U.S. Cellular Provides Tips On What To Do When You’ve
Lost or Found a Cell Phone
MILWAUKEE, Wis., July 20, 2005 – According to U.S. Cellular, summertime is a peak period during which cell phones are lost. This happens mostly because people are making big changes in their daily routines; they are attending summer festivals, weddings, class reunions, baseball games, family picnics, vacationing, and they are forgetting where they may have left their phone. While approximately 20 percent of U.S. Cellular’s customers carry cell phone insurance, the summer is one of the busiest times for filing claims on them. But amazingly, the company reports, most lost cell phones are returned by Good Samaritans.
“We get hundreds of stories this time of year from people who’ve lost or broken their phones,” said Lou Brazzoni, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin. “Cell phones are so common that people almost feel they can’t function without them. And when people lose them, they’ll try anything to get them back.”
Some people have an action plan in case their phone is lost, such as scrawling a note on the phone that says, “If lost, call this-or-that number.” Some have insurance and know the steps to deactivate their phones. But the majority of cell phones are lost by people who have no idea how to get them back, and are at the mercy of an honest bystander – and whatever juice is left in their phone’s battery.
“That shocking, sinking feeling sets in when you reach for your phone and it isn’t there,” Brazzoni said. “A lot of people forget to retrace their steps to where the phone was used last. That sometimes helps, but if they don’t do that, they need to act quickly.”
Brazzoni suggests simply calling your cell phone. “It’s amazing how few people think of this,” he said. “But you have to act quickly in case your battery is low. For instance, someone in a Starbuck’s will hear the phone ringing, maybe under a chair or something, and will pick it up and answer it.”
If that doesn’t work, customers should call their service providers to report the loss in case the cell phone is being misused. Charges can add up quickly if the phone falls into the wrong hands. Warning the cell phone company protects the customer from unauthorized charges and puts the phone replacement process in motion.
For everyone who loses a cell phone, there is usually one who finds it. And most of them don’t know what to do with it. “Most people are very honest, but if they’re not familiar with the model, they won’t try to call one of the numbers programmed into the phone,” Brazzoni said. “If they do, it’s best to call a name like ‘Mom,’ or anyone listed by their first name. Some customers even program a number into their contact list with the name, “IF FOUND,” containing a home, office or spouse’s cell phone number.
“If someone answers, tell them you found a cell phone and make arrangements to have it picked up,” Brazzoni said. “Remember, there may not be much life left in that battery.”
When a cell phone is found with a dead battery, look for the name of the service provider. “You can leave any cell phone at a store that sells the phone’s service,” said Brazzoni. “If you find a U.S. Cellular phone, for example, take it to a U.S. Cellular store. They will recharge the battery and contact the customer for you.”
Of course, some phones are never recovered. “Those are the ones that get left on the roof of the car or fall out of a pocket in the woods, and are never seen again,” Brazzoni said.
One of the most frustrating issues when a cell phone is lost is losing the phone book programmed onto that phone. Most service providers offer services to back up their customers’ phone books, including retrieval over the Internet or through the service provider’s network.
Because new cell phones can cost more than $300, a lost handset can present a substantial replacement cost. Most wireless service providers offer insurance plans for about $5.00 a month that will replace a phone that is lost, stolen or damaged. Policyholders can file a claim with the company’s customer service department and get their replacement phone in about a week. “We have customers who’ve lost three or four phones before they decided to get insurance,” said Brazzoni.
“Anyone who has suffered without a cell phone never wants to feel that way again,” Brazzoni said. “Taking time to think about what you can do to protect your phone or what you would do if you found a lost phone, can spare you the stress.”
Chicago-based U.S. Cellular Corporation (AMEX: USM) is a super-regional wireless company, serving more than 5.1 million customers in 148 markets in 25 states. With 2004 service revenues of $2.64 billion, U.S. Cellular maintains one of the industry’s highest levels of customer satisfaction by emphasizing customer support, quality network coverage and a comprehensive range of wireless products and services. The company is an active corporate citizen through charitable contributions, award-winning community relations programs and associate volunteer activities. For more information, visit www.uscellular.com.
