How to replace lost phone when I have a new one due?
May 18, 2011 6:17 PM   Subscribe

I think I lost my Verizon phone. I had the same phone for the past 3 years, and I know that I was due for a new one for the past year. I do not have insurance, not that I know of at least. So, how do I go about replacing this phone? I am so confused... Will I have to pay for the new phone? (I am from another country, so I still do not fully understand how the cell phone stuff works here.)
posted by kuju to Grab Bag (6 answers total)
 
(I'm assuming that by "another" you mean "other than the US" and you are in the US)

You can get a new one at the discounted rate if you sign a new 2-year contract (probably). You will not need to pay full price. The best thing to do is call/go into a store, and they can give you more specific advice for your situation, though.
posted by brainmouse at 6:20 PM on May 18, 2011


Cell phone companies generally offer two different prices on a phone with a contract, one for new contracts and one for upgrades. New means you don't have an existing contract, upgrade means you're upgrading the phone (and extending the contract in some cases). Since you probably are no longer under the terms of your original contract 3+ years on, you can likely get the "new" price.
posted by axiom at 6:23 PM on May 18, 2011


Do you have a My Verizon account? You can input your information and look everything up online. It will tell you if you're eligible for upgrade, but you should be if you haven't picked up a new phone in 3 years. You'll pay what a new customer would and may even have an upgrade credit.
posted by kpht at 6:27 PM on May 18, 2011


Response by poster: Yes, I am currently in the US.
posted by kuju at 6:41 PM on May 18, 2011


Best answer: I lost my phone one week before I was due an upgrade. I just called, and without mentioning the lost phone, said I wanted to upgrade to a new, better phone for the reduced rate. I got a new Blackberry for the price you get when you sign a new contract (I think $25 for me) and everything worked out.
posted by hepta at 7:01 PM on May 18, 2011


You need to tell your phone company that the old phone has been lost, because if you don't, you'll have to pay for all the long distance bills racked up by whoever finds your phone.

It's like losing a credit card. You need to get it cancelled.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:24 PM on May 18, 2011


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