My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco PAYG 
SIM in it.

We don't know whether it has been nicked/lost and found by someone, or 
whether he's just misplaced it, which has an influence on how we proceed 
(we've previously had a lost mobile turn up after as much as several 
months!).  Currently he's using the family 'spare' mobile and can 
continue with that indefinitely as far as I'm concerned; however if we 
knew that the original phone was gone for good I'd get it blocked, and 
have a replacement SIM issued (presumably the credit on the old one 
would transfer?)

So, in an ideal world I'd ring up Tesco and ask them if any calls had 
been made from XYZ phone in the last fortnight, whether using his SIM 
card or otherwise; however of course they won't tell me for data 
protection reasons.   Is there any way I can find out, or has anyone got 
any clever tips?

If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to 
voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone 
switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)

Thanks
David

In news:wzF0k.74186$x55.66295@newsfe17.ams2,
Lobster  typed, for some strange, 
unexplained reason:
: My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco
: PAYG SIM in it.

[snip]

: If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to
: voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone
: switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)

Maybe a silly question, but why didn't you get the thing barred 
immediately it was lost..?

Ivor

Ivor Jones wrote:
> In news:wzF0k.74186$x55.66295@newsfe17.ams2,
> Lobster  typed, for some strange, 
> unexplained reason:
> : My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco
> : PAYG SIM in it.
> 
> [snip]
> 
> : If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to
> : voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone
> : switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)
> 
> Maybe a silly question, but why didn't you get the thing barred 
> immediately it was lost..?

You don't have kids, do you...?

David

>So, in an ideal world I'd ring up Tesco and ask them if any calls had been 
>made from XYZ phone in the last fortnight, whether using his SIM card or 
>otherwise; however of course they won't tell me for data protection 
>reasons.

IT's YOUR phone, if it is registered to you and you can satisfy them you are 
the owner they should tell you.
In any case just telling you if it is in use or not would be no breach of 
data protection.
Regards,
Martin

"Lobster"  wrote in message 
news:lPF0k.74187$x55.44976@newsfe17.ams2...
> Ivor Jones wrote:
>> In news:wzF0k.74186$x55.66295@newsfe17.ams2,
>> Lobster  typed, for some strange, 
>> unexplained reason:
>> : My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco
>> : PAYG SIM in it.
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> : If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to
>> : voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone
>> : switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)
>>
>> Maybe a silly question, but why didn't you get the thing barred 
>> immediately it was lost..?
>
> You don't have kids, do you...?
>
> David

thought that was the point of a PAYGO phone, especially for the young set. 
Get a cheapy phone, keep a minimal amount on the card then if lost why 
worry. Even I have an O2 PAYGO for that very reason.

We are after all in a throw away world............ever been to a recycling 
tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined up...........that man 
had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one major part 
that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine to repair 
and you're on to a winner. Even gives you enough dosh to set up a technology 
centre.

On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:57:28 +0100, Lobster
 wrote:

>You don't have kids, do you...?

I don't feel this is the kind of response Ivor would expect. He was
after all just suggesting a course of action that many people would
take.

The question I would be asking myself is whether the SIM had been PIN
protected. If it has been, then if it is no longer connected to the
network, as you infer, it can no longer be as the chance of guessing
the PIN are almost zero in three attempts. If it wasn't PIN protected
then that will be a lesson well learned.

If it was me, I would ring Tesco Mobile and tell them he has misplaced
the SIM and ask them if they will supply another one. I have always
found them most helpful and you will probably end up with a new SIM
with the old phone number and the remaining credit transferred,
assuming there is any. This action will also cut off the old SIM
wherever it may be.

The advantage to doing this is that if the phone ever turns up in the
future it isn't blocked and can be re-used. If someone else is using
it I guess you can put that down to experience. I don't see it as
worthwhile going to the effort of getting a network to block a PAYG
phone which 'may' be lost.

Al.

"Martin²"  wrote in message 
news:drWdnZekbtTexN7VnZ2dnUVZ8s7inZ2d@posted.plusnet...

> IT's YOUR phone, if it is registered to you and you can satisfy them you 
> are the owner they should tell you.

Well, that was my thought too.

Why won't they tell you?


-- 
J B

tpow wrote:

ever been to a recycling
> tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined up...........that man 
> had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one major part 
> that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine to repair 
> and you're on to a winner. 

Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely 
refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people pay 
£200 for a replacement instead.

The two Dysons we have are many, many years old and the only failure has 
been from dropping one down the stairs.

J B wrote:
> "Martin²"  wrote in message 
> news:drWdnZekbtTexN7VnZ2dnUVZ8s7inZ2d@posted.plusnet...
> 
>> IT's YOUR phone, if it is registered to you and you can satisfy them 
>> you are the owner they should tell you.
> 
> Well, that was my thought too.
> 
> Why won't they tell you?
> 
> 

Probably because their script includes "if they want any information, 
give them the data protection act get-out response", as it's the easy 
option.

-- 
PeeGee

The reply address is a spam trap. All mail is reported as spam.
"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the 
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able 
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

In message 1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net,
Iain  Proclaimed from the tallest tower:

> tpow wrote:
>
> ever been to a recycling
>> tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined
>> up...........that man had his head screwed on, designed and build a
>> machine with one major part that lasts just over the year and costs
>> as much as a new machine to repair and you're on to a winner.
>
> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely
> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people
> pay £200 for a replacement instead.
>
> The two Dysons we have are many, many years old and the only failure
> has been from dropping one down the stairs.

I was going to reply in a similar way, but in the end didn't bother. Our 
Dyson has given us several years of trouble free use, and is still going 
strong!

Thanks for the hint about the £50 refurbish though, didn't know that. Will 
investigate, might be  worth knowing if we DO have a problem...


-- 
Regards,
Chris.
(Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)

"Iain"  wrote in message 
news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
> tpow wrote:
>
> ever been to a recycling
>> tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined up...........that 
>> man had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one major 
>> part that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine to 
>> repair and you're on to a winner.
>
> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely 
> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people pay 
> £200 for a replacement instead.
>
> The two Dysons we have are many, many years old and the only failure has 
> been from dropping one down the stairs.

I can only comment on this with regard from my own personal experience. We 
had a Dyson and it had problem after problem. Dyson themselves were unable 
to provide replacement parts (can't remember what they were now) and after 
three weeks of waiting for parts, Dyson sent us a cheque for the original 
cost of the unit and told us they had written our unit off.

We bought a SEBO - faultless in 7 years. In defence of Dyson, I suspect 
things might have improved now

"Iain"  wrote in message 
news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
> tpow wrote:
>
> ever been to a recycling
>> tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined up...........that 
>> man had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one major 
>> part that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine to 
>> repair and you're on to a winner.
>
> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely 
> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people pay 
> £200 for a replacement instead.
>
> The two Dysons we have are many, many years old and the only failure has 
> been from dropping one down the stairs.

we looked after our neighbours house for a week and used their 
Dyson.........for about 2 minutes then returned home for our 
Hoover...........

Dyson are not ergonomically designed for easy use.

"tpow"  wrote in message 
news:SradnYw-4JCk29nVnZ2dnUVZ8tninZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Iain"  wrote in message 
> news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
>> tpow wrote:
>>
>> ever been to a recycling
>>> tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined up...........that 
>>> man had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one major 
>>> part that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine to 
>>> repair and you're on to a winner.
>>
>> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely 
>> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people pay 
>> £200 for a replacement instead.
>>
>> The two Dysons we have are many, many years old and the only failure has 
>> been from dropping one down the stairs.
>
> we looked after our neighbours house for a week and used their 
> Dyson.........for about 2 minutes then returned home for our 
> Hoover...........
>
> Dyson are not ergonomically designed for easy use.
>

forgot to add, 12 year old Hoover with no £50 repairs in 
sight...........only new bags.

"Iain"  wrote in message
news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
> tpow wrote:
>
> ever been to a recycling
> > tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined
up...........that man
> > had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one
major part
> > that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine
to repair
> > and you're on to a winner.
>
> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely
> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people
pay
> £200 for a replacement instead.

Plus people are daft enough to believe they have no comeback if a
product fails after 13 months, just because it has a 12 month
guarantee.

If a product can reasonably be expected to last a few years, and it
fails well before that but after the guarantee period, you are
entitled to demand the retailer repair it/provide compensation.

--
Andy

"Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message 
news:6aj2sdF378bcuU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Iain"  wrote in message
> news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
>> tpow wrote:
>>
>> ever been to a recycling
>> > tip and looked at the Dysons (upright Hoovers) lined
> up...........that man
>> > had his head screwed on, designed and build a machine with one
> major part
>> > that lasts just over the year and costs as much as a new machine
> to repair
>> > and you're on to a winner.
>>
>> Excellent example of how stupid people are. Dyson will completely
>> refurbish your Dyson vacuum cleaner onsite for only £50 - yet people
> pay
>> £200 for a replacement instead.
>
> Plus people are daft enough to believe they have no comeback if a
> product fails after 13 months, just because it has a 12 month
> guarantee.
>
> If a product can reasonably be expected to last a few years, and it
> fails well before that but after the guarantee period, you are
> entitled to demand the retailer repair it/provide compensation.
>
> --
> Andy
>
>

WRONG..............

"tpow"  wrote in message
news:7fmdndK-IsaRytnVnZ2dnUVZ8vednZ2d@bt.com...
> > Plus people are daft enough to believe they have no comeback if a
> > product fails after 13 months, just because it has a 12 month
> > guarantee.
> >
> > If a product can reasonably be expected to last a few years, and
it
> > fails well before that but after the guarantee period, you are
> > entitled to demand the retailer repair it/provide compensation.
> >
> >
> >
>
> WRONG..............

Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.

--
Andy

"Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message 
news:6aj6ihF382jirU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "tpow"  wrote in message
> news:7fmdndK-IsaRytnVnZ2dnUVZ8vednZ2d@bt.com...
>> > Plus people are daft enough to believe they have no comeback if a
>> > product fails after 13 months, just because it has a 12 month
>> > guarantee.
>> >
>> > If a product can reasonably be expected to last a few years, and
> it
>> > fails well before that but after the guarantee period, you are
>> > entitled to demand the retailer repair it/provide compensation.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>> WRONG..............
>
> Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.
>
> --
> Andy
>
>
>

no need WRONG.............

Lobster  wrote:

> My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco PAYG
> SIM in it.
> 
> We don't know whether it has been nicked/lost and found by someone, or
> whether he's just misplaced it, which has an influence on how we proceed
> (we've previously had a lost mobile turn up after as much as several 
> months!).  Currently he's using the family 'spare' mobile and can 
> continue with that indefinitely as far as I'm concerned; however if we
> knew that the original phone was gone for good I'd get it blocked, and
> have a replacement SIM issued (presumably the credit on the old one 
> would transfer?)
> 
> So, in an ideal world I'd ring up Tesco and ask them if any calls had
> been made from XYZ phone in the last fortnight, whether using his SIM
> card or otherwise; however of course they won't tell me for data 
> protection reasons.   Is there any way I can find out, or has anyone got
> any clever tips?
> 
> If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to
> voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone 
> switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)


Tesco can tell the registered owner whether the sim and/or phone has
been used. (They gave me that information when I lost a phone in Germany
a few months ago.)

However, they're not psychic, so the only way to find out whether or not
the phone has been misplaced, lost or stolen (as the phone can continue
to be used in any of those scenarios) is to ask your son.

-- 
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate -www.davidhorne.net 
(email address on website) "If people think God is interesting, the 
onus is on them to show that there is anything there to talk about. 
Otherwise they should just shut up about it."  -Richard Dawkins

"tpow"  wrote in message
news:3KSdneOijaFAT9nVRVnyvQA@bt.com...
> > "tpow"  wrote in message
> > news:7fmdndK-IsaRytnVnZ2dnUVZ8vednZ2d@bt.com...
> >> > Plus people are daft enough to believe they have no comeback if
a
> >> > product fails after 13 months, just because it has a 12 month
> >> > guarantee.
> >> >
> >> > If a product can reasonably be expected to last a few years,
and
> > it
> >> > fails well before that but after the guarantee period, you are
> >> > entitled to demand the retailer repair it/provide compensation.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> WRONG..............
> >
> > Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.
> >
> > --
> > Andy
> >
> >
> >
>
> no need WRONG.............

Live in ignorance then. Personally I'll carry on insisting on my
statutory rights and getting refunds/compensation when things fail
after the end of the guarantee period. Hint - do you know why why
guarantee wordings usually state "this does not affect your statutory
rights"? Duh....

--
Andy

On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:40:35 +0100, Lobster
 wrote:

>My 12-year-old lost his mobile a couple of weeks ago - had a Tesco PAYG 
>SIM in it.
>
>We don't know whether it has been nicked/lost and found by someone, or 
>whether he's just misplaced it, which has an influence on how we proceed 
>(we've previously had a lost mobile turn up after as much as several 
>months!).  Currently he's using the family 'spare' mobile and can 
>continue with that indefinitely as far as I'm concerned; however if we 
>knew that the original phone was gone for good I'd get it blocked, and 
>have a replacement SIM issued (presumably the credit on the old one 
>would transfer?)
>
>So, in an ideal world I'd ring up Tesco and ask them if any calls had 
>been made from XYZ phone in the last fortnight, whether using his SIM 
>card or otherwise; however of course they won't tell me for data 
>protection reasons.   Is there any way I can find out, or has anyone got 
>any clever tips?
>
>If I phone the number, it tells me it's unavailable and diverts me to 
>voicemail (which is what I'd expect if the SIMs either in the phone 
>switched off, or has been pulled and is no longer being used.)
>
>Thanks
>David

I assume that you are wondering if the phone is being used with
your/your son's sim card still in place. I would suggest that your
first option is to ring it. The curent user may answer or you may hear
it ringing froom down the back of the sofa/underneath bed/in school
bag - either way you will have your answer. It may not ring at all,
that would indicate it is down the back of the sofa/underneath bed/in
school bag but with a flat battery or someone else has it and has
changed the sim card.

Take a look at WH Smith - they have a Nokia 1600 on sale for less than
15 quid - currently out of stock on-line, but stores may have one:

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Nokia+1600+Black+mobile+phone-33047331.html

Similiarly for Tesco

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-3677.aspx

-- 
Cheers

Peter

tpow wrote:

>> Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.
>>
>> --
>> Andy
>>
>>
>>
> 
> no need WRONG............. 

He isn't, you know. You're wrong.

"tpow"  wrote in message 
news:xoWdnX8Sg4mF1NnVnZ2dnUVZ8sKlnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "tpow"  wrote in message 
> news:SradnYw-4JCk29nVnZ2dnUVZ8tninZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Iain"  wrote in message 
>> news:1212396946.12016.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
>>> tpow wrote:
<snip>
>> Dyson are not ergonomically designed for easy use.
>
> forgot to add, 12 year old Hoover with no £50 repairs in 
> sight...........only new bags.
>
Yes Dysons were invented to make you appreciated
vacuum cleaners with bags, and go back to them.

Steve Terry

"petert"  wrote in message 
news:2m2a445g96l9d4q7g0719pm54kc17jnq6s@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:40:35 +0100, Lobster
>  wrote:
<snip>
> Take a look at WH Smith - they have a Nokia 1600 on sale for less than
> 15 quid - currently out of stock on-line, but stores may have one:
>
> http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Nokia+1600+Black+mobile+phone-33047331.html
>
Handy, as Nokia 1600 are easy to unlock for free
>
> Similiarly for Tesco
> http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-3677.aspx
>
The F3 is tat avoid it
>
> Cheers
> Peter
>
You'll be lucky to get them now, but CPW will do you an unlocked
Nokia 2310 on a choice of networks, (Virgin being the cheapest)
for around 18quid upwards.

Steve Terry

In message <g23s5t$r6j$1@news.albasani.net>
          "Steve Terry"  wrote:

> Yes Dysons were invented to make you appreciated
> vacuum cleaners with bags, and go back to them.

Funny you should say that... My son has a Dyson, we have a Miele
that uses bags.  The Miele sucks up dust *far* better than the
Dyson.  The bags seem to last for ages too.

Dave

"Dave Higton"  wrote in message 
news:2441cba94f.davehigton@dsl.pipex.com...
> In message <g23s5t$r6j$1@news.albasani.net>
>          "Steve Terry"  wrote:
>
>> Yes Dysons were invented to make you appreciated
>> vacuum cleaners with bags, and go back to them.
>
> Funny you should say that... My son has a Dyson, we have a Miele
> that uses bags.  The Miele sucks up dust *far* better than the
> Dyson.  The bags seem to last for ages too.
> Dave
>
I went back to a good quality Panasonic upright, bags at Tescos.
Problem solved

Steve Terry

"Iain"  wrote in message 
news:1212509342.11020.0@proxy01.news.clara.net...
> tpow wrote:
>
>>> Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Andy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> no need WRONG.............
>
> He isn't, you know. You're wrong.
>

wrong.........12 months max EU ruling as of may 2008

"tpow"  wrote in message
news:wqWdndgOArNUi9XVnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> >>> Try looking up the Sale of Goods Act.
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Andy
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> no need WRONG.............
> >
> > He isn't, you know. You're wrong.
> >
>
> wrong.........12 months max EU ruling as of may 2008

Yeah, right... Where's the press release then?

Hint, press releases from the EU on consumer issues are indexed here:

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/press_rel/press_rel_cons_consumers.cfm

Come on, this'll be good. Or can't your little ego let you admit
you're wrong and allow you to move on?

--
Andy