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Mobile Phone Stolen by Someone at the Sony Ericsson Repair Centre
My C905 phone developed a fault a few weeks back, and as it was still under warranty I sent it to the Sony Repair Centre. A couple of days ago I received a working but very damaged, battered and worn old C905 phone back from the Repair Centre.
Initially I thought this was a replacement phone due to mine being unrepairable or whatever, and was not very happy as my phone cost me £250 just 9 months ago and was in good condition, whereas I imagine this one is worth about £30 if that. But the paperwork it said it was my repaired phone, and when I checked the serial number it was obvious a new sticker had been stuck over the top of the original serial number with my phone's serial number on it! It seems like someone at the repair centre has taken my phone and tried to cover it up by altering the serial number on the old phone they've sent me back.
I called the repair centre who fobbed me off saying they had sent the phone back to Sony Ericsson, and when I called SE they confirmed it showed as a repair rather than an exchange on their systems. They passed it onto to their "excalations" department, who apparently will get back to me within the next week with some form of resolution, I'm not sure if I've just been fobbed off again, or if they really will.
I'm worried they aren't going to believe this isn't my phone, as I have no proof of the condition of my phone when I sent it to them. The only evidence I have that my phone has been stolen is the dodgy looking serial number sticker, and the fact that the back of my phone (which I didn't send away) is a darker black than the faded case of the phone they've sent me.
If they refuse to provide a replacement in similar or better condition than my original phone, I'm not sure what my next step should be. I suppose I could report the theft to the police, but I wouldn't realistically expect them to do anything about it. Its clearly not going to be worth the money it costs to take them to court. Is there some kind of organisation which mediates on behalf of consumers in this kind of situation?
Initially I thought this was a replacement phone due to mine being unrepairable or whatever, and was not very happy as my phone cost me £250 just 9 months ago and was in good condition, whereas I imagine this one is worth about £30 if that. But the paperwork it said it was my repaired phone, and when I checked the serial number it was obvious a new sticker had been stuck over the top of the original serial number with my phone's serial number on it! It seems like someone at the repair centre has taken my phone and tried to cover it up by altering the serial number on the old phone they've sent me back.
I called the repair centre who fobbed me off saying they had sent the phone back to Sony Ericsson, and when I called SE they confirmed it showed as a repair rather than an exchange on their systems. They passed it onto to their "excalations" department, who apparently will get back to me within the next week with some form of resolution, I'm not sure if I've just been fobbed off again, or if they really will.
I'm worried they aren't going to believe this isn't my phone, as I have no proof of the condition of my phone when I sent it to them. The only evidence I have that my phone has been stolen is the dodgy looking serial number sticker, and the fact that the back of my phone (which I didn't send away) is a darker black than the faded case of the phone they've sent me.
If they refuse to provide a replacement in similar or better condition than my original phone, I'm not sure what my next step should be. I suppose I could report the theft to the police, but I wouldn't realistically expect them to do anything about it. Its clearly not going to be worth the money it costs to take them to court. Is there some kind of organisation which mediates on behalf of consumers in this kind of situation?
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Comments
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Did you not record the IMEI number before sending it? The IMEI number should be on the original box/packaging if you have it. If that's different to the one on the phone now, that's your evidence.No free lunch, and no free laptop
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Yes, I do know the IMEI number. The phone I've been sent back has a sticker on it showing the IMEI number of my phone, however it has been stuck over the top of another sticker, which I assume has the original IMEI number of that phone although I haven't taken it off as I wanted to leave it in the same state as I received it.0
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Type *#06# and see if that IMEI number matches your number0
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Good idea, I'll check that when I get home.
I wonder whether someone at the repair centre could change this using software, or if its hardcoded onto one of the components and can't be changed?0 -
It's illegal to change IMEI nos.No free lunch, and no free laptop0
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Yes, I know it's possible, but is it likely that an official Sony Repair Centre would be doing that?No free lunch, and no free laptop0
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Yes, I know it's possible, but is it likely that an official Sony Repair Centre would be doing that?
Since they are the repair centre, I would assume they have the equipment and knowledge to do so.
If it is SE or an OEM, these people will be able to flash firmware using the official SE tools, and I assume that would also allow the changing of the IMEI as they are an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)0 -
It's illegal to change IMEI nos.
So is nicking a phone. Seeing as someone at the repair centre was happy to steal the phone and go to the lengths of sticking a sticker over the imei of the phone he sent back to the customer, I don't think he'd worry too much about the legalities of changing the imei of the phone using software to cover up what he's done.In a rut? Can't get out? Don't know why?
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