replacing lost phone?

[cjackearl]

I've been a tmobile customer for 7 months and last weekend lost my phone. According to a tmobile rep, a replacement similar to the one I had (full keyboard, web accessable but not a smart phone) will cost me between $150-$200 to replace!! There's got to be a cheaper way. Any ideas?

 

[Jaime4004]

I've been a tmobile customer for 7 months and last weekend lost my phone. According to a tmobile rep, a replacement similar to the one I had (full keyboard, web accessable but not a smart phone) will cost me between $150-$200 to replace!! There's got to be a cheaper way. Any ideas?

Ask around and see if anyone you know has an old phone that you could borrow for a while. Many people have them lying around. That's what I did when mine died and I had a while to go on my contract before I could get a new one and had it covered...

 

[eaj1228]

My brother phone broke on him a while ago. He went on ebay and bought a replacement. It was still pretty pricey but it was way cheaper than going to t-mobile. Craigslist is another option too.

 

[richmo]

A couple of options to look into:

- See if there's any used T-mobile phones on eBay. You could get one, then get it activated.
- I've also heard that you can buy a phone for T-Mobile's prepaid (no contract) service, take out the SIM card, then get it activated.

Even though you're not eligible for an update yet, you might be able to get another phone if you're willing to extend your contract out another two years.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We did the Ebay route when my daughter dropped hers last month and it shattered. Much cheaper than any options thru Verizon. The new one came with a latex case which does help when you drop them.

 

[Leajess99]

I've been a tmobile customer for 7 months and last weekend lost my phone. According to a tmobile rep, a replacement similar to the one I had (full keyboard, web accessable but not a smart phone) will cost me between $150-$200 to replace!! There's got to be a cheaper way. Any ideas?

Do you have insurance on that phone?? The insurance was $5.99 a month but is going up to $7.99 a month due to them adding new service for finding lost phones.

Anyway, if you have the service than the replacement cost would be minimal (only $25 for the phones we have had replaced due to 1 being stolen, 1 falling into the toilet, and 1 being lost).

If you don't have the insurance than maybe check around with friends to see if they have an extra phone they are not using that you could have.

 

[robinb]

I bought my DD a replacement phone on eBay. It had a full keyboard and was less than $30 delivered. I *did* spend a lot of time (10 days I think) watching and bidding on auctions. If you don't have the patience a good phone will cost you more on a BIN.

 

[cjackearl]

Thanks for all of the ideas! I'm going to check out ebay. Unfortunately, we didn't get insurance. I've never lost or broke a phone before so I should have known as soon as I didn't get insurance my phone would go. How do I get a phone from ebay activated by tmobile?

 

[nettekay]

just take out your sim card and put it in the new phone. Your best bet is go to walmart and buy a prepaid it would take less time and be cheaper

edit sorry just saw that you lost your phone. you can get a replacement sim card from t-mobile if you get the right person you may be able to get it for free

 

[SandrA9810]

I've gone the prepaid phone route before. If you do, you automatically get a new sim card in the phone. Just call them up and tell them the new sim card number and they'll activate your line to it.

Many phones these days have data back ups where it saves to your account online, or you can connect your phone to the computer and do a backup. This way all of your contacts, messages, and settings can be saved and restored.
My ex got a new phone once, and kept it backed up on the computer. Which came in handy a couple months later when it needed to be fully restored because something got corrupted.


Ohh and make sure you check every little nook and cranny, my aunt lost her phone under the seat of her car once. She thought for sure it was stolen, because she searched the car top to bottom. A few months later when she had the car detailed, they found it for her.