iPhone Activation and Contract sign-up - stolen phone problem!

mattrumlbe

Hey all,

I'm here to warn anyone to get insurance as soon as you get your phone on the o2 UK network. heres my story:
I purchased the new Apple iPhone yesterday from The Apple Store in London, Later that day, I travelled to Glasgow for a gig. Before my flight I started the activation process via iTunes on my laptop. Got everything up and running in 15 minutes. nice...
After my work had finished that evening, I was absolutely stunned to find that only a few hours after purchase, the phone had been stolen. I reported the theft to the local police, and hoped that Apple and O2 would be able to help me in some way, the next day. But no such luck, i cant cancel the contract without returning the original phone to them, they're refusing to give me a new phone and have been quite rubbish in general. so im basiclly locked into a shiny new contract with no handset on a rubbish network with poor customer services, and for 18 month.
Any ideas? i only owned the thing for like 12 hours!
I cant see why i need to return a product a was allowed to purchase without contract from the Apple Store to O2 within the 14day cooling off period everything comes with!

We normally get insurance push at every conceivable opportunity, i wasn't offered this at any point, either in the Apple store or via the iTunes activation process. I made the assumption that i would be covered, like with my current orange contract.

mountainchrisriver

Unless the police catch whoever nicked it then you've lost it i'm afraid... unless it happens to be covered by your home insurance? Apple are not at fault here... you are i'm afraid, for not looking after a very desirable piece of technology (well in some people's eyes!)... Probably not what you want to hear but hey ho... In the mean time buy a very cheap replacement phone to use with your contract...

ps. If O2 allowed you to cancel the contract without sending the phone back then what would stop anybody doing this just to get hold of the Iphone at a 'bargain' price?!

mattrumlbe

OK, its not apple's problem. but i should be within my rights to cancel a contract. You buy the iPhone without a contract, then you sign up 18th talk and data plan. I cant see why O2 appear to own the phone when i was allowed to buy it without signing a thing. My point is i should be able to stop the contract without the phone being returned to them - i didnt buy it from them. I should be free to do with it what i like, the contract is separate and they do agree, they're happy for me to buy another iPhone and will let me using it on the existing contract.

mattrumlbe

i have no home insurance and it's not covered by my bank.

geekgirl

That is a real shame you must be gutted. I hate scumbag thieves!! No advice sorry just wanted to sympathise.

mountainchrisriver

The terms and conditions on the apple website state:

"(1) 18-month agreement with O2 required. For personal use only, not for resale. Order quantities limited online."

... sure purchasing an iphone from apple store would come with same terms and conditions... you can't buy an iphone without entering into an 18 month contract with o2...

for a moment ignore the fact it is an iphone, the same would go for any expensive subsidised phone with any network provider :rolleyes:

stugib

mattrumlbe wrote: »

I cant see why i need to return a product a was allowed to purchase without contract from the Apple Store to O2 within the 14day cooling off period everything comes with!

Huh? Correct me if I've missed something but the iPhone is only available when you take out an O2 contract isn't it? Just because it was £270 rather than a more heavily subsidised £50 or £0 doesn't mean the phone was purchased separately from the contract - I'd imagine the unlocked price if it was available would be closer to £500. It's normal practice that if you do cancel during the cooling off period you have to return things to the state they were as if the contract never existed - i.e. return the phone and SIM.

mattrumlbe wrote: »

OK, its not apple's problem. but i should be within my rights to cancel a contract.

Why, what have O2 done wrong?

mattrumlbe

yes you can, you buy the phone BEFORE you sign anything with O2, i walked into the Apple store in London and they sold me one without a mention of contract, although i was obviously aware of the 18month contact that i need to agree to before the phone would be activated for phone use. apple would be happy for me to go and buy 10, they're not interested what I do with it. The exclusive deal is after you have paid for the iphone. This is VERY different setup to the average phone deals offered.

mattrumlbe

Well, maybe you're right. It's just i was never offered insurance. I've ALWAYS had phone insurance, and would have got it if i offered.
Guess, im just bitter, that was every penny i had

mountainchrisriver

If it was "every penny you had" then you are not just bitter!! (the rules state that we need to be nice to all moneysavers so unable to put in the rest of this sentence!!) :rotfl:


btw... do feel sorry for you from the point of view of the theft... not totally heartless!!

mattrumlbe

yeah, well. You know when you save just enough to treat yourself, first time a brought anything outside food/travel in 4 months. And now this, oh well serves me right i guess. I'll sort it out somehow. Thanks for the info anyway, i'll keep you posted.