Lost Phone, Still on Contract

decr on 04/01/2019 - 13:54

Hi all,

asking for a friend (for real), she's on a 24 month contract with Telstra for her phone and 12 or so months to go, but she lost it on a beach (I believe her, not bogus). Is there any way to recuperate or negotiate? It's a binding contract but just wondering if people have had success with such issues which I don't think are that rare… I would't ask otherwise but she is tight on money which causes all sorts of other issues that I'm not feeling comfortable with. Trying to do the right thing.

Thank you for any insight, I've never been on a phone plan so I don't know how all that works.

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    • Windows7forever on 06/01/2019 - 07:59

      I can agree with this. I do the same thing.

  • poppit88 on 05/01/2019 - 22:43

    Look for a cheap mobile on Gumtree or Ebay and just port the number to the new phone. It's not forever & it's better than canceling the contract and paying a whack of termination fees.

  • Thundaja on 05/01/2019 - 23:07
    +2

    Ex-Telstra employee here:
    Telstra don’t care about the contract termination fee as long as you resign another contract (12-24 months). They just don’t want to lose money on the hardware so she’ll have to pay the remaining amount of the phone out.

    From memory, the Galaxy S8 was sold out at $1176 over 24 months. This is $49 each month before any discounts. Assuming she has 12 months left, she will have to pay out $49 x 12 months = $588.

    You can usually purchase second hand S8s for less than that - something to consider. Hell, you should be able to find a new one for less than $588 these days.

    Of course if she was on a lease plan, you might be worse off. From memory, lost devices incur a payout of “Fair Market Value + 20%”, but when I was there, they were still trying to work out how to calculate what FMV is.

    She can ask Telstra to put an IMEI block on the old phone. This prevents it from being used on any Australian Network (unfortunately it will still work overseas where many stolen phones end up).
    You can find the IMEI on the box of the phone, or the original paperwork she should have been emailed.

    Hope that helps!

    • decr on 05/01/2019 - 23:11

      Awesome, thanks!

  • butwhy on 05/01/2019 - 23:11

    Firstly, bummer. No one purposely goes out to lose stuff, especially if money is tight. So I feel for your friend there.

    Also does she really need to be with Telstra which clearly has the most expensive plans?

    Once she gets out of the contract (by paying out or as others have suggested by resigning for a cheaper phone and serving out her time) get her to change to another provider.

    Eg ALDI uses a large part of the Telstra network at a fraction of the cost. There are many other good options like the Kogan deal posted today.

    Not being judgemental, but she might need to look at other parts of her spending. Eg electricity being with Energy Australia, always shopping at Colesworth and buying stuff not on sale etc. No even necessarily doing without, but shopping smarter.

    • decr on 05/01/2019 - 23:18

      It's a bit harder here in Tassie with no Aldi so we're stuck with Colesworth unfortunately. Also income is a lot less than on the mainland. Sure she made a stupid choice but it breaks my heart her telling her kids they can't have internet until the end of the year.

      • ihbh on 06/01/2019 - 07:12

        Believe it or not, this might be a blessing in disguise re the kids and internet.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q2WnCkBTw0

      • Some Human on 06/01/2019 - 09:21

        it breaks my heart her telling her kids they can't have internet until the end of the year.

        It’s just internet. Not like it’s food or water and they need it to survive

      • 2pro4sho on 06/01/2019 - 10:27

        Tell her to buy a cheap replacement phone. Can easily get one for $50-$100. Wtf are you on about. Or rather why don't you just buy her one if you're such a great friend.

        • decr on 06/01/2019 - 10:41

          If you read the comments she already has one. The question was if there are any options how to deal with the contract.

  • joeyrr on 06/01/2019 - 01:39
    +2

    Just don’t be upset by some “commenters” saying you are rude.

    I feel you have a warm heart from every single word out of you. I really can’t help your friend out but just try every possible ways up there. Good luck.

    • decr on 06/01/2019 - 10:38
      +1

      Thank you for that, I'm surprised by some of the comments. Surely I will not be asking here again thanks to the hatred.

  • Jugganautx on 06/01/2019 - 12:17
    +1

    use google tracker to see if someones picked it up.. can put a message on the lock screen to say you'd like it back if stolen etc

    I did it one while working away in qld, put my address on the phone and they returned it within 10 minutes.

    • RiotDealz on 06/01/2019 - 15:41

      I've found and returned lost phones before and have been lucky to have one I left on a counter the staff put it in customer service area, I used Google locations to track down my phone and walked into where it showed in a large shopping centre and retrieved it. With the current phones it's always good to spend little time on security and locations when you first buy to help you if it's stolen or lost. Good luck!

      • decr on 07/01/2019 - 09:56

        In this case I think the phone is borked as it was lost on a beach, but yeah I'll look into it if she has the IMEI somewhere. I've returned lost phones as well, last time was some kid's phone, looked at call history and rang "Mum". She was shocked at first but very relieved after I explained that I just found this phone and would like to return it (and your daughter doesn't have it on her as I just found it)

  • MagicOZ on 07/01/2019 - 04:06

    Icloud gps location ? https://support.apple.com/kb/PH2698?locale=bg_BG

  • Lunarboogie on 07/01/2019 - 06:31

    Ok. So 'your mate' has a Samsung 8 and is broke and cannot afford even paying out the handset (mentioned up thread). In that case then why did she get such an expensive phone when a cheap and nasty coles version would have sufficed.

    If you are trying to help her out perhaps encourage her to live within her means and not go for the flashiest bit of bling out there. Not trying to be mean but just a thought…

    • decr on 07/01/2019 - 09:50

      My thoughts exactly but what's done is done, comes with sims for the kids as well so there is that. It's just a real bummer she lost the phone that's all. Moving on.

      • blehgg on 07/01/2019 - 10:20

        if you had android on it, find my phone would work…

        you should "move on" regardless…

  • Flow220 on 07/01/2019 - 09:56

    text her phone number first…ask nicely and offer 1-200 bucks for a phone return…most people will be happy to do that.

    • decr on 07/01/2019 - 09:57

      Got a new sim with the same number so that won't work :/

  • Moderatorscrimshaw on 07/01/2019 - 12:55

    Thread closed by OP request

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