, but maybe there's hope. If you have access to a computer and/or another phone, perhaps you can track it on Google Latitude, or just keep trying to call it?

Even though Verizon is not local, you may be able to call customer service and have them either deactivate or possibly track the phone. Since they should know the ESN /MEID, they should know when it connects to their network. Fortunately, Verizon phones don't use SIM cards, and are much easier to trace.

At the bare minimum, call Verizon and report it stolen. Same with the local cops (or mounties... whatever Canada has).

Hope you can get it back!</div></div>

Thanks, I'll be calling tomorrow to look into that. I did already have it temporarily deactivated. I also installed Plan B, an app you can install after you have lost your phone or it gets stolen. The app is suppose to email the location of the phone to my google account. Since it's been stolen, it hasn't been turned on yet, my friends and I have tried calling it a few times and it went straight to voice mail every time. I bet for the app to work, the phone has to be on.

I'll be giving Verizon a call tomorrow.

 

[wizdumb]

Re: Need to vent...

FWIW: You can also install apps over the air using your computer on the Android market website. Phone would need to be turned on and still logged into your account, of course. Speaking of which, you may want to reset the passwords of any accounts available on that phone.

 

[dtask]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BALLISTIC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Maybe, instead of bitching that someone took your shit, you should have kept it on your body, then you could save yourself and us from this useless post. </div></div>

Calling it useless compared to some of the other posts & threads I've seen on this site (some of which I'm sure I've posted) is a stretch. In fact, judging by that criteria it stacks up pretty well against your post.

Maybe someone reads this guy's post and thinks to be more proactive about keeping their phone and/or other item(s) a bit more secure than what they normally would have. In that event, it is useful.

To the OP, sorry you lost your phone - that sucks.

 

[rusty815]

Re: Need to vent...

That's why I always keep my phone on me, I've had this happen to me before. Nowadays I have a phone locator, locks your phone and turns on its gps so I can locate it.

 

[BALLISTIC]

Re: Need to vent...

I am not responsible for the continuity of effective, or useful posts on this website, but I felt it is important to make it obvious to those here that people will try to take your shit at any chance they get, so don't leave your shit at will.

If that is not self evident, then I feel sorry for you and those who are entrusted to you, because they, as well as yourself, are forever lost.

 

[dtask]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BALLISTIC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am not responsible for the continuity of effective, or useful posts on this website, but I felt it is important to make it obvious to those here that people will try to take your shit at any chance they get, so don't leave your shit at will.

If that is not self evident, then I feel sorry for you and those who are entrusted to you, because they, as well as yourself, are forever lost. </div></div>

I get you and I couldn't agree with the first part of your post more, but I also think this is a matter of situational awareness and with regard to that, I think that everyone is at a different level. I do not, however, think that a momentary lapse of reason or judgement means that someone (or those entrusted to them) are forever lost. It was a cell phone - not a nuke, so I think a less exaggerated sense of perspective is due in this scenario. All is not lost.

Another issue at play here is technological awareness because many don't realize that there are many ways to safeguard your information and device that exist nowadays that may not be common knowledge to all who carry smartphones.

Relating stories such as these is essentially the point of a forum and it gives everyone a chance to chime in with their knowledge to better, if not fix, a situation gone wrong.

 

[BALLISTIC]

Re: Need to vent...

We here on this forum are not going to 'fix the problem'. Yes situational awareness is a large part of it, but if this is being over looked then what else is as well...? That was my point, and it is not fragile, nor wide to assume such.

With regard to your other point about safeguarding our devices using technology; How would you suggest one make use of such technological advances if one isn't even as prepared as to prevent against blatant theft?

 

[areaone]

Re: Need to vent...

I appreciate the original post and all the follow ups, I had no idea of the tracking apps that can be downloaded to a phone, Lesson learned and will apply. THANKS for this post, prprobably more valuable to me than a lot of the other "blibber" that I read on here.

 

[dtask]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BALLISTIC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We here on this forum are not going to 'fix the problem'. Yes situational awareness is a large part of it, but if this is being over looked then what else is as well...? That was my point, and it is not fragile, nor wide to assume such.

With regard to your other point about safeguarding our devices using technology; How would you suggest one make use of such technological advances if one isn't even as prepared as to prevent against blatant theft? </div></div>

As I mentioned, I get and agree in large part with your point (and your Ayn Rand sig line). I think that the fact that the tracking technologies are passive for the owner of the device is one of the best things about them. A guy that will be forever vigilant doesn't necessarily need a tracking service because he will be aware of himself and his stuff, but for the more casual person who doesn't subscribe to that way of life or line of thought, a passive measure works very well.

It is the glass half full people who will benefit from the passive security and also the glass half full people who are most likely not aware that it is a viable option and available to them. Us cynic paranoids will keep on white knuckling our shit while knowing the technology is out there but not trusting it to work.

 

[BALLISTIC]

Re: Need to vent...

Understood, but I am not a cynic, nor a paranoid, I contend myself to another group of individuals which, if I may partake your teachings, follows as; An optimist calls a glass halfway filled, half full, and a pessimist calls it half empty, but what does a engineer call it!? Twice as large as it needs to be. I have not my engineering degree yet, but in the same aspect I consider myself a Realist, and simply state things as they are, I do not pass judgement, nor spew indoctrination towards anyone, only simple words which convey as much truth as I perceive, but now I feel as I have become wide of the point, so I will digress.

Thank you, and Good Night.

 

[dtask]

Re: Need to vent...

A realist is what a cynic optimistically refers to himself as. I too, am a realist.

 

[UNCIVILIZED]

Re: Need to vent...

Sorry to hear this tale, I Definitely know how it feels to have some of your stuff jacked when you're but a few meters away! "Multiple, Loud, Expletives Deleted".

On to ideas for sorting things out. Perhaps with some luck, a good explanation, & some sweet talking, you can get Verizon to work with you. In order to; deactivate the phone, track it, and letting you transfer the equity in your current plan, + phone number to a new mobile [the physical phone itself] when you get back to the US.
Likely explaining the why on the timing of wanting to do this will help, ditto on what you stated about your expecting calls from clients on that phone soon.
***Good customer service makes for repeat customers, & word of mouth referrals. No small thing.***

One other idea is to perhaps pick up a simpler phone for the moment, & if Verizon's ameanable, in addition to shutting down your stolen phone, they'll set things up so that calls made to the old(stolen) phone, automatically get forwarded to your "transition phone". Thus you wouldn't miss any important calls.

Good luck on this.

 

[texas_vet00]

Re: Need to vent...

Call your credit card company and check to see if they cover this...My card has a "for any reason something happens in the first 90 days" coverage for items purchased...

Worth a phone call at least...

 

[Maggot]

Re: Need to vent...

Did you have insurance on the phone? If so they will replace it. If not call quickly before reporting it, insure it, and then in a week or so call reporting the theft. Theyll FEDEx you a new one. In the meantime you can check your call from a payphone, or buy a cheap disposable. Slimey, but it might save you 6 bills.

 

[glocksig40]

Re: Need to vent...

I recently had my house broken into and items stolen. I can relate. Its a shame that we have to live with all our valuables on our person at all times in order to feel they are safe. Best of luck to you.

SP

 

[kthomas]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TexasVet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Call your credit card company and check to see if they cover this...My card has a "for any reason something happens in the first 90 days" coverage for items purchased...

Worth a phone call at least...

</div></div>

Filed a police report today and called Visa, said that my particular Visa does not cover occurrences such as this. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

 

[kthomas]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you have insurance on the phone? If so they will replace it. If not call quickly before reporting it, insure it, and then in a week or so call reporting the theft. Theyll FEDEx you a new one. In the meantime you can check your call from a payphone, or buy a cheap disposable. Slimey, but it might save you 6 bills.</div></div>

Didn't have the phone insured, always felt that was kind of a "gimmick".

I found my old Verizon phone, so I'm going to activate it Monday if my stolen one doesn't show up by then. Still holding out some hope.

As for insuring the phone now, I'm going to take the honest route. I appreciate the advice, but I don't think I would feel right doing that. I'll take the hit, it's my fault for leaving it in my bag so I should take responsibility rather than throwing it on the insurance companies. As much as I think insurance companies are crooks!

 

[at4rxj]

Re: Need to vent...

Well, you've disabled the phone and now you're trying to track it. Unless the idiot that took it puts it on his wireless, good luck.

Make sure to change all your passwords... Wait, is that really you posting????

 

[Veer_G]

Re: Need to vent...

Nobody is thinking of the obvious ...

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[kthomas]

Re: Need to vent...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: at4rxj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, you've disabled the phone and now you're trying to track it. Unless the idiot that took it puts it on his wireless, good luck.

Make sure to change all your passwords... Wait, is that really you posting????</div></div>

I reactivated it last night, realizing that it probably needed to be activated for me to track it.

The phone has been off since it's been stolen. Most likely been reset and they're using it with a different google account. I'll wait the weekend and see if anything shows up, after that I'll chock it up to a loss.

I am also constantly checking Ebay, Kijiji and Craigslist. It should be the only Verizon Galaxy Nexus in this city (no Verizon up in Canada), so if someone lists it for sale it should be easy to find.