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My cell was stolen and I have a $2000 bill - advice?

K

klingsor

Senior member
So, I went to Europe for a few weeks and came home to a huge cell phone bill. I figured that it would be like losing a credit card, with insurance built in, but I was told that I'm responsible for the entire amount. Any people out there who have had this experience, or knows the law? 😕

Wow, tough crowd here - but much more engaged than I had expected. Thanks. Some details:

I left my phone in the glove compartment of my car, at home in San Diego. I don't much like having the phone with me and didn't think about it while I was away. It was swiped (in response to those who may say - Why did you leave it in your car dumba$$? You're right, but it could have just as easily been stolen from my house) and I didn't know that the phone was missing until I returned home yesterday and saw on my bill a slew of calls to places that I have never phoned; Compton, Tijuana, Mainland Mexico (I hope to avoid any racist replies in this thread) and the total on my bill was unusually high - $633. I phoned T-Mobile immediately asking about the calls, when the last call was made (yesterday), what my current balance was ($1899.95), and what the dispute/investigation options were (?none?/?police report?). I checked some law web sites and my contract which both say that I'm responsible. One person in a similar situation had their bill lowered, from $1600 to $200, by the service provider. I considered not paying at all; I?m not a sheepish guy but I am a bit concerned about my credit rating, and I would like to go about it honorably if possible. I am filing a police report today, and I?ll see if homeowners insurance covers this sort of thing. ?

Mostly I posted here to see how others had gone about similar situations, or to hear what some smart law-guy had to say - though all the responses are appreciated.

The gigolo option is out, my girlfriend would freak and I have some reservations about the clientele.
 
If you didn't immeadiately call them you should pay the bill. Why should they beleive you weeks after the fact after you find out about the large bill. The first thing you should have done was call them.
 
Welcome to AnandTech. 🙂

So what happened?

A little more information is nice, like when was it stolen, and did you know about it? Was it stolen from home while you were away? Were you carrying it with you in Europe? What's the story?
 
Originally posted by: Keego
Originally posted by: HonkeyDonk
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: jurzdevil
why didnt you notify the provider that your cell was stolen and to have them disable the account?
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seriously, I think someone here forgot to pack some common sense for your trip.
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Ok the guy isn't asking for advice on what he should have done - he needs help now.

Personally I would tell them to go off themselves, but I don't know about the consequences of such an act.
 
You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it:

"Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click*

It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.

And seriously, what's with the sheepish attitude? You were TOLD? If i TELL you to go scrub my toilet, would you consider it too just because you were TOLD? Really, you should learn to stand up for yourself. No means no. Tell them they will NEVER see a cent out of you NO MATTER WHAT. This is exactly what i said to the supervisor of the above-mentioned provider.
 
Originally posted by: Krassus
You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it:

"Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click*

It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
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kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
 
Originally posted by: d33pt
Originally posted by: Krassus You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it: "Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click* It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
Click to expand...
kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
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Not really. They won't forward it to a collection agency for like 6 months, at which point you can call them and bullsh1t your way out of it. Before this happens, they'll be stupid enough to tell you what you SHOULD have done (i.e. call them the day it was stolen), so six months later, you know what to say: you CALLED THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN! Who did you speak to? Don't remember! Oh they don't record phone calls and have no record of you doing so? Too bad, so they've got no case. Must have been a new employee who forgot to take the necessary steps. Easy as that. Then you make sure they pull the file from the collection agency, and give equifax (or whoever) a call to make sure the record's clan. Voila! Welcome to the US of A, a country where the only limit is what you've got the balls to pull off 😀
 
Originally posted by: Krassus
Originally posted by: d33pt
Originally posted by: Krassus You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it: "Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click* It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
Click to expand...
kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
Click to expand...
Not really. They won't forward it to a collection agency for like 6 months, at which point you can call them and bullsh1t your way out of it. Before this happens, they'll be stupid enough to tell you what you SHOULD have done (i.e. call them the day it was stolen), so six months later, you know what to say: you CALLED THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN! Who did you speak to? Don't remember! Oh they don't record phone calls and have no record of you doing so? Too bad, so they've got no case. Must have been a new employee who forgot to take the necessary steps. Easy as that. Then you make sure they pull the file from the collection agency, and give equifax (or whoever) a call to make sure the record's clan. Voila! Welcome to the US of A, a country where the only limit is what you've got the balls to pull off 😀
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doubtful. the burden of proof is on you.
 
Originally posted by: Krassus
Originally posted by: d33pt
Originally posted by: Krassus You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it: "Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click* It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
Click to expand...
kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
Click to expand...
Not really. They won't forward it to a collection agency for like 6 months, at which point you can call them and bullsh1t your way out of it. Before this happens, they'll be stupid enough to tell you what you SHOULD have done (i.e. call them the day it was stolen), so six months later, you know what to say: you CALLED THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN! Who did you speak to? Don't remember! Oh they don't record phone calls and have no record of you doing so? Too bad, so they've got no case. Must have been a new employee who forgot to take the necessary steps. Easy as that. Then you make sure they pull the file from the collection agency, and give equifax (or whoever) a call to make sure the record's clan. Voila! Welcome to the US of A, a country where the only limit is what you've got the balls to pull off 😀
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That's not good. If you lose, you get a charge off or settlement on your credit report that lasts for 7 years. A charge off is very, very BAD, and a settlement is not so good either.

It needs to be taken care of, through the cell phone company, ASAP.
 
Originally posted by: Krassus
Originally posted by: d33pt
Originally posted by: Krassus You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it: "Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click* It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
Click to expand...
kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
Click to expand...
Not really. They won't forward it to a collection agency for like 6 months, at which point you can call them and bullsh1t your way out of it. Before this happens, they'll be stupid enough to tell you what you SHOULD have done (i.e. call them the day it was stolen), so six months later, you know what to say: you CALLED THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN! Who did you speak to? Don't remember! Oh they don't record phone calls and have no record of you doing so? Too bad, so they've got no case. Must have been a new employee who forgot to take the necessary steps. Easy as that. Then you make sure they pull the file from the collection agency, and give equifax (or whoever) a call to make sure the record's clan. Voila! Welcome to the US of A, a country where the only limit is what you've got the balls to pull off 😀
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Got Ethics?
 
Originally posted by: klingsor
So, I went to Europe for a few weeks and came home to a huge cell phone bill. I figured that it would be like losing a credit card, with insurance built in, but I was told that I'm responsible for the entire amount. Any people out there who have had this experience, or knows the law? 😕
Click to expand...

I would make fun of you, but I think you're going to suffer enough as is.
 
Originally posted by: Krassus
Originally posted by: d33pt
Originally posted by: Krassus You're responsible for nothing. Here is how you deal with it: "Yes, this is the manager? I'm not paying. Goodbye" *click* It's what i did to my cell phone provider and they've been sending me letters asking for their $500 ever since. That's basically all they can do.
Click to expand...
kills your credit though, and good luck getting another cell phone without putting down a $500+ deposit...
Click to expand...
Not really. They won't forward it to a collection agency for like 6 months, at which point you can call them and bullsh1t your way out of it. Before this happens, they'll be stupid enough to tell you what you SHOULD have done (i.e. call them the day it was stolen), so six months later, you know what to say: you CALLED THE DAY IT WAS STOLEN! Who did you speak to? Don't remember! Oh they don't record phone calls and have no record of you doing so? Too bad, so they've got no case. Must have been a new employee who forgot to take the necessary steps. Easy as that. Then you make sure they pull the file from the collection agency, and give equifax (or whoever) a call to make sure the record's clan. Voila! Welcome to the US of A, a country where the only limit is what you've got the balls to pull off 😀
Click to expand...

and then you fell from your bed and woke up asshat
Assume all that you want. Pull something like that off first and then come to brag about it. They don't have to record the conversation with the CSR. If you lost your cell and indeed call them when it happen it will show on file. Corporations don't rely on their employee's memories to do business.
 
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