PhoneTalk

Where's my phone?

By David Frame Follow me on Twitter
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 (permalink)

I've been rendered socially and functionally obsolescent.

I lost my cell phone in a cab in Vegas. Unlike credit cards, which are fairly easy to cancel and replace, cell phones require a complex and burdensome process of shutting down your cell phone account, replacing your phone and getting back up to speed with a new phone.

Today, I sit here a bit overwhelmed by a flood of questions and worries:

What’s my alibi for losing a phone in Vegas? (I’m sure my wife is imagining some 19 year old named Bambi walking around town with a nice, new Motorola Razr in her purse)!

What’s my financial risk? I just read a story about a wireless customer getting nailed by their carriers for a $26,000 bill – that’s a lot worse than a bad night at the craps tables!

Who do I call and how do I shut off service? I saw a new service that can turn your phone into a hideous, screaming beast, but I’d just be happy to get the darned thing shut down.

How do I recover from the loss of the 400 contacts I tediously “triple keyed” into my phone over the last 18 months?

What will I do next time to prevent this from happening again? Is my wife going to make me carry my cell phone strapped around my neck like my dad does with his bifocals? Should I buy handset insurance? Or just break out that old label-maker I used in 4th grade to protect my valuable GI Joe and Evil Knievel toys?

In my next few posts, I’ll share my journey with you and do my best to offer advice on what to do when you lose your cell phone. Wish me luck.

Tags: Somethin' To Talk About