My third stolen cell phone. As usual, I have a balance remaining, and the company refuses to refund it. The provider is Orange, in this case, but Verizon has the same policy.
It seems to me that it is to the advantage of the cell phone companies that cell phones be stolen. They benefit from it in two ways: first, many people immediately purchase another cell from the same carrier, and second, for those who don't, their balance isn't refunded. The company gets to keep the money without providing any service for it. Oh, and they get to keep and resell the stolen phone as well.
Please don't remind me of all that silliness recently in the newspaper about how the cell companies are making it impossible to activate stolen cell phones. We all know that anyone can easily activate one; there are companies all over with huge signs advising us of the fact.
The cell phone companies could have a staff of people working full time to steal cell phones for all we know! It wouldn't be any stranger than previous events here. (Anyone remember police driving around recovered stolen cars?)
So I figure, I've been robbed twice. The first by the ladron, and the second by the cell phone company who refuses to refund my unused balance, or even put it on my other cell phone account at the same company--unless I buy a new cell phone from them.
When my last cell is stolen, I won't be signing up again. And note to all robbers: I won't be carrying my cell phone on me, unless I'm expecting to need it. So don't waste your time.
It seems to me that it is to the advantage of the cell phone companies that cell phones be stolen. They benefit from it in two ways: first, many people immediately purchase another cell from the same carrier, and second, for those who don't, their balance isn't refunded. The company gets to keep the money without providing any service for it. Oh, and they get to keep and resell the stolen phone as well.
Please don't remind me of all that silliness recently in the newspaper about how the cell companies are making it impossible to activate stolen cell phones. We all know that anyone can easily activate one; there are companies all over with huge signs advising us of the fact.
The cell phone companies could have a staff of people working full time to steal cell phones for all we know! It wouldn't be any stranger than previous events here. (Anyone remember police driving around recovered stolen cars?)
So I figure, I've been robbed twice. The first by the ladron, and the second by the cell phone company who refuses to refund my unused balance, or even put it on my other cell phone account at the same company--unless I buy a new cell phone from them.
When my last cell is stolen, I won't be signing up again. And note to all robbers: I won't be carrying my cell phone on me, unless I'm expecting to need it. So don't waste your time.