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Stolen iPhone4 from "Gate Checked Baggage" on UNITED
- Thread starter sevimli
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Do you know what a BSS or OSS is in relationship to a mobile operator? I'll explain it again. Apple has nothing to do with the actual activation of the phone. AT&T does. Apple simply passes your data to AT&T's BSS/OSS and the phone is provisioned. Soooooooooooo again, you need to go to AT&T and complain to them, and you are correct this is not rocket science. It is telecommunications science.
OP.
Sorry about your loss of the phone, and the problems that arose w/United.
Be that as it may, AMEX will indeed back you up as others have suggested. They are 100% the only CC company that indeed stands behind this sort of behavior, as long as you follow the protocol.
Case in point:
A few years back I purchased a DVD camcorder from Amazon for 850 +/- with my AMEX platinum. Had it for a couple of months, and took a trip with my son. Took 5 dvds worth of video. Bag, camera, and other things I locked in my car on my arrival at home, as I forgot to grab it w/ the luggage out of my back seat.
At any rate, that eve. my car was robbed and the damn thing was stolen- and the thief took all the vids as well (that was the worst part). Filed police report, had receipt, etc.
Called AMEX, followed the rules, Got all of my money credited (including the case, memory card, and DVD's) right back to my card in about 3 weeks. I believe, as long as it's within 90 days they treat it as such (I could be wrong, it's the only claim I ever filed w/them in 15 years).
AMEX rules, and they will prevail for you here.
Sorry about your loss of the phone, and the problems that arose w/United.
Be that as it may, AMEX will indeed back you up as others have suggested. They are 100% the only CC company that indeed stands behind this sort of behavior, as long as you follow the protocol.
Case in point:
A few years back I purchased a DVD camcorder from Amazon for 850 +/- with my AMEX platinum. Had it for a couple of months, and took a trip with my son. Took 5 dvds worth of video. Bag, camera, and other things I locked in my car on my arrival at home, as I forgot to grab it w/ the luggage out of my back seat.
At any rate, that eve. my car was robbed and the damn thing was stolen- and the thief took all the vids as well (that was the worst part). Filed police report, had receipt, etc.
Called AMEX, followed the rules, Got all of my money credited (including the case, memory card, and DVD's) right back to my card in about 3 weeks. I believe, as long as it's within 90 days they treat it as such (I could be wrong, it's the only claim I ever filed w/them in 15 years).
AMEX rules, and they will prevail for you here.
Amex will only refund you on the amount you purchased with them. So, if you paid $400 with Amex, you only get $400 back, not full, no-contract price. Just an FYI.
Like Gomez315 said, karma will catch up to these thieves. I wish you luck on getting this situation resolved!
While I agree with the advice given, I fly regularly with locked checked bags. Get TSA approved locks and it's a total non issue. The good ones will even show you an indicator flag if TSA decided to open them.
But ANYTHING of real value should always be in the underseat luggage, not just an overhead carryon. Yeah, it's a PITA to have to have a bag under there, but that's the one piece you can be certain isn't going anywhere. Combine that with making sure you're not seated in a row with no underseat storage, and at least one of your bags will make it with you to your destination.
To the OP, sorry you're having to deal with this. Hopefully AMEX comes through for you soon.
since you did that you should have proof that you sumbitted the first form with in 24 hours and therefor their reason for denying you your claim is false. They lost the original one not you so they are the hook for it not you.
you submitted the first form in time.
I guess your miles may vary with AMEX. Their "rules" sometimes can be unreasonable and seemed to be setup to be impossible to meet. Again, my claim with them wasn't over a product purchase, it was over covering a rental car after an accident. I know this is off-topic but I'm gonna let my views known when I got burned and others claim 100% success with them.
Try mentioning you want to be able to replace the device - also, if they only pay back the subsidized price, try talking with AT&T.
Thanks, I didn't even know about those locks.
To the OP, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I hope AMEX comes through. I try to put much of my big purchases on AMEX just because I have read many favorable dealings with them relative to other credit/charge cards.
Guess I'll be the ****** here but.....
I know you said don't ask but I have to ask.
Why would you not keep track of a $600-$700 item? Would you put $600 in cash in an unprotected piece of luggage and hand it over to strangers? I know things get a little crazy in airports especially when planes run behind but come on, a little common sense goes a LONG way.
Sucks it happened but maybe next time you'll be a little more responsible with your money. Hopefully things work out for you but if they don't, mark this one up as a really expensive learning experience.
I know you said don't ask but I have to ask.
Why would you not keep track of a $600-$700 item? Would you put $600 in cash in an unprotected piece of luggage and hand it over to strangers? I know things get a little crazy in airports especially when planes run behind but come on, a little common sense goes a LONG way.
Sucks it happened but maybe next time you'll be a little more responsible with your money. Hopefully things work out for you but if they don't, mark this one up as a really expensive learning experience.
Go to some press with it. Make a website. YouTube it. Make as much noise as possible telling people UA staff stole your brand new Apple iPhone. If nothing else it will warn others not to be so trusting. Have you any proof you submitted the form in time? Was it an email sent or online form?
These locks are no guarantee that someone will not commit a crime of opportunity. However a popped lock indicator might have made you check the back at the destination airport and initiate the claim there. The most important lesson is that if you can't afford to lose something, NEVER check it in as luggage on an airline. Carry it or ship it. You have very few rights when it comes to lost luggage or stolen luggage contents.
Sorry, OP.
That really is awful, always, if I travel, I either don't check luggage or if I do, it's just clothes, and even then it's just a kitbag with no lock. I figure if the TSA or whoever wants to get in your bag, they will, and unfortunately this applies for the baggage handlers too, what's to stop a TSA employee opening your bag and taking whatever they want out.
Although in this situation, having to put your luggage in the hold at such late notice does mean you had no real chance. Unfortunately there are times when you have to trust others with no other choice and you're probably decent people that won't kick up a huge stink when your plane is ready to set off.
Although in this situation, having to put your luggage in the hold at such late notice does mean you had no real chance. Unfortunately there are times when you have to trust others with no other choice and you're probably decent people that won't kick up a huge stink when your plane is ready to set off.
I have been avoiding this thread because I didn't want to be the ******.
thank you for stepping up.
A couple of things I wouldn't have done.
1. bought an iphone while traveling
2. put it in any luggage, carry on or suit case, back pack yes.
3. let it out of my sight
4. arrive at the gate lately. (this is the biggie)
Sorry too many wrongs here.
By the way, locks whether built into the suitcase or external must be FAA approved or they will be cut/removed in order to inspect the bags.
Airlines - why can't they admit it when they make a mistake?
@OP: I feel your pain, but not too much because I envy you for holidaying in Hawaii. I hope your treatment by corporations didn't spoil your good time.
For what it is worth, I had an issue with checked carry-on luggage with KLM. I had a Samsonite carry-on bag of appropriate dimensions that had my work computer - a shiny new Apple MacBook Pro - taken off me at the gate and checked in. KLM damaged the aluminum case of the computer because they smashed the bag shoving it into the cargo hold. I noticed the damage in the airport when I arrived, but the KLM rep had left the baggage reclaim area already. I called the next day, but because I arrived in the airport so early in the morning, more than 24 hours had passed before KLM's service phone number was open. KLM never compensated me for the damage, nor did they even bother to apologize. The weasels.
On the way back, KLM tried to make me check my carry-on bag again. My response was 'You'll pry my carry-on bag from my cold, dead fingers given the damage your company did the last time. My ticket terms of sale say I get one carry-on and 1 checked bag, and I expect you to fulfil that contract. And I notice much of the space in the plane is taken by passengers who have more than one carry-on bag, over-sized bags or multiple bags of duty-free. Please consider imposing on them instead.'. They backed off in a hurry and there was enough space for my carry-one in the overhead storage.
Moral of the story: Never, ever, let an airline check-in your carry-on bag.
Second moral of the story: KLM conduct business with about as much honor and finesse as the Dutch soccer team.
@OP: I feel your pain, but not too much because I envy you for holidaying in Hawaii.
I hope your treatment by corporations didn't spoil your good time.For what it is worth, I had an issue with checked carry-on luggage with KLM. I had a Samsonite carry-on bag of appropriate dimensions that had my work computer - a shiny new Apple MacBook Pro - taken off me at the gate and checked in. KLM damaged the aluminum case of the computer because they smashed the bag shoving it into the cargo hold. I noticed the damage in the airport when I arrived, but the KLM rep had left the baggage reclaim area already. I called the next day, but because I arrived in the airport so early in the morning, more than 24 hours had passed before KLM's service phone number was open. KLM never compensated me for the damage, nor did they even bother to apologize. The weasels.
On the way back, KLM tried to make me check my carry-on bag again. My response was 'You'll pry my carry-on bag from my cold, dead fingers given the damage your company did the last time. My ticket terms of sale say I get one carry-on and 1 checked bag, and I expect you to fulfil that contract. And I notice much of the space in the plane is taken by passengers who have more than one carry-on bag, over-sized bags or multiple bags of duty-free. Please consider imposing on them instead.'. They backed off in a hurry and there was enough space for my carry-one in the overhead storage.
Moral of the story: Never, ever, let an airline check-in your carry-on bag.
Second moral of the story: KLM conduct business with about as much honor and finesse as the Dutch soccer team.
+1
Also, I've found that making a bit of noise on Twitter about corporate injustices can also be effective, especially if the company in question has a Twitter account. And United Airlines does. Post a comment and put @unitedairlines in the text. You may get a direct message from them asking if they can help.
United is probably the worst airline known to man. I've never been on a single flight of theirs where it hasn't been delayed, cancelled or otherwise screwed up.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)
Sorry to hear about this.
Sorry to hear about this.
Please inform yourself before displaying how much you know about network infrastructure.
BSS/OSS is involved in the process of SIM authentification and network registration.
iTunes activation is independent of this and is handled entirely by Apple.iTunes simply sends the ECCID of the sim card you're using back to Apple's servers, which cross-matches the serial number of your iphone with the operator of the SIM card you're using, the gives a few different answers:
- OK: iphone is activated
- Unlock: iphone is activated and unlocked to be sim-free
- Fail: the sim card is not from the operator your iphone is locked to
- SIM card not recognised
- No sim card inserted
at no time the carrier is contacted during this process. in fact you can activate your iphone with a dead sim card or one that is not registered to your carrier.
And yes, Apple could do something here to stop stolen iphones from being activated. Currently IMEI blacklists are nation-wide in parts of the world. For example: an iphone is blacklisted in the UK but not in France. the only common denominator for all iphones in the world is itunes activation.
What about a "your iphone is not recognised, please call 0800xxxxxx or take it to an official tech support shop"
That's not what my operator tells me. So who do I trust? You a complete stranger or my local network operator? Decisions, decisions...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module
Whatever, we've had GSM for almost 20 years in europe and we're pretty familiar with it.
The fact that you can activate iphones using dummy sim cards used for phonebook transfer should tell you something about your "decisions, decisions" to be made.