Thursday, March 20, 2014

What To Do When Your Phone Gets Stolen

Strike 2: My phone got snatched while I was riding the jeepney last week (Philcoa area, 5:00PM).

I was partly to blame since I was texting in transit, but it never came across my mind that someone would be interested in my crappy phone! Good thing I was never into techie stuff. Had I bought the latest iPhone or Samsung S-something, I would've cried buckets when this had happened. But since it was just a phone I used to text, call, and as alarm clock and calculator (haha), I just cursed once out of surprise and that was it. I was more sad about the SIM card I lost, since I had it since 2001.

But then, with this experience, I learned 3 (interesting) things worth sharing! Behold this "what to do when your phone gets stolen" kind of post. :D


Lesson #1: Even with a prepaid SIM, you can choose your desired mobile number (under Sun Cellular).


Right after the incident, I went to buy a new SIM. I spotted this at our friendly neighborhood kanto store. You can choose your 6-digit number, which I planned to name HELENB (435362) but failed since someone already used that combination. It's alright since that number was hard to memorize anyway. In the end, I was able to get my birthday number, and my friends thought I went postpaid. Nope, I got my birthday number for just P35.00! :D

Lesson #2: If you lose your prepaid SIM, you can still get the SAME cellphone number (under Globe). Yes, I was amazed, too.


I dropped by Globe in UP Technohub during my office lunch break and brought along my old SIM pack. (I love this branch since there's not much people so less waiting time compared to Trinoma or SM North!) After a short explanation on losing my phone and SIM, the Globe man borrowed my old SIM pack and valid ID to get some details.


I had to pay only P40.00, and after a few minutes, I got my activated new Globe SIM (with my old number - the one I had since 2001), and the remaining prepaid load still intact. My old SIM card which got stolen along with the phone was already inactive, without signal.

Lesson #3: If you have free time, you can have your stolen phone blocked FOREVER.


I got this phone for free from one of our business suppliers, so I think this one doesn't really cost much. If your expensive phone gets stolen, I think this step is worth going the extra mile for. Drop by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) office in Quezon City, bring 2 valid IDs and your phone's box with the IMEI No. intact. They will block your phone, and it will not be usable forever. Yey! Karma to the snatcher and whoever buys the stolen phone.

I feel sort of empowered knowing that you still have some form of control over your stolen phone. If you can't use it, then no one else can, too. Haha! I actually enjoyed doing this post, and I hope you learned a thing or two from my experience.

Love,
Helen

31 comments:

  1. Whoa this is super useful! Thanks and bookmarking!

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  2. in all in fairness, you kept the package of your sim card. i also don't buy too much pricey phones so i wont have to cry much

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    1. I'm a hoarder kasi. Haha! Same here, I'm just not very interested in the latest gadgets.

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  3. HAHAHA no luck to snatcher. When I lost my phone, the Globe rep asked if I want to buy a new sim, same number. He asked me to present an affidavit of loss. Sinigawan ko sya "Wala na nga wallet ko hindi ako makauwi, hihingan mo pa ko ng affidavit?" and there he processed everything quickly haha

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    1. HAHA! Pwede pala yun. Thanks for the tip, Carizza! ;)

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  4. Ang ganda nung NTC thing. I had it done when my phone was stolen and asa-asa na lang na talagang mabblock!

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  5. i knew the feeling =( i would rather shell 700php for a samsung mobile phone rather than a more expensive mobile phones..

    sad news about your simcard..it was with you for almost 13years =(

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    1. It's okay, Rhain. I was able to get a new one with the same number naman. :D Ang tagal din ng pinagsamahan namin ni Simmy. Hahaha

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  6. Genius ka talaga forever! :D See u sunday ♡♡♡

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  7. Genius ka talaga forever! :D

    See you Sunday! ♡♡♡

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  8. It's really nice that Globe can have your same number back. Ang hirap kasi mag iba ng number specially if you've been using it for years and everyone you knows that number of yours. Ingat po kayo palagi :)

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    1. Yes, that's right. I'm happy to have my old number back. Super kelangan e. :D

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  9. sorry about your stuff getting stolen, sis is it possible to choose the numbers din via globe prepaid? :) btw im currently hosting a victorias secret giveaway i hope you can join :)

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    1. I'm not sure if that's an option for prepaid subscribers, baka pang postpaid lang. :)

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  10. Sa susunod wala na magaangas magnakaw ng phone.. hahahah =)

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  11. Sa susunod wala na mangangahas magnakaw ng phone.. hahah.. =)

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  12. the really sad part about losing your phone is when you lose all your contacts. that sucks. Amazeballs at how you were able to get the same number and have your phone blocked. I didn't know that such sorcery exists lol

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    Replies
    1. Hahaha. If there's a will, there's a way!

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    2. altho any phone repair shop can unlock it

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    3. But it feels good to add hassle to the snatcher. :D

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  13. Thank you so much for sharing! This is such an eye opener on my part! I didn't know you could do all that. :D

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  14. Wow, di ako alam na may ganito:) My phone was also snatched a long time ago, and I wished I knew this info then...

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    1. Hope it doesn't happen to you again, so you won't have to make use of this info. Take care, Jen! :)

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  15. "My old SIM card which got stolen along with the phone was already inactive, without signal."

    Hi! I just wanted to clarify something. Was your sim card already deactivated before it was stolen (like due to being unused for a long time)? Or did Globe deactivate it when it was stolen?

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    1. My old Globe SIM was active, working, and with prepaid credits when it got stolen. But when Globe issued me a new SIM card with the same number, the old one (which was with the thief) no longer had signal, according to Globe.

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  16. Sis pwede pa bang marecover ng globe yung mga contacts mo sa old sim mo noong binigay nila sayo yung new sim mo with the same number? :)

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