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sold phone and have big phone bill!

my partner sold his phone not long ago to a recycle company not giving name he took the sim card out and chopped it up. but he thinks he left the memory card in it. Has had a phone bill for hundreds of pounds! calls made from China phone company say hes responsible. He hasnt even been to China How can they use his number without the sim? The phone company seem to think they are using his phone how can they tell? the memory card only has numbers on it. He has not used the number since he sold the phone as he cut up the sim and has a different number. help!
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Comments

  • That's a strange one, but it sounds more like fraud than anything to do with the phone itself.
  • CHR15
    CHR15 Posts: 5,193 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Why is the name of the recycling place a secret :confused:
  • RobertoMoir
    RobertoMoir Posts: 3,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Is it relevant who the recycling place is?
    If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything
  • Hailz86
    Hailz86 Posts: 340 Forumite
    it does sound more like a fraud thing to me. Do you have a reciept for the recycling of the phone to show the phone company when you last had the phone? x
    2012 Wins - Danepak Fridge Magnet, £20 Just Eat Voucher, iTunes Song Download, Yellow Toaster and Kettle, Thorntons Bunny, 6 Months Gym Membership, £250 Multipower Products, 3 X Dalepak Vouchers, 10 minute sunbed session, Lucozade Sport, 2 X BMI Flights, Android Zeemote,
  • CHR15
    CHR15 Posts: 5,193 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is it relevant who the recycling place is?

    Probably not relevant at all..... other than the fact they were the last ones to have possession of it, and they were the ones who sold it on (or not), and maybe others have had issues after selling items to the same recycling place
  • smcaul
    smcaul Posts: 1,088 Forumite
    How much of a tech'y is he? Is it at all possible he took the memory card out and cut that up whilst leaving the sim card intact? Just an idea, not saying that is what happened.
  • RobertoMoir
    RobertoMoir Posts: 3,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    CHR15 wrote: »
    Probably not relevant at all..... other than the fact they were the last ones to have possession of it, and they were the ones who sold it on (or not), and maybe others have had issues after selling items to the same recycling place

    True I suppose, but I got the impression the phone had already parted company with the SIM by then. The SIM card is the whole ball of wax for something like this as you know.
    If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything
  • Even if the Sim was not in the phone, the user could have stored names on the phones memory which is more common these days. If he has stored his own number or if you check the settings for voicemail it will show you the mobile number that was last to use the handset.

    That can easily be programmed into a blank simcard, registered and then used for fraud.

    My sim card was cloned on a trip abroad and i was sent a bill for £1000's.

    You need to inform your phone company and may have to involve the police by filing a report. If you have insurance through your phone provider or bank its a good idea to inform them aswell.

    Good luck
    Scrimping and saving!
  • max2009
    max2009 Posts: 543 Forumite
    So he had a contracted phone and sold it ?
  • Hailz86
    Hailz86 Posts: 340 Forumite
    That can easily be programmed into a blank simcard, registered and then used for fraud. - I didnt know this, thats quite scary, when I sell phones in future I will make sure they are fully wiped, thanx for this advice xx
    2012 Wins - Danepak Fridge Magnet, £20 Just Eat Voucher, iTunes Song Download, Yellow Toaster and Kettle, Thorntons Bunny, 6 Months Gym Membership, £250 Multipower Products, 3 X Dalepak Vouchers, 10 minute sunbed session, Lucozade Sport, 2 X BMI Flights, Android Zeemote,
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