Lost iPhone............Am I screwed?

My daughter lost her iPhone today between snowboarding and foot sleeding (sliding down snow-packed stairs). I got it for her 6 months ago on a 2-Yr contract. Insurance was not available, so I'm out there. Will my local AT&T store simply allow me buy a new iPhone and pop it on the current contract I'm on the hook for?

 

I think so. You may have to ask for the supervisor though. However, to be honest, what is an extra 6 months to you anyway?

 

It's 18 months left.

 

at least the way tmobile works is that you can buy any phone you want at any time, and rebuy sim cards to go into them and have them programmed to your number, without changing your plan, the only problem being you don't get the same deals you get when you sign a new contract. for instance, i can buy a curve right now for 250, or wait until july and get it for free.

 

Exactly! What can they do? Make you sign a new 2 year agreement? (the extra 6 months)

 

I have no clue what they will do, thus the thread!

 

Not the time. He doesn't want to pay full pop.

 

The $199/$299 price is only for new contracts. So you cannot get another I-phone with that number at that price since u have 18 months left. How many lines do u have? U can get another new line with a new number and then get the new customer price. I believe early cancellation is $175 or so for the line you lost.

When you call they are simply going to tell you SOL. They don't replace the phone, they won't allow you to get a new phone at the new contract price since you already are under contract Sorry.

 

They are £400 without contract in the UK

 

Why are you screwed ?

Make the kid pay for it. She'll have to pay full retail for a "no contract" phone, and they will simply reactivate it to her current number.

 

If you listen closely, you can hear Peter having a heart attack

 

I assumed that would probably be the scenario. I'll be calling the AT&T store in about a half hour when they open. If the early XCL fee is only $175, that will not be an issue.
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Have you tried dialing the phone and listening for the ring buried somewhere in the snow?

Also, don't they have a GPS locator in them? Maybe you could narrow the search quite a bit with the phone company's help.

Another option is to wait until Spring (when the snow melts).

 

Since you will need to reveal personal info make damned sure you get them to sign a non circumvention agreement.

You never know who you can trust with that kind of stuff.

 

We tried doing that in the area the phone was lost, but (As always) she had the phone on vibrate! I'll ask about the GPS locator....Brilliant suggestions, thanks!

 

Not sure my peabrain understands that....Please explain.

 

You never know how those iPhones can be connected to other technologies for good or EVIL ...
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My biggest concern is who finds the lost phone. They could run your bill through the roof.

I lose phones all the time. As a matter of fact I always have a brand new back up phone waiting. The problem is reloading all the info again. My assistant has a moto tool program and can get a new phone ready for me in about 1 hour including a trip to get a new sim card. I use the V-9 phone. My wife has the Iphone which if the iphone were a little smaller I would have one too.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

 

Another problem with a lost iPhone will be I bet the phone logs in automatically to her email, face book, ect. She needs to change ALL her pass words to complete randomness ASAP!

 

ATT is offering refurb 8 GB iphones for $99 with a 2 year contract through New Years

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/refurb-phones.jsp

Maybe cancel the existing one ($175) and start a new contract? Hell, make HER get the new contract...

 

yep, just about as bad a losing your wallet.

 

If the phone company could give you the precise Latitude/Longitude (Lat/Long) coordinates down to as many decimal digits of precision as they have visibility of, then you could borrow a portable car GPS unit (like a battery-operated Garmin or Tom-Tom) and go hunting for it. Good luck.

 

If it went into the snow, it probably stopped working altogether after 5 minutes.

If it was in some kind of a pouch that might buy a little time?

 

ATT will not release the GPS info for a lost phone. It has to have the authorities involved I believe.

Iphones are very high commodity items with thieves today. Be even more careful traveling overseas with them.