The Price You Pay For A Stolen Cell Phone No protection is in place for cell phone fraud Do you know where your cell phone is at all times? If not, you could be at risk of having to pay excessive charges should your phone ever be stolen and used. According to this AP article, cell phone companies can hold consumers responsible for all calls made between the time that a phone is stolen and the time that the report is made to the company. So if your phone is stolen and you don’t realize it right away, you could owe your phone company hundreds of dollars. T-Mobile and Sprint specifically say that you may be responsible for those calls. Verizon Wireless does better; they’ll credit fraud charges within a 48-hour window. Shouldn’t consumers be protected from cell phone fraud in the same way that they are from credit card fraud? Not according to CTIA – The Wireless Association which says the practices are necessary to protect phone companies from false claims by cell phone users who don’t want to pay for their calls.
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 | | The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water The Association's response could just as easily be made by the credit card companies. It would take only a minor investigation to determine whether the calls are fraudulent, e.g. the countries called, whether the numbers had ever been called in the past, etc. | |
|  |  BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water Its not that simple, and you know it. There is so many others things cellphones do these days that cost money, and those who wish to abuse any crediting policies would use the opportunity to do things they couldn't normally afford. | |
| | | | If not, you could be at risk of having to pay excessive charges should your phone ever be stolen and used..
hold consumers responsible for all calls made between the time that a phone is stolen and the time that the report is made to the company
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CAN'T speak for all,bu i have a landline & a cell,and for those of us that use our cell phone everyday either for work or chitchat,a cell phone now is "'ALMOST" a nec,for those that can afford them.
To me even though i don't use it every day,when i go out its like putting shoes on,its just become an almost routine thing, so yes bottom line is if you misplace your phone,lost it,or break it,get to a "landline" and call your cell phone provider (say within 2 hrs) and get it shut off.
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That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am,and don't bother with those that ONLY know how to hurt.
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| | | quatrixPremium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
kudos:2 | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water said by whocares0:==================================================== CAN'T speak for all,bu i have a landline & a cell,and for those of us that use our cell phone everyday either for work or chitchat,a cell phone now is "'ALMOST" a nec,for those that can afford them. Oh yeah, chitchat is such a necessity. I wonder how people survived 10 years ago without phones jammed in their ears yapping about nothing 24/7. | |
| | | | | | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water said by quatrix:Oh yeah, chitchat is such a necessity. I wonder how people survived 10 years ago without phones jammed in their ears yapping about nothing 24/7. I really can't stand the people that are on the cell phone when they're in line ordering food or paying for something.
And I especially don't like the ones in a store that will get a call, and then stop everything they were doing, usually walking with their cart, and block my way.
So many people I see that really cannot spend more than 5 minutes without talking to someone on the phone about nothing. If I didn't hear their conversations, I might give them the benefit of the doubt, I get work calls, and deal with them. But I hear these people on the phone talking about nothing at all.
What the hell did these people do before cheap cell phone plans? And can they please go back to doing that? | |
| | | | | | | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water I really can't stand the people that are on the cell phone when they're in line ordering food or paying for something.
And I especially don't like the ones in a store that will get a call, and then stop everything they were doing,
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smcallah you have that right & when they talk,its HEY HOW ARE YOU I'AM IN LINE AT THE POST OFFICE OR AT MCDonalds getting ready to have lunchits like they want everyone in the world to notice them,loud enough you can hear someone talking 3 blocks away (hey look at me,i got a cell phone)
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i have 500 minutes a month plan,(cheapest rate) last month talked 49 total minutes,
and when someone calls me if i'am surrounded by people its put my hand over the end of the phone & speak almost in a whisper,say what has to be said & say good by.
but i guess listening to all that BOOM,BOOM music makes them deaf,so they feel they have to talk LOUD into the phone to make the signal stronger,
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That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am,and don't bother with those that ONLY know how to hurt.
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| | | | |  joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5
 ·Comcast
| said by smcallah:I really can't stand the people that are on the cell phone when they're in line ordering food or paying for something. And I especially don't like the ones in a store that will get a call, and then stop everything they were doing, usually walking with their cart, and block my way. Sorry but some of us DEPEND on our mobile phones to make a living. I do on-site IT work and if I am in the middle of shopping for something and I get a call regarding a business matter I HAVE TO TAKE IT. If I am talking on the phone and I am hungry I can't just hangup I need to mute the phone and try to be as transparent as possible.
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Am Heimcomputer sitz' ich hier, und programmier' die Zukunft mir | |
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1 edit | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water But whatever happen to COMMON COURTESY when you had a custom in front of you and the phone rang ,and most would tell someone calling on the phone "thank you for your call would you please hold on" now its just the opposite, a caller come first,ahead of a customer.
with me,and a lot of others you want to talk to someone on the phone,while i'am here to spend $$,fine let your caller pay for this meal or service,or groceries,and I'll walk out or leave
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That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am,and don't bother with those that ONLY know how to hurt.
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| | | | | | |  birdfeedrPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI
kudos:5 | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water said by whocares0:But whatever happen to COMMON COURTESY Common courtesy died the day I was talking to someone on the phone, when I heard the unmistakable sound of the guy pissing in the toilet. This was not a enlarged prostate dribble. This guy was drilling holes in the snow, if you know what I mean.
I interrupted him with "[expletive] call me back when you're at your desk," then hung up.
When he did call back he apologized, but said "I wasn't thinking."
Kind of like those on a cell phone while driving.
Common courtesy is dead. When I do encounter courteous behavior, I thank the person. Maybe encouraging it will get it repeated. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water birdfeedrunderstood, when out and about, (away from landline,0 [b]for MEi'am comfortable with, in post office, store where ever,
answer phone with left hand,Right hand is over mouth pieve, and i talk almost in a whisper,and the person on the other end can hear me just find,some pple act like they have to talk loud for the other person to hear them.
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[b]SOME people [/b] make use of a discussion forum the same way public walls are used by some for graffiti.If I don't feel compelled to respond to the scribblings, then I feel equally at ease about ignoring this type of post, too.I'll go abou | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | said by joako:Sorry but some of us DEPEND on our mobile phones to make a living. I do on-site IT work and if I am in the middle of shopping for something and I get a call regarding a business matter I HAVE TO TAKE IT. If I am talking on the phone and I am hungry I can't just hangup I need to mute the phone and try to be as transparent as possible. Sorry, but go talk to call OUT OF EVERYONE ELSES' WAY and make your living courteously.
I also have to take important calls on my cell when I'm on call, but I don't do it in front of people that are shopping or whatever else they're doing. I get out of the way like a normal member of society would. | |
| | | | | | | | | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water I'am not saying cell phones are bad,(to me its like this "'new fangled whats yas ma calls it,computer) its one of the best things i have purchased, but we all need to have a little common courtsey when using them.
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That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am,and don't bother with those that ONLY know how to hurt.
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| | | | |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| said by joako:Sorry but some of us DEPEND on our mobile phones to make a living. I do on-site IT work and if I am in the middle of shopping for something and I get a call regarding a business matter I HAVE TO TAKE IT. Then... get out of the way. If driving, pull off to the side, or into a parking lot and park. If standing in line at the store, step out of line and forfeit your position.
Nothing is worse then those people who are yapping away on the phone and making everyone else wait because they refuse to give up their spot at the counter even while ignoring the cashier that is trying to help them.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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| RayWPremium
join:2001-09-01
Layton, UT
kudos:1 | said by stufried:The Association's response could just as easily be made by the credit card companies. It would take only a minor investigation to determine whether the calls are fraudulent, e.g. the countries called, whether the numbers had ever been called in the past, etc. And the credit cards companies had a lot of problems with abuse, mostly caused by the mad desire to ensure all of us have 200 quintillion cards (at least it seems that way from the amount I shred). It was so bad that they apparently were the prime movers in changing the bankruptcy laws about 8 or 10 years ago to make it harder to get out of paying those things off.
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I am not lost, I find myself every time. | |
| | Reviews:
·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FiOS
| said by stufried:The Association's response could just as easily be made by the credit card companies. It would take only a minor investigation to determine whether the calls are fraudulent, e.g. the countries called, whether the numbers had ever been called in the past, etc. So you are saying the cell phone industry is a complete and total scumbag operation?
Huh, who would have figured.....LOL!! | |
| | joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5 | I'm sorry that you guys expect to eat at a fast food establishment or peruse a shopping mall in absolute silence.
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Am Heimcomputer sitz' ich hier, und programmier' die Zukunft mir | |
| | | | | Re: The Associations' Argument Doesn't Hold Water give us your phone number & the time you'll go to church,and one of will call you,that way you can see how annoying it is. | |
| | | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| said by joako:I'm sorry that you guys expect to eat at a fast food establishment or peruse a shopping mall in absolute silence. No, what we expect is that someone isn't so rude as to think they are the most important thing in the universe and the entire world needs to revolve around them. Hello; The other people waiting ALSO have jobs and also have things to do and places to be; They don't need to be stuck in line behind YOU while you yap away, business or not. Show some courtesy and move out of the way, OR, tell your party you'll call them right back, hang up, conclude your business, and once out of the way, you can return the call.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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| KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| It's true they can try and demand you pay for charges you don't owe....
... But nothing they do can FORCE you to actually pay the bill.
Course they may try to damage your credit rating by claiming you're a deadbeat customer, but then again, you could try suing them as well.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Frontier FiOS
2 edits | Its abuse protection Some consumers would gladly report their phone was 'stolen' to get out of huge charges they made, or intentionally rack up huge charges for downloads, then claim it was stolen.
Then just claim they recovered it later, they have no way of verifying the real story. | |
| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Its abuse protection Yup! This does happen... people do use the system in ways to be fraudulent themselves to get out of large bills.
There's a good reason why phones come with keypad locks that activate after X amount of minutes of non-use too.
I happen to be on the side of the cellular companies... If people are worried about their phone being stolen, use key guard locking and set the phone to lock.
(FYI: Not all cellular companies have 24 hour service. Well, at least ONE that I know of and it's always bothered me, but Nextel closes at 11pm on weeknights and 6m on Saturdays, 4pm on Sundays. I think those are the right weekend hours. Sprint has limited access to the Nextel side afterhours.)
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
| | | | | Re: Its abuse protection AT&T is all automated no need to talk to a live rep. You can also restrict and unrestrict a cellphone from the internet. | |
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| |  codeePremium
join:2001-10-01
Minneapolis, MN | said by fiberguy:Yup! This does happen... people do use the system in ways to be fraudulent themselves to get out of large bills. There's a good reason why phones come with keypad locks that activate after X amount of minutes of non-use too. I happen to be on the side of the cellular companies... If people are worried about their phone being stolen, use key guard locking and set the phone to lock. (FYI: Not all cellular companies have 24 hour service. Well, at least ONE that I know of and it's always bothered me, but Nextel closes at 11pm on weeknights and 6m on Saturdays, 4pm on Sundays. I think those are the right weekend hours. Sprint has limited access to the Nextel side afterhours.) I agree 100% - I dont think other companies should cover the cost when one of their customers can't keep track of their own things. We pay providers to use the services, we aren't paying any extra "incase it gets lost" fees. I DO pay for a insurance/repair plan through Nextel, which does cover the phone if I break it or lose it, but not necessarily any calls made. I've had a phone on my belt in a holster EVERY day since April of 2000. I even have 3 currently (2 are for work) and I've never lost a phone, misplaced it, forgotten it, etc.
I'm not sure you could really have a very big bill created anymore, I meam long distance is free with pretty much every plan and international dialing is blocked by default generally, so I wouldnt think too much damage could be done even? As far as landlines go, I think some of you guys would be AMAZED at how easy it is for pretty much anybody to make a call on your line without steping 1 foot inside your house, and in some cases your yard even. It takes a matter of seconds, literally.
Fiberguy - on a side note, there is a Nextel Key Corporate Accounts number that is open 24/7, and goes directly to a live Rep after one ring. When they merged with Sprint, Sprint shut that down initially but then opened it back up almost immediately but added a prompt system when they realized they didn't know that they were doing. Sprint then went back to make it connect to a like person after the first ring after they figured out that Key Cororate Account customers got quite upset about it. | |
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| jsouthJsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | That's an easy fix. Just make a police report mandatory for reporting a "stolen" cell phone.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? | |
| | | BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Frontier FiOS
1 edit | Re: Its abuse protection Its actually already a mandatory step for the insurance, and its not just that easy. The hours of follow up per each stolen phone would hemorage money per case for the company by a legal team, and most phones do not get recovered. Its not cost effective, and would drive prices up for everyone when a small percentage of customers have this problem. | |
| | | | | That's an easy fix. Just make a police report mandatory for reporting a "stolen" cell phone.
well considering the SF police wont take police report for stolen/lost phone. How would you go about enforcing that policy ??? | |
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|  n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
·Optimum Online
| said by BlitzenZeus:Some consumers would gladly report their phone was 'stolen' to get out of huge charges they made, or intentionally rack up huge charges for downloads, then claim it was stolen. Then just claim they recovered it later, they have no way of verifying the real story. I see the CTIA's position is summed up as
quote:
Not according to CTIA – The Wireless Association which says the practices are necessary to protect phone companies from false claims by cell phone users who don’t want to pay for their calls.
There is a good solution to this. Require that the claimant provide a police report regarding the theft. At least then if the customer miraculously "finds" it, they are facing criminal charges for filing a false report and/or the phone charges can be reinstated. Granted it will not help for those cases where the user intentionally destroys their phone or otherwise "permanently" loses it (such as at the bottom of the ocean) but it help stop the casual false reports and it at least gives some recourse for people who are genuinely victimized.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
| | nozzer
join:2004-06-25
Waltham, MA | but there is a HUGE margin on international cellphone calls. If I call Europe on my T Mobile phone, I get charged 99c a minute. It costs T Mobile less than a penny a minute.
This ISN'T like credit card fraud, where there is genuinely lots of money lost by the CC company when a card is stolen and used fraudulently. Its hard to see a cellphone company losing even as much as 1 dollar from a stolen phone, such are the actual costs for them to call even the remotest countries.
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1 edit | The customer is always wrong mentality Its your fault you let your phone get stolen so pay up for the crooks charges.... who goes to the trouble of reporting a phone stolen just to skip a bill? doesnt it get deactivated when its stolen?
Even paying for a couple of fradulent reports is better than screwing one honest victim of this. I though it was part of good customer service. | |
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See 11 replies to this post | |
 TomekPremium
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY | Providers rights and no responsibilities They give themselves right to charge user but they offer NO protection and help in recovering the phone. Most of the phones can be located quickly, but companies just refuse to do so. Then phones get resold and used on the SAME network. How cool is that?
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Semper Fi | |
|  JeffreyWilpon please sell the MetsPremium
join:2002-12-24
Long Island
kudos:3
 ·Vonage
·Optimum Online
|  Customer shouldn't be liable, but there has to be a way...
I'm not really that big of a "phone guy"...I have a cell phone that works well, and aside from the occasional text, that's all I do. I have no idea how much my phone can do, but I know it handles calls and text well. That being said, too bad there isn't a way (or is there?) to turn of International calling on the phone itself at the discretion of the customer.
While putting the passcodes on your phone prior to making a call seems annoying, it might be worth it in the long run. That's another way to prevent calls from being made.
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"When you get lost in your imaginatory vagueness, your foresight becomes a nimble vagrant."
[Ramblings] [RIP Millie 1993-2006]
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See 18 replies to this post | |
 dadkinsCan you do Blu?Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
kudos:18
1 edit | Ha Ha! Not Me! Not My Cell Phone!
Pay-As-You-Go!
I have $27.38 on my phone ATM.
Unless they go buy a "Top Up" card for it, all they get if it is stolen or lost is - $27.38. 
EDIT: Oh yeah, the phone itself - $19.95 El Cheapo!
No worries, ya know?
Disposable! 
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Think outside the Fox... Opera | |
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See 7 replies to this post | |
| | Catch 22 I think if companies outright wrote off the usage, they would be losing a lot of money. What would stop people from claiming their phone was stolen to avoid their bill? We all know this would be the case.
On the flip side, customers shouldn't be responsible for fraud. Credit Cards charge 50 dollars, which to some degree isn't fair. However, it's better than a full charge. I would not be against a set fee to offset the cost for a lost or stolen phone. When you sign your name on the dotted line, you are also agreeing to protect your "phone". While you no one is perfect, there should be a penalty for it. Still, if someone racks up a thousand dollars, the customer should not eat the cost. I think looking at each case is probably the best answer. If you have a customer who never has overage and is longstanding, and suddenly has a thousand dollar bill, I would probably credit. However, if you have a new customer who complains their phone was stolen and has lots of charges, I would be weary. I guess the best approach is look at that person's normal history and see if the usage is out of the ordinary or such numbers have been called before. If not, give them their money back. | |
| | BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Frontier FiOS
1 edit | Re: Catch 22 For long time customers sometimes they might offer a one-time credit based on their previous history, but almost always never for the full amount, they might cover half, in very rare cases cases seventy five percent. They do this as a courtesy at times, but physical possession is the customers responsibility, along with reporting the phone missing, or stolen asap.
People do abuse the system, some would call to beg/scam for free minutes, but didn't want to upgrade to the next plan when they repeatedly were offered a bigger plan in the past as the current plan was not big enough for them.
My favorite was "this is my biz-ness phone", but they only had like a 300 minute consumer plan. They obviously didn't think things through, and yet another person who didn't want a bigger plan, just more free minutes. | |
| | | | | Re: Catch 22 Well people will always try to work the system. That is a given. However, I firmly believe if you have had a customer two years for example, and suddenly there is an erratic call history, he or she should be credited. Granted, it is possible this person did make those calls. However, if none of those numbers appeared on prior bills and they never had a history of overage or late fees, it is more likely they did not. Hence, the phone company can write it off as fraud just as well..
Now on the other hand, if you got someone who is a new customer and racks up a grand, tough luck. I would tell them it's their responsibility to better secure their phone. When they signed the contact, they agreed that they were responsible for all usage. As a result, look at it case by case is the only real solution. You can pretty much tell, I'm sure, who is lying and who is not. | |
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 Toguro
join:2003-10-23
Ottawa, IL | It's so F'ing simple This would work for called numbers if someone racked up a bill for thousand of dollars on calls to Poland flag those numbers so if that person ever called those numbers again you know they committed fraud. | |
| | Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
1 edit | Re: It's so F'ing simple Cell phone fraud rules should be the same as they are for credit cards. If my credit card has unusual charges I get a phone call from the credit card company. If I don't respond or confirm that the charges are fraudulent, my card is suspended. If cell phone companies used the same logic and see unusual patterns of usage, like 500 calls to Poland they can easily flag this and contact me to make sure that they are valid. Normal account verification information would prove whether they are talking to me or an unauthorized person. | |
| | | BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Frontier FiOS
3 edits | Re: It's so F'ing simple Actually if somebody called you out of the blue to ask you about your charges, and what your password/etc was would you honestly tell them? That very well could be a damn scam to get your information, and even if it was just a recorded message that would have them call customer care whos to say they would actually get it. I know people that don't check their voicemail, don't care to even read/send text messages. Then who is to say the person abusing the account doesn't already know this information, and has possession of the phone like friends/family/significant other. You couldn't just suspend them out of the blue either, even if it was for their protection that would really piss them off, wouldn't you be pissed off if your cellphone suddenly didn't work when you depend on it???
You need physical possession of the phone, its NOT like a credit card. Why are stupid people making this connection?
I've even had it where a mother's son stole the sim card out of her phone, put it in his prepaid phone to buy games/ringtones, and put it back in her phone. If she had setup a sim pin she likely wouldn't of had this problem. | |
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 koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | Simple: International calls cost $1.49/minute on my cell phone, except to Canada, which is 35¢/minute. All calls within the United States are charged to my 1250 anytime minutes. I have unlimited data transfer on my phone.
I told my phone company to turn off access to text messaging and the like, toll calls (900 and a few others), international calls, Canada calls, and anything else that would cost me an additional charge. If I try to make a call, it doesn't go through. SMS fails, along with MMS. The only thing they could do is use my minutes, but I would find that my phone is missing long before they used them all. If it gets stolen on a weekend, even better, as weekends are unlimited.
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There's no place like ::1. | |
| | | | Re: Simple: said by koolman2: I told my phone company to turn off access to text messaging and the like, toll calls (900 and a few others), international calls, Canada calls, and anything else that would cost me an additional charge. If I try to make a call, it doesn't go through. The international call blocking feature is the key. Most people have no use for international calls anyway and blocking them would eliminate 95% of this problem!
The interesting part is this very idea came up in a S.F. Chronicle article 4-5 months ago with respect to an AT&T wireless customer that had a $7800 phone bill after misplacing their phone. The reporter asked AT&T why they didn't offer the international call blocking to the customer and they said because it would cost them (aka AT&T) money! The implication was that AT&T didn't want to "fix" the problem because they make plenty of money off of the dumb people that lose their cell-phone. | |
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| | verification My credit card company calls me when a transaction is flagged for high value, made soon after another one across the state, or for some reason their computer algorithms pick it up as suspicious. It doesn't seem that hard to a cell phone company to just have some type of algorithm that detects significant variations in normal uses, and is used for comparison in lost phone reports, or calls a landline on file/email to verify. | |
| rug1000
join:2003-01-26
Louisville, KY
2 edits | credit card company analogy doesn't fit generally speaking, credit card companies don't eat the costs of fraud. store merchants, who don't properly verify the identity of the credit card user before giving away merchandise are the ones who eat the costs of fraud. therefore, the analogy between credit cards and cell phones doesn't precisely fit. the reason the merchant pays the costs of fraud with credit cards is because the merchants are put in the best position to verify one's identity before giving away merchandise purchased with a credit card (plus they have a contract with the credit card company which requires them to eat the costs). With cell phones, it is the consumer who has the best ability to prevent fraud, either by keeping the cell phone safe, requiring a code before outgoing calls are placed, or locking the phone when it is not in use. -rug | |
| | | | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| said by rug1000:store merchants, who don't properly verify the identity of the credit card user before giving away merchandise are the ones who eat the costs of fraud. Actually, it doesn't matter if you verify identity, film the transaction, yadda, yadda, yadda. You *still* eat it. Banks never (or very rarely) ever lose. Merchants *always* lose. The only exemption that I am aware of is the pay-at-the-pump. If that is made with a stolen card, the credit card company will eat $50. The rest is on the merchant. (Now you know why some merchants have their pumps set to stop at $50 each time.)
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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| | cell phones idea i think a great idea would be utilizing the Bluetooth on most phones now and making something like some of the higher priced cars have with a little wireless clip that activates the car when you get close to it. So if someone were to come up with a product that utilized something like that that you kept a little plastic chip in your pocket or shoe. Then the phone would automatically deactivate when it got out of the range of the Bluetooth which i think is 1 meter. | |
| |  JammerMan79Premium,VIP
join:2004-05-13
Prince George, BC
kudos:10 | Re: cell phones idea until the chip gets lost as well... and then you're without a phone. | |
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 Frankis chillingPremium
join:2000-11-03
somewhere | Very Important things you should know about cellphone fraud. #1) the argument of calling the cell phone company right away doesnt hold water as some companies dont have 24/7 customer service (cingular for the lose!)
#2) Most cellphone fraud involves that party who found or stole your phone making international phone calls (the most expensive). Why is it that international calling is enabled on cellphones by default anyways and why is it that some companies do not allow blocking of international calling (sprint for the lose!)
#3) unlike credit cards, some companies WILL NOT credit you for fraudulent activity on your account. (cingular for the lose). In my case, my dad lost his phone and I had called to immediately disconnect it but calls were still made the next day and he got charged so I had to wind up calling like 3 more times in order to get it credited. Luckily for me the only reason I got it credited was because I specifically told the rep who was disconnecting the line to make a note on the account. According to cingular reps if that note wasnt there then I would have never gotten a credit for $150 in fraudulent calls made from the jerk who *found* my dad's lost cellphone.
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At first I thought everyone on the highway was drunk but then I realized I was driving in Florida | |
| | | That sounds about right You should have to pay for calls made before you report the event to the carrier.
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Because there is no patch for human stupidity. Or my DIRECTV Plus DVR. | |
|  ipz
@pacbell.net | what will they do when people start buying on-line with cell phone #'s | |
| | | Verizon did credit my account once. This was way back during the analog phone days. My phone was cloned and Verizon called me and asked me about a couple of numbers I "supposedly" called. Didn't know them and they noticed the call volume went through the roof in 2 days. They credited my account and added a call code to my number for future use.
I later got a 26 page (8 1/2 x 11 sheets) bill. There was enough information in those pages to find out where they lived (apartment complete.) Didn't get the exact address but at least the right complex in a suburban ghetto area.
What I didn't like was Verizon not going after the people. They had more than enough evidence and they did nothing.  | |
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