How To NOT Lose Your Cell Phone
Ranked #692 in Computers & Electronics, #10,020 overall
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Cell Phone Gone?
Photo Credit: Stock.xchg / CC
"Honey, sweetie-pie," I typed, sending my husband a gooey instant message while he was at work. "Sorry to bother you, but could you call my cell?"
I didn't have to explain why; we'd been through this umpteen times before. Last time he'd called my cell phone for me, it rang ... in my back pocket. Yes, I am a doofus.
But, aw, come on, you know you've done it. Maybe your cell phone wasn't "lost" in your back pocket, but if you're a normal human being with a mobile phone you just can't live without, you must have misplaced it at least a time or two.
If so, you know the feeling -- that moment of panic when the cell phone is not right where it's supposed to be ... which may be any of seventeen places. Then, when you recover your breath, you break out in a cold sweat. You panic and start rummaging through your underwear drawer, through the laundry basket, the freezer. Your house is a wreck, and then you gasp: *Gasp!* You used your cell phone on the city bus! Or was it in Wal-Mart? At the dentist's office?
I've been one of the lucky ones, though, always finding my missing cell phone within an hour or two and usually in ridiculous places (even once in my sock ... that I was wearing at the time), but my mother wasn't so lucky. She must have dropped it at the Senior Center one day, never to be found again. So I got her a lanyard (her choice of accessory) to wear the phone around her neck. Then, once we'd gotten her a new phone and I reprogrammed all of the numbers we could remember and those I could easily look up, I decided to put together this page to offer some suggestions to the rest of the wireless phone-addicted world.
The following are some tips, stories, funnies and handy cell phone accessories
Ever Lost Your Cell Phone?
Fess up!
If Your Cell Phone Was Lost But Found
Where'd you find it?
Other people's goofs listed here might help you find your own missing cell phone.
Uh ... in my hand
It's okay, there must be some reasonable explanati more...3 points
In the fridge!
Luckily I had my iPhone skin on to keep it warm! : more...2 points
A dude found it on the road
I left my phone on my truck tool box and drove awa more...1 point
With the Lost Sock
Yip it must be in the same "place in the sky& more...0 points
Top 10 Worst Places To Lose Your Cell Phone:
From www.CellPhones.ca
#10: Your Mother In-Law's House
"Yeah, it sucks that you have to go back there and endure another long conversation about when you are going to give her those grandchildren...."
Read more here
What To Do If You DO Lose Your Cell Phone
Several steps to take to try to secure and, hopefuly, find it....
1. First things first: THINK. Where did you have your cell phone last? If it was in your house and you haven't left, well, nothing to worry about, unless maybe your dog looks like he has indigestion or your toddler just flushed the toilet. Otherwise, take a deep breath and look around. Better yet, if you think the phone was on, call it from your house phone or have someone call your cell so you can follow that ring tone or happy little song to the source.
Don't have a house phone? Not at home and don't have access to a phone but you do have a computer? Then try this: Go to Where's My Cell Phone? .com a free service by iGoogle. Simply enter your lost phone number and listen for it to ring. Cool!
2. If that doesn't work, well, then you should call your cell phone company, so some less-than-ethical doobie doesn't run up your bill calling all his (or her) buddies all over the globe. Let your provider know you can't find your phone, but tell them not to cancel your service just yet. Have them deactivate your phone while you continue your search.
Here are the phone numbers of some common wireless providers:
- AT&T: (800) 331-0500
- Verizon Wireless: (800) 922-0204
- Sprint Nextel (888) 211-4727
- T-Mobile: (877) 453-1304
3. Now that your phone can't be used, think again. Where have you been since you last saw or used your phone? Call those places or businesses where your phone might be and ask if it's in their lost-and-found or, if you can give them a specific location where you sat or shopped, perhaps a nice employee or manager might take a look for you.
4. If your phone still hasn't turned up, call your provider back and ask if there is any way, pretty please, that you can get a free replacement. Or perhaps you have insurance that will cover at least part of the new phone. If not, don't sink a lot of money in a new phone, because your old beloved cell might still turn up somewhere (like in that black hole you call a purse perhaps).
5. If you didn't have it before, now's a good time to sign up for insurance on your phone. My experience with Verizon is that it costs $5 per month, and that insurance will cover the cost of a replacement phone if yours is lost or damaged.
The photo above is in the public domain.
Can You Imagine?
You're away on vacation, oblivious to the fact that your cell phone back home has been stolen, and the thief has run up a $26,000 bill!
This really did happen to Wendy Nguyen. Read the story and learn the outcome in:
Customers Pay For Lost Cell Calls
In Related Cell Phone News....
Some useful and interesting cell phone-related links
- Don't Lose That Number (Or Phone)
- An article from the Minnesota Fantasy Legislature Commissioner's Blog, including tales of lost cell phones and proposed legislation to protect customers.
- TrackItBack
- A lost and found recovery service. I have no personal experience with this service, but it may be something to consider. The company claims to have returned over 85% of their customers' lost mobile devices, keys, luggage, and more, and that they usually get them back to their rightful owners within 24 hours.
- "Find My Cell Phone" ideas on WhyNot.net
- Some creative suggestions from cell phone users, including this one: "I'd like to be able to log into my Verizon account online and enter a password. Then my phone will automatically ring (possibly gradually getting louder) until I can find it. It would be great for when my phone falls behind my bed or I leave it in my pants pocket. The website would override my phone setting if it is set to silent ring or vibrate."
- Mobile Commuting: If You Lose Your Cell Phone
- On a Saturday night in a crowded restaurant bar, James Martin's cell phone disappeared. "The events that followed were sometimes surprising, sometimes frustrating, and ultimately satisfying. Here's an account of what happened, with lessons learned to help you avoid a similar ordeal..."
Just In Case....
Read Lost Cell Phone? Your Carrier Has Your Backup from The Wall Street Journal's "The Mossberg Solution."
Tips For Keeping Track Of Your Cell Phone
From www.ArticlesBase.com
- Keep your car keys next to your phone as it's charging.
- Place your purse or wallet next to the phone and charger.
Read more here
Ways To Keep Your Cell Phone Attached
To you, that is....
The following are some handy cell phone accessories -- cases, arm and wrist bands, and lanyards -- for keeping your phone from wandering off.Many of these products are also handy for attaching other gadgets -- like iPods, MP3 players and digital cameras -- to your personal person.
Genuine Leather Cell Phone and Tool Holder
CLC Custom LeatherCraft 5-Pocket Cell Phone/Tool Holder - 1105
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
Usually ships in 2-3 business days
Other Similar Cell Phone Accessories
for encasing and protecting your phone
Red Cellet Neoprene Armband Case
for cell phones, iPODS, & MP3 players
Cellet 265080 10-Inch Neo Armband for Most Smart Phones - 1 Pack - Case - Retail Packaging - Black
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
This case is compatible with lots of different phones.
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Other Similar Cell Phone Accessories
for keeping track of your phone while you run, hike or walk your dog
Cell Phone Lanyard
Comfortable and convenient
BLACK Detachable Neckstrap/Lanyard. For Cell 'Phones/MP3/USB Flash Drives etc. SOLD INDIVIDUALLY
Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 05/29/2012)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Other Similar Cell Phone Accessories
for keeping your cell phone hanging around
Where Do You Keep Your Cell Phone?
Comments are welcome.
**You don't have to be a member of Squidoo to leave a message.**
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MindPowerProofs
Apr 2, 2012 @ 6:32 am | delete
- In my pocket otherwise I can't hear it
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top_10
Mar 10, 2012 @ 4:16 pm | delete
- Haha I enjoyed this lens. I'm always losing my cell phone and it drives my friends crazy.
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tembrooke Feb 4, 2012 @ 1:58 pm | delete
- I usually keep my phone in my purse. My Mom is terrible about misplacing her phone inside the house or car! We tried the lanyard but she said it irritated her neck, so we just call the phone to locate it. :-)
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jeremykim2011
Feb 2, 2012 @ 12:42 am | delete
- I keep my cellphone usually in my pocket.
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gosssysas
Jan 15, 2012 @ 4:36 am | delete
- nice lens actually i found my cell phone
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A hiking writer (who turns her cell phone off when it's in her backpack)
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