"Stopping" mobile phones

Jellicat

I had my phone nicked last night (was considering cancelling my insurance, SO glad I didnt!) and I called the company and had a "stop" put on it so it cant be used. Being the technophobe that I am, I was just curious as to whether there was anyway for the thieving gits to get around this, or whether thats the mobile rendered useless once and for all?

theronkinator

Yes you can get around it. It blocks the IMEI from every network, them IMEI is unique to the phone.

IMEI = International Mobile Equipment Identity.

But they can illegally change it, or just sell the phone abroad.

How did it get stolen?

Jellicat

I was in a club with a bunch of mates, there was a nominated bag watcher but obviously he wasnt watching! Thats rubbish, some people are right jerks. Phoned my number today and the guy who had it was just being cheeky. Its more the photos and numbers I had on the phone than the phone itself seeing as its insured, it just annoys me that losers like that get to profit from me. :mad:

proplusplus

Jellicat - did you not bar the sim? be very careful if your on contract. you should contact your network provider otherwise chance are you'll get a hefty bill (or lose your credit if PAYG)


proplusplus

Jellicat

I didnt think of that, thanks very much for pointing it out, I'll do that.

Petlamb

Yeah, in essence, the rule of thumb is to bar ASAP - esp if you're on contract. Any calls made before you notify you network are your responsibility, any calls made after you tell them, they will pay. (As they should have barred it).

Re Blacklisting handsets... Yes, they can get round it. It's harder to find than unlocking, but some places will modify the IMEI.. totally illegal but can be done. (Normally little chains are the most likely to be offering that kind of service...) but the way i look at it, even though it can be worked around, i'd always still blacklist so I at least inconvenience the little so and sos!

samba

When I went to Brazil a few years back, a lot of the phones had the sim built-in which couldn't be removed - if the network barred the phone, it was barred from making or receiving any calls whatsoever, and changing the IMEI made no difference.
This meant that there was no point in stealing mobile phones and if your phone did get stolen, say by being in your bag and your bag was stolen, the thieves would quite often phone one of your contacts and arrange to leave it in an agreed place so you could pick it up.

Petlamb

samba wrote: »

When I went to Brazil a few years back, a lot of the phones had the sim built-in which couldn't be removed - if the network barred the phone, it was barred from making or receiving any calls whatsoever, and changing the IMEI made no difference.
This meant that there was no point in stealing mobile phones and if your phone did get stolen, say by being in your bag and your bag was stolen, the thieves would quite often phone one of your contacts and arrange to leave it in an agreed place so you could pick it up.

Hmm, good as a theft deterrant, but not so good for customers who have several sims and handsets and like to mix and match... For that reason, I dont think it'd be workable in the UK, but it is a different way of looking at it.. interesting if nothing else!