5 ways to stop thieves using your mobile phone
2,000 mobile phones are stolen in the UK every single day – and it could cost you far, far more than the price of the handset if yours is nicked. Here's what to do
Lose your phone and you could be lumbered with a bill in the thousands – even if you have insurance.
How? Well, phone companies consider you responsible for all call costs until you report the phone as stolen. And it's far from uncommon.
Almost one in five Brits aged between 16 and 24 have had unauthorised calls made from their handsets after they were stolen, figures from gadget insurer ProtectYourBubble show, with one in eight people reporting unauthorised phone bills of more than £200.
So to help, here are the top 5 tips from free complaints resolution service Resolverto ensure you're not left with a huge bill for a phone you don't even have.
1. Report it
Report the theft straight away, especially if your phone does not have a security lock. Even if it is late at night, get hold of your operator and if necessary get a temporary block on your number.
These are the numbers in case you need to get through to customer services if not calling from your mobile.
- O2 - 0344 8090202 or +44 344 8090202 from abroad
- Tesco Mobile - 0345 301 4455
- EE/T-Mobile - 07953 966 250 or +44 7953 966 250 from abroad
- Orange - 07973 100 150 or +44 7973 100 150 from abroad
- Vodafone – 03333 040 101
- Three - 0333 300 3333 or +44 7782 333 333 from abroad
Once you’ve reported the issue to the mobile company, ensure you also report the issue to the police and get a crime reference number.
2. Lock it
Super-simple: ensure that you have a passcode set up on your mobile so anyone who finds your phone cannot simply use your phone without your consent. Thieves can still get around this, but it will slow down the process.
3. Register it
Register your phone on the national property register, Immobilise. This means if the police find your phone they can get it back to you. For this you need your mobile’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.
You can find your IMEI by entering *#06# into the keypad of your phone
This is a number between 14 and 18 digits long. This number also helps prevent calls being made.
When a phone is switched on, this unique IMEI number is transmitted and this number is checked against a database of handsets that have been reported as lost or stolen to the mobile phone network provider's Equipment Identity Register (EIR).
4. Use your phone's built-in features
The key phone manufacturers have features to help you if your phone is stolen or is simply missing.
On Android you can use the Android Device Manager, although you need to ensure it is set up and that you can access it online. The device can be located to an area within a 25-metre radius. You can also remove access to your apps so that you can prevent access to your private information. There are also some great third-party security apps for Android.
On iOS, unless you have set up ‘Find my Phone’, there is little you can do. If you have ‘Find my Phone’ activated, however, you can remotely find your device, text your device or wipe your device.
These systems rely on the phone being switched on!
5. Consider insurance
One final precaution to consider is to take out mobile phone insurance. If you do, compare policies before buying. As part of this, make sure it covers your device and that is covers replacement of the phone and phone call charges, including if you lose the phone as well as if it is stolen.
If you are having a fight with your insurance provider, remember you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman after eight weeks of raising a complaint. They will look at your case and consider if the firm has treated you fairly and reasonably.
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