We live in an age where most of us rely on mobiles - whether for chatting to friends, browsing the internet, taking photographs or even playing games. It's great to have a phone around so you can keep up to date with social networks, continue to be available to colleagues even when you're away from the office, and keep yourself amused on long journeys. When inevitable accidents happen, and phones become lost, it can be daunting - we often don't realise that we depend on our mobiles for simple, everyday tasks such as keeping track of the time. However, thanks to the systems put in place by mobile providers such as O2 and Three, losing a phone doesn't have to mean losing contact with the world at large.
Using the O2 guidelines as an example, we'll look at the procedure that mobile users should follow if they have lost their phones:
The first port of call is to get your phone barred. This way, if any unscrupulous person has picked up your phone and plans to use or sell it, they will be left with a useless electronic brick. O2 offers customers an online service through which they can get their phone barred. You'll be put through to an online operator, and asked a number of security questions. When these questions have been successfully answered, your SIM card and handset will be blocked. O2 even sends out a replacement SIM for those that have reported a handset lost.
If you want to make a claim on your insurance for your lost phone, you'll need to report the loss to O2 within 48 hours. You'll also need to ask the police or a relevant authority for a loss reference number. For example, if you lost your phone on a bus, it is worth approaching your regional transport company to see if they can provide you with this number. If you can't get this number, it's advisable to make a note of the names of any police officers you spoke to, as well as their badge number, and the names and locations of any police stations you visited.
If you don't have phone insurance, don't worry - most home insurance companies will allow you to claim through them. As this may affect your No Claims Bonus, however, you may wish to get hold of a new phone through other means. If you are on a monthly contract, you may be due an upgraded handset anyway, so it's always worth calling O2 and checking whether this is the case. Otherwise, you could simply buy a Pay & Go handset from O2 and use the SIM card that they sent to you.
Using the O2 guidelines as an example, we'll look at the procedure that mobile users should follow if they have lost their phones:
The first port of call is to get your phone barred. This way, if any unscrupulous person has picked up your phone and plans to use or sell it, they will be left with a useless electronic brick. O2 offers customers an online service through which they can get their phone barred. You'll be put through to an online operator, and asked a number of security questions. When these questions have been successfully answered, your SIM card and handset will be blocked. O2 even sends out a replacement SIM for those that have reported a handset lost.
If you want to make a claim on your insurance for your lost phone, you'll need to report the loss to O2 within 48 hours. You'll also need to ask the police or a relevant authority for a loss reference number. For example, if you lost your phone on a bus, it is worth approaching your regional transport company to see if they can provide you with this number. If you can't get this number, it's advisable to make a note of the names of any police officers you spoke to, as well as their badge number, and the names and locations of any police stations you visited.
If you don't have phone insurance, don't worry - most home insurance companies will allow you to claim through them. As this may affect your No Claims Bonus, however, you may wish to get hold of a new phone through other means. If you are on a monthly contract, you may be due an upgraded handset anyway, so it's always worth calling O2 and checking whether this is the case. Otherwise, you could simply buy a Pay & Go handset from O2 and use the SIM card that they sent to you.
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