Help! I've been an idiot!

BubblingCletus

I done th stupidest thing in the world, I've just left my mobile on the train. It was fully charged up, and now when I ring it just an hour later it goes straight to voicemail, so I'm guessing some has it and doesn't intend to hand it in.:mad: :mad: I've just phoned Three to restrict the service, and they've told me that to get a replacement sim card costs £5, but to get a new handset from them costs £50 (I'm not insured or anything) I'm about a year into an 18 month contract which doesn't run out until March next year, and will cost me about £20 a month if I don't use it.

Anybody got any suggestions? Can I cancel the contract or get a free/cheaper phone elsewhere? What can i threaten them with in order to get a better deal?

anyone had any dealings with Three in any similar situation? Needless to say, I'm forced to deal with their useless call centre.

espresso

You won't be able to cancel the contract simply due to leaving your handset on the train! You need to pay for the replacement SIM and then try to find yourself an alternative handset i.e. a second hand one or a PAYG. You can't threaten 3 for your silly mistake.

lindens

Have you actually rung the train company/lost property department to see if it has been handed in? There are still some honest people around you know - I handed one in last month.

BubblingCletus

Yeah, I've rung up but nothing has been handed in, it's a local service though, only stopping at about 5 stations, so I'll check with the guard on the train when I go back this evening, you never know, I might be lucky! I would always hand a phone in if I found it, I'd like to think that the vast majority of other people would as well

Perhaps 'threaten' is the wrong word, I was wondering if by telling Three that I'll just pay off my contract and get a phone through someone else that they might give me a cheaper phone to keep me as a customer. If I get a PAYG phone, can I stick the replacement sim from Three in it? Like I said, I don't know much about phones.

I suppose £55 isn't too much to pay considering it's all my own fault.

rainbowtrout

you shouldn't pay off your contract if you still have 6 months--that will be much more than £55! If you are going to get a PAYG handset AND you use services like video call or watch TV (3G services) from 3 make sure you buy a 3G handset.

espresso

rainbowtrout wrote: »

If you are going to get a PAYG handset AND you use services like video call or watch TV (3G services) from 3 make sure you buy a 3G handset.

Most GSM phones will not accept the 3 USIM anyway. The replacement handset needs to be compatible.

going2die_rich

lindens wrote: »

Have you actually rung the train company/lost property department to see if it has been handed in? There are still some honest people around you know - I handed one in last month.

You FOOL! Was it a cheap phone?

Even if someone handed it in, doesn't mean the phone will reach the lost property department.

Best place to get a second hand phone is if you know a taxi driver, as they always find them after a friday night when the drunks forget them.

BubblingCletus

The phone itself was free when I got the contract, so it's not like it cost me anything to start off with, but to replace it like for like would cost me about £150.

Taking this from a different angle now, instead of paying 3 £50 for a new phone (the ones they had in stock were pretty uninspiring anyway), I've paid them the fiver for the replacement sim card and I'm going to try and find a dirt cheap, bog standard phone to stick the sim card in. I qualify for a free new phone from 3 in Dec as part of my contract so I'll just have to grin and bear it until then.

anyone know of any cheap phones which you can put a 3 sim card into?

z4kir

going2die_rich wrote: »

You FOOL! Was it a cheap phone?

Even if someone handed it in, doesn't mean the phone will reach the lost property department.

Best place to get a second hand phone is if you know a taxi driver, as they always find them after a friday night when the drunks forget them.

So your happy buying stolen property?

BubblingCletus, I would take a look on eBay.. you can use the category finder on the side to find phones simlocked to 3, tend to be cheaper than unlocked phones... hopefully the phone will turn up. I've never understood why people steal phones these days, 90% chance they will be be barred! suppose selling them abroad is the only option!

purpledelly

Have a look on eBay for a phone - that's where I've always sold my old ones. Just be careful of the usual scams (if the price is way to good to be true then it probably is!; and don't go for anything not from a UK seller with good feedback (and more than say 5 overall). Might be worth getting a not-so-inspiring one for now just to get it cheap.
Also on eBay look for one which says either 'Locked to 3' or else 'Unlocked' which means it's ok to use with any SIM. 3 are less compatible than other SIMS so be careful.
Sorry I can't help - usually I have the odd old handset lying around - but my last one went to my hubby who left his in his raincoat pocket in torrential rain and drowned it :mad:

purpledelly

Just had another thought - you could join Freecycle if you're not already a member, and post a wanted advert... I can't be the only one who usually has a handset or two lying around