Cell phone theft is a booming business. There are numerous reasons cell phones are popular with thieves. They are small and easy to take, they can bring in $50-$60, are easier to sell than most items, or can be used by the thief almost indefinitely. Efforts by manufacturers to make tracking stolen phones easier should have a positive effect in the future but for now consumers need to beware.
First, consumers need to know that when their phone is stolen they are generally responsible for all charges incurred prior to reporting the phone lost or stolen. Secondly, it is important to realize that unlike a credit card, most cellular contracts have no liability limitations. Simply put, this means that the individual’s responsibility is not limited. So what is a victim of cell phone theft do?
- To avoid paying for hundreds of dollars of calls they did not make, the victim needs to report their stolen phone to the police immediately. At a minimum they will need to know the name of their cellular provider, the make and model of their phone, and the Electronic Serial Number of the phone to make a complete police report.
- At that point the individual will receive a case number which they will then need to report to their cellular service provider. The cellular provider can then blacklist the phone and the individual can not be held responsible for calls made after that point. It is important that records be kept regarding names, dates/times of any communications in case there is any dispute in the future.
- It is also wise to check the cellular contract as well. The agreement often outlines exactly what steps should be taken in case of theft or loss.
- Although the consumer is responsible for all calls prior to reporting the loss, in some instances, fraudulent calls are covered by the individual’s credit card company if the phone/service was set up/paid for using their credit card. Therefore, in such instances, a call to the credit card company is recommended.
- In some instance, fraudulent accounts are created using the information obtained through the stolen cell phone. Additional assistance in dealing with fraudulent accounts can be obtained from the FCC (www.fcc.gov)
Another important thing for users to realize is that the information on the cell phone is now potentially accessible to the thief. In this great “information age”, it is easy to obtain all kinds of information on individuals based on bits of information stored in a cell phone. What precautions can cell phone users take to protect their information?
- It is best to use security features on your phone to encrypt data and to prevent others from accessing it.
- Although it is possible to overwrite them, another important step in thwarting thieves is to set up passwords to restrict access. It is particularly important to use a password to gain access/use of the keypad.
- Another, more drastic option is to avoid storing personal information on your cell phone at all. Certainly, most cell phone users prize being able to store addresses and phone numbers, but at a minimum they should carefully consider what information is most sensitive and could create the most havoc if strangers were to gain access to it, and avoid storing such information.
The bottom line is owners need to fully understand the potential damage caused by a loss. With thousands of cell phone thefts each week, owners need to protect personal information at all times and report loss immediately.
By: Christine Peppler
Posts Tagged ‘Consumers’
Stolen Cell Phones – What You Can Do About Them March 26th, 2010
Cell Phone Plans That Make Sense For Seniors March 10th, 2010
For many seniors, the typical cell phone plans available via major US cellular providers are ill suited to their needs. This is particularly true for those who no longer work and have adult children who are no longer in their household. As calling plans have matured and consumers have begun to increasingly rely on their cell phones, the typical plan includes hundreds of minutes of talk time that some seniors simply won’t use.
For these individuals there are options however. The first and most obvious option are any of the plans offered by Jitterbug, maker of the uncomplicated senior friendly cell phone. Jitterbug offers a variety of cell phone plans which are certainly less complicated and perhaps more appropriate for those needing fewer minutes of talk time. All of the Jitterbug plans eliminate the complexity of varied billing that is dependent upon time of day and location, as all calls are billed the same. Minutes rollover for at least 90 days and there is no contract to bind users if they choose to opt out at any time. One of the plans offers users a pay-as-you-go option at 35 cents/minute; a fairly high per minute rate but one that can still save money for those that have limited calling needs. There are also a number of monthly plans. For instance, a user can select a 150 minute plan for only $30/month or if they dislike monthly bills they can choose an annual plan. In fact, a user is able to select add-on-minutes only which roll over for an entire year and can cost as little as 15 cents/minute.
Another option for seniors who have more restricted calling needs is the AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan. By committing to a two year agreement, users can get 200 anytime minutes, 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. The fact that there are no roaming or long distance charges does make the plan a bit simpler and the $29.99/month fee is certainly more affordable than the typical plan. Calls beyond the plan limit do however incur a higher rate; at 45 cents/minute.
Verizon Wireless offers an equivalent plan through their Americas Choice 65 Plus Single Line Plan. It too provides 200 anytime minutes, 500 night & weekend minutes, and unlimited in network calling. Like its AT&T competition, this plan is available for $29.99/month for users who agree to a 2 year contract. For senior couples there is also an appropriate option; the Americas Choice 65 Plus Two Line Plan. This plan provides 450 shared anytime minutes, 1,000 shared night & weekend minutes and costs $59.99. Just as the Jitterbug plans require users to use a Jitterbug cell phone, these Verizon Senior plans require the use of Verizon’s Coupe cell phone which is designed with larger buttons and an easy view screen.
Certainly, pay-as-you-go phones are another option for avoiding cell phone plans that commit the user to large bundles of minutes. However, for seniors who want a predictable bill, the consistency of a plan, and a phone that is for general use versus “emergency only”, the above options are the primary choices at this time.
By: Christine Peppler
The Underlying Importance and Advantages of Purchasing Cheap Cell Phones December 25th, 2009
The Growing Importance of Cheap Cell Phones
Many people find cheap cell phones irresistible, especially when these particular products provide them with almost the same features, appearances, and superior quality as branded cellular telephones that are more expensive. Because of their growing importance, some companies in Asia are making some vital moves that greatly affect the global leaders in the consumer electronics market. These important developments have led cell phone manufacturers, including those who produce cheap cell phones, to improve the quality of their products.
Besides their affordable prices, cheap cell phones are very attractive to consumers because they contain almost everything that people need in terms of telecommunications, just like their more expensive counterparts. Branded cell phones maybe much better at certain aspects but cheaper alternatives are definitely not behind in terms of quality and features. With this in mind, why buy expensive products if there are many alternative products available out there with almost the same quality, capacities, and features as branded cell phones but with much lower rates.
In recent years, the vast and speedy development of mobile phones continues to create a massive drop in prices for products that are relatively old compared to the latest releases. Although their prices are cheaper, their quality and features remain top-of-the-line. Furthermore, people can also acquire cheap cell phones by availing the services of topnotch telecommunications providers, which offer affordable and practical deals that are particularly geared towards the different needs of its customers. With the availability of these special deals, people do have the wonderful option of purchasing the latest models at much cheaper prices.
An Overview on Cheap Cell Phone Deals from Telecommunications Service Providers
Topnotch telecommunications service providers like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Nextel are offering special services and packages. Some of the special deals run by AT&T cover impressive cheap cell phones like LG Vu-CU920, LG Incite, and Sony Ericsson W300i. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless offers high quality cell phones like LG Decoy VX8610 and LG enV2. On the other hand, Nextel special deals for cheap cell phones such as Motorola i580.
In addition to all these special deals for cheap cell phones, other options include the Nokia 2610 from Edge Wireless, Motorola W385 from U.S. Cellular, and Nokia 6103 from T-Mobile. With a bevy of recently launched designs and special releases, there is an abundance of cheap cell phones in the telecommunications industry including high-end units. For instance, Sprint offers special deals for its BlackBerry 7100i, Alltell Wireless its BlackBerry Pearl-8130 Amethyst, while AT&T offers great deals for its Nokia N75.
For other attractive deals covering cheap cell phones, T-Mobile features impressive deals for the HTC Dash, HTC Wing, and Motorola RAZR-V3 Pearl Grey. Meanwhile, the BlackBerry Curve-8310 Titanium is up-for-grabs to all the AT&T subscribers out there. Moreover, Verizon Wireless offers lower prices for the Samsung SCH-U340-Snap. For nTelos subscribers, they can have the fascinating Samsung SCH-A870 at cheaper prices. Finally, Sprint offers special packages for various cell phone models including the highly impressive Motorola i850.
By: Kim Hald
