Dear Cell Phone She-beast

[Josh]

I "DO" understand, let me recap it for you.

1. You had a fancy expensive new cell phone along with its brand new two year contract for two months.

2. 'someone' broke into your home and stole it

3. the carrier wont do 'anything' for you and referred you to the store.

4. of course you didn't have insurance, heck I remember how you foamed at the mouth when it was offered since obviously we were trying to 'rip you off' (kinda of ironic).

5. of course you don't remember number 4, since 'you always buy insurance' and 'we never offered it to you or you would have bought it.'

6. Yes, I understand it wasn't 'your fault'. ps. its also not MINES.

7. no, 'not your fault' does not equal

a. you get a new free duplicate phone from us or the carrier.
b. you get to buy another phone at the reduced price
c. you can walk away from the contract with no repercussions
d. you can buy the insurance now and make it retroactive to cover your loss.

8. your e/w attempts at making this 'my problem' is making me less and less sympathetic to YOUR problem.

conclusion:

We are done, provided the cell phone carrier customer service number, apologized 5x (for no reason since we obviously didn't steal it or sent someone to steal it). au revoir

[Argabarga]

Why do so many people fail to understand that insurance isn't retroactive? Covering future possible losses was the whole reason it was invented! It's not a hard concept.

[Evannah]

Why do so many people fail to understand that insurance isn't retroactive? Covering future possible losses was the whole reason it was invented! It's not a hard concept.

Also: Why do so many people blame people like us for something that we are completely innocent in? I mean really, the person at fault here is the PERSON WHO BROKE INTO THIS WOMAN'S HOME but no, the poor service worker's the REAL culprit here *rolls eyes*

Oh, and it's also partly her fault for not getting insurance and causing a stink over it when it was offered to her the first time.

I cannot STAND people like this. They think the person standing behind the till or on the phone is somehow the cause of every problem they have ever had! We are literally nothing but verbal punching bags!

[eltf177]

Also: Why do so many people blame people like us for something that we are completely innocent in? I mean really, the person at fault here is the PERSON WHO BROKE INTO THIS WOMAN'S HOME but no, the poor service worker's the REAL culprit here *rolls eyes*

Because they can't find the real culprit and there's no way _they're_ going to take the loss. So they try and make it your problem so there's no repercussions.

Apologize for their misfortune? Certainly. Apologize for their poor decision on not buying the insurance?

[TimmyHate]

Why do so many people fail to understand that insurance isn't retroactive? Covering future possible losses was the whole reason it was invented! It's not a hard concept.

Don't even start me. Got one right now buying it the same day after they were told their storage unit flooded.

[eltf177]

Don't even start me. Got one right now buying it the same day after they were told their storage unit flooded.

Mr. Wheresmycar, paging Mr. Wheresmycar...

Seriously, do these dolts really think this is going to work?

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Also: Why do so many people blame people like us for something that we are completely innocent in? I mean really, the person at fault here is the PERSON WHO BROKE INTO THIS WOMAN'S HOME but no, the poor service worker's the REAL culprit here *rolls eyes*

IF you can believe the customer's story that a break-in occurred. IMHO it's the same vein as purchasing a stereo system through a RTO company and having it stolen - the store wants a copy of the police report, which Mom found out back in the early 80's when we had a break in one evening (we were gone for a bit) and came home to find my stereo system gone (early 80's Quasar model w/tape deck built in and glass top - sounded every bit as good as Mom's Fisher IMO but I digress.)

Mom called the police immediately - and someone came out, checked around, made out a report (stereo was never recovered - we suspect it was a neighbor kid who was noted for such stuff but we couldn't prove it) she had to get a copy of the report to take to the RTO store where she was making payments on it at. The included insurance (figured into those weekly payments that covers theft, fire and flood IIRC) paid the remainder of the contract off.

[Silent-Hunter]

While she shouldn't be blaming you for anything, since it's clearly her fault for not getting insurance, I do think if one's phone is stolen, and they can't afford another, they should get out of the contract without paying the early cancellation fee.

[earl colby pottinger]

People's Court

IF you can believe the customer's story that a break-in occurred.

Calling the police and asking for the police report always seems to be too much trouble for these people.

I love watching The People's Court, but the number of people who have all sorts of excuses why they don't have one is amazing.

Up to and including they don't have the time to get a report while suing for $5000, and often losing their case because they don't have it to present to the judge. Meanwhile the judge points out they had 3 weeks to get it.

Funny is when the other side does have the police report and when the judge reads it they can clearly see the first person was lying about what was reported to the police originally.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Funny is when the other side does have the police report and when the judge reads it they can clearly see the first person was lying about what was reported to the police originally.

Seen a few of those on JJ - love it when she blows their little red wagon of fantasy up.

And you'd be surprised how many who do have break ins don't call the cops at all - so therefore there's no police report to be had.

[BlaqueKatt]

While she shouldn't be blaming you for anything, since it's clearly her fault for not getting insurance, I do think if one's phone is stolen, and they can't afford another, they should get out of the contract without paying the early cancellation fee.

Do you know how many people would claim a "stolen" phone? And some would even go so far as to file a false report or throw out the phone. The ETF covers the amount the service provider subsidies the handset for. For example, my S4 from "Pink T" was over $600 because they don't have contracts, any other carrier would be $200 or less, the carrier is subsidizing the cost because you say "yes, I'll be with your company for 2 years", so they take an initial loss on the handset they bought for full price from the manufacturer.

Also the contract is for *service* NOT a phone/access to the service*, it's no cheaper if you bring your own phone, and used/refurbished phones are quite inexpensive, just not the latest and greatest.

*in other words, provider is still holding up their part of the contract by providing service, it is up to the other party to access it, as providing access is not in the contracted terms.

[EricKei]

Phones and pricier electronics (say, over $300) are two things I always like to get insurance/extended warranties on. Why? In the case of the former, it's because I can be a bit clumsy and I know I WILL drop it sooner or later, and I WILL fook it up eventually, even with an Otterbox or what have you. In the case of the latter, I have but one thing to say: "XBOX 360 Launch-year consoles" ^_^

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

For example, my S4 from "Pink T" was over $600 because they don't have contracts, any other carrier would be $200 or less, the carrier is subsidizing the cost because you say "yes, I'll be with your company for 2 years", so they take an initial loss on the handset they bought for full price from the manufacturer.

Actually now most ETFs start at $325-$350 since the phones are pricier. The insurance deductibles have gone up from $50 in the days of slider phones to $125-200 and boy, do I ever get plenty of calls at the checkmark from people pissed about that deductible.

Also, YES to the comment about people who seem to think it should be SUPER easy to add insurance after the fact!

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Also, YES to the comment about people who seem to think it should be SUPER easy to add insurance after the fact!

It's not with Blue Ball Wireless . . . there's only a 30 day window after you purchase/upgrade a phone in which to add insurance onto your plan. Afterwards you're SOL until your next eligible upgrade IIRC.

[mhkohne]

Actually now most ETFs start at $325-$350 since the phones are pricier. The insurance deductibles have gone up from $50 in the days of slider phones to $125-200 and boy, do I ever get plenty of calls at the checkmark from people pissed about that deductible.

Also, YES to the comment about people who seem to think it should be SUPER easy to add insurance after the fact!

Deductable - I didn't have any problem reading that when I signed up($100 for me). I'd like a smaller one, but hey, what are you going to do? My only problem is remembering to review it every so often, so that when buying a used phone of the same type on one on Ebay gets into the $100-ish range, I cancel the insurance. (I forgot with my wife's phone, then started doing the paperwork before going 'hey, what are they on Ebay? Turned out a used-once unit was only $60).

It should be easy - simply bill them $600 and you'll replace the phone right away with the usual deductable!