Pick Pocketed!

I was so naive...so the other night I was walking home from work on 34th Street and it was more crowded than normal. I felt a little uneasy but just brushed it off. While I was walking, I was listening to music on my iPhone which was in my purse unzipped. At one point I was trying to untangle the earphone wires thinking it may snag the earphones out of the phone which has happened to me before. As I was crossing 10th Avenue, i felt a tug and I thought my iPhone did snag and I was searching my purse of the phone...didn't find it. Then I was thinking, hmmm, maybe I dropped it on the other side of the street. So I wait for the light to change and look on the ground for the phone...nothing. Finally, I come to my senses and realize that I had just been pick pocketed and my iPhone had been stolen! How stupid of me.

So I go home and call AT&T to suspend my services and then ask them a bunch of questions about the phone, including, how could someone who stole my phone be able to reactivate it when it's registered under my name. But they were no help at all! Sorry, we can't help you. We do nothing with that information. Anyone can activate an iPhone over the internet or phone. Crazy!!! Then I go and ask about getting a new phone, the customer service guy goes on to say the best way is to sign up for a new line so that I can get the discount. I was asking him how much the would cost me extra and he goes on to say about $25 with more minutes (which I do not need) and less data. That's stupid! He then goes on to tell me that I could save money if I discontinue my Canada calling plan. I'm trying to explain to him that it is not an option but it's like he's not listening to me. So frustrating...when he's finally done, I'm sitting there saying, so over 2 years, you want me to spend $600 in services that I don't need just so I can recieve a $400 discount now? He was like, yes, that's worth it! Does he think I'm an idiot??? I tell him that I want to buy it without a contract and he then goes to tell me that he can not help me with that and that I have to go into an Apple store to do that! What? Why is it that hard for me to get a new iPhone but it's soooo easy for the guy that just ripped me off to reactivate my phone?

I then go on to try to call the police to report the incident...no answer. I call many times but no answer...I finally call 311. They answer but they tell me that I should call the local police, go to the station or call 911 and they will send someone to me to file a report. That's crazy. I decided not to report it as it does me no good, it's not like I have insurance or anything.

The next night I go to Apple. The guy there was so helpful!!! Finally...through this whole process, nothing helpful but when I got to the store he was very nice and understanding. When I got the phone, he ended up telling me that AT&T was going to give me a $200 discount for being a valued customer. That was great!

So new iPhone in hand...haven't started to listening to music while walking again but have kept my purse zipped up!

Very expensive lesson learned!!!