Have you ever lost a pricey mobile phone? How difficult was it to claim insurance on such an electronic gadget? Did you get the First Investigation Report (FIR) from police without much hassle? Here is a guest post by Sanjay, my colleague. He narrates the story of his lost N97 mobile and a series of Monday morning blues which continued to haunt him for rest of the day… or probably for rest of the week!
Very much inline with the Monday mornings, I woke up a bit late and managed to reach bike servicing centre as it was due. Folks out there said it will take 2 days for servicing. After leaving my bike there for service, came to BMTC bus stop at Koromangala Canara Bank. I had my backpack one side and in the other hand I was carrying a helmet. As I waited for the bus, especially for the Volvo, my hands were full and was not in a position to stand through an ordinary crowded bus. After 10 minutes of wait, I saw route # 201R volvo bus which gave me little relief but not for long! Though I could feel that it was a moderately crowded bus, was in no mood to wait for some more time and hence got into this bus around 10.25 am.
Found a corner place and kept my bag and helmet on top of it. For that too, I had to struggle much in that crowded bus. I think this is the time when someone smartly pick-pocketed my Nokia N97 mobile.
Anyway I couldn’t notice something of this sort happened until the bus reached EGL stop. I took my bag, helmet and as usual as per my habit checked for my mobile in the pocket. Oh my god, I didn’t get any feel of having it in my pocket. I checked my backpack just to be sure in case I may have put in there. I saw my wallet in the bag but not my N97. I immediately checked around in bus where I was standing with the thought that I might have dropped it. Sadly, stars weren’t in my favor and couldn’t find it anywhere.
From that point till I reached the office reception, my mind went through each and every activity of that day many a times to get a clue on whether it was pick-pocketed or I dropped it. Anyways, I decided to call my mobile from reception and found it to be in not reachable mode already. Thus it was sure for now that it is stolen. Realizing the reality, called my brother and explained him the story, asked for suggestion on what to do. At one point I was very sad to lose my mobile where on other side I was happy by myself on buying a mobile with ‘Theft Insurance’ which was by default added with any mobile purchases at ‘Sangeetha mobiles’. I then contacted insurance office and asked if pickpocket is covered and got a YES, I was so happy to hear that it is covered. Then asked the process to claim and they said they want some form to download from Sangeetha mobiles website which has few forms to be printed, fill them up and submit to insurance office. Other than this we had to get an FIR from Police, mobile bill, id proof and acknowledgement from network provider mentioning that the number is blocked within 24 hours from the incident.
It was already 1 pm in the afternoon and had to finish all the documentation work and most importantly to get an FIR. Phew… don’t want to talk about the story of getting an FIR, I get so tense about the whole process. Since pick-pocketing would have happened near ‘sony world junction in Koramangala’, my brother suggested to go to Koramangala police station. I went there and talked to our law protectors there and told the whole story including an explanation to all their silly doubts. It took atleast 15 min to explain them the situation and finally they said that since the mobile theft was realized at EGL bus stop, needs to be handled by HAL police station which comes under HAL police station limits and hence told me to go there. This was just a starter to get pissed off.
Without much options, I had no choice than going to HAL police station and spent the same amount of time to explain the story to another bunch of new police folks. OMG! After story is narrated, they asked to go to Airport police station as EGL comes under its limits. Again got pissed off and started searching for Airport Police station, it took more than 45 mins to find this police station in rain, as it was in small place near old airport but very inside and unreachable location. Finally this police station was the last station to visit to get an FIR but there was no end to my frustration yet as they rejected to file FIR for a case of mobile pick-pocketing. But after they came to know about the price of N97, they were willing to register an FIR with some twist and you can guess what it was.
Wrote the whole story in an application with the subject as ‘Filing FIR’, which they immediately rejected and told me to write a new one removing FIR word. I wrote another application without FIR and wrote ‘Stolen’ word as I had to prove that Mobile was stolen for Insurance purpose. They rejected this one too suggesting to remove the word ‘stolen’ and include ‘missing’ instead. Phew… I was totally pissed off! I told him that I have to file for insurance and how can I write missing? But they had their evil grin before assuring me not to worry and will get insurance as this kind of cases come very frequent. Anyway I gave them the application and got an FIR. Time was already 5pm by them. Came back office, collected my bag and went to Vodafone care center for collecting new SIM and old SIM blocked acknowledgement. I called up the Insurance guys at Sangeetha and asked them if i can come to submit the document, but they said office time is only from 10 AM to 3 PM and it was not possible on that day. That bought curtains to a special ‘monday’
Here is a bit of information I missed to mention earlier. According to Insurance company if theft is claimed within one month to 6 month of purchase date, company will reimburse 75% of amount otherwise 50 % of it. The good new was I had lost my mobile on the 171th day of purchase i.e., well within 6th month of purchase.
savrav says
My request to all the people who lost their phones is “JUST FORGET IT, NO USE OF BANGALORE POLICE”.
when u buy an expensive phone just try to get an insurance for that…since i ordered my iphone via amazon, i didn’t take any extra insurance for it… so i lost 55000.
Bangalore police is bullshit, i have lost my iphone 7 which i have bought it for 55000/Rs & used it for only 3 months. i went to the police station to file an FIR, they referred some App from google store to register complaint. i have registered the complaint by logging in all my personal & phone details, but we cannot call that as an FIR. i have been checking status daily, around 20-25 days i think my complaint was removed from app….that’s it. i have concluded that i cannot get it back & stopped think of it after one month.
How the thefts stolen my phone:
i was travelling from marenahalli petrol bunk to BTM layout. i get into to bus at marenahalli the bus was normally crowded , at ragigudda the bus was over crowded. i was sitting on seat just near to the door. actually i wont keep my phone in silent. suddenly my friend called me & my phone has been ringing. i think all the people on earth knows the iphone RINGTONE. after hearing the ringtone the bloody thefts got alerted. i was about get to get down at udipi garden bus top, so i stood before the bus stop came & moving towards the door steps. one guy from front stopping me to move forward by catching the rod & other guy is from back coming closer to shoulder by eating gutka, this guy is trying to disturb my concentration, as my hands was with phone in the pockets. the guy from behind continuously trying to come near me with gutka smell, so i removed my hands from pockets & trying to push the guy back from me. THIS IS THE MOMENT HE MADE USE OF IT AND STOLEN MY PHONE. i didn’t notice immediately, the guy behind stolen the phone & gaven it to 3rd guy who is behind him & 3rd guy has already left the bus. after 30 second i noticed there is no phone in my pocket. i checked all the bags of guy who stood back, there is no phone. at starting one guy stopped me to forward is giving his phone to call my no. , i didn’t called & get down the bus….later after getting down the bus , i noticed that the guy who is trying to help me by giving his phone to make a call is ALSO THE GUY belongs to theft batch. there are totally 4 members batch i have realized surrounded me & they are highly professionals.
suggestions to the people who travel in bangalore:
please try to travel via private travels as much as you can or try to avoid to travel in crowded bused even if it is metro buses or metro trains also…
Mahesh B says
yesterday 29/10/2016 some body stolen my mobile redmi 2 in bus which is comeing from shivaginagar to penya 2 stage time is 6.30 the bus vehicle number ka50f161. please search my mobile
harsh joysar says
I lost my pone in train kurla station I live in newbombay I went to vashi police station register for but he toled me went kurla police station .I went kurla police station then toled me vadala police station I went to their he toled me.vashi police station.please tell me what can I do law is help public’s why trouble to public
Kuljeet says
Hi..i lost my phone a month ago and i have successfully launched an FIR and gave it to insurance company. Now insurance company is asking for “NO TRACEABLE” to b issued from Police station. So now Police is saying we have kept the phone to trace and report can only be issued after police confirms end trace. Wt shd i do nw? as he said the time period for this process cannot b determined ..it can go on and on. I think he want bribe bt can anyone tell if there is any time limit to trace ph or any action can be taken if police is not doing its duty? plz help
Rajesh Jain says
Hii this is Rajesh here,
My problem is that my mobile was stolen on 12th of September 2014 and i buy that mobile on 9th of June 2014. I took a insurance also for that. I went at railway police . Because my mobile was pick pocketed from train. but police man didn’t gave me an FIR . They given me a letter in that they mentioned my mobile’s imei number, when i was thefts my mobile.but tthey didn’t mention that my mobile was stolen. I submitted all these documents to insurance company. But they rejected my claim . Because they want FIR ONLY. so what i have to do. Please help me out.
I was having Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo. I bought that from E-Zone Kalyan, Maharashtra. for Rs.28990 on installment . And taken insurance for Rs.4630 from tec protec.
Please help me.
My loss is Rs.33620 .
i am staying at Budlapur, Dist.Thane, Maharashtra.
Mohan says
Rajesh – as mentioned here, it is a known practice all over india that Police will never give you an FIR for mobile theft. Even if they give, it will be registered as Lost or Missing.
Saikumar says
hi guys i lost my samsung galaxy core mobile and i went to police station to give complaint on it and i mentioned that my mobile has been theft but the writer in police staion said that we vll not give u certificate that it has been theft he said that vl give nly hat phone has been “Lost ” by this do i get insurance plzzzz can any 1 respond on this topic
Siva Naga says
Most of the public buses in Bangalore have hydraulic doors. The hydraulic system is not Closed Why I have a Doubt From Btm Water Tank to East End.There were 4 guys who were blocking my way from going inside the bus. I requested one guy to give me some way, but he refused. I tried pushing him, but he didn’t move.After I Get Down at Jayanar 9 th Block East End bus stop Just 8 Minutes i am in inside the bus.once i get down i checked my pockets then i came to know i lost my Mobile Phone Moto E After Immediately I tried to Catch the bus but the Bus left in a Fraction of Seconds. Then i called to my no Switch OFF. Kindly Take Some Action Against to Pick Pocketers, Save the People. Not only Me Who are Traveling in that Route Most of the People Suffered about these thing. I have one Doubt that Conductor and Driver Also Tie Up with Pickpocters why because they didn’t Close Hydralic Bus Doors once they theft mobile they can get down at running bus also. Take Strick Action About these Things. Save BAngalore as well as Save India
Mohit Singh says
I lost my xperia C and police did’t file the FIR what i do.
Mohan says
Since you seem to have reported as ‘LOST’, it is highly unlikely that you get an FIR. If you had reported it as ‘STOLEN’ or ‘THEFT’, you would have probably got the FIR.
kiran says
hii sir i lost my xperia z mobile within 30days of purchase and applied for insurance.its stated that insurance claim is 75%within 180 days.so will i be getting exact 75% or less than that??pls provide me the info. about that.
thank u…
Sabareesh says
I have brought a Samsung Galaxy Grand from sangeetha and lost my mobile with in 20 days from purchase. I am happy that atleast I got my Insurance money back.
I am writing this comment bcoz this blog help me to get an idea on what needs to be done. Please ensure the below things.
1. Keep Original bills and the box with you.
2. File an FIR with in 2 days from when you lost the phone.
3. Even if the police guy asserts you to lordge the complaint as “loss of Mobile”, Insist him to be lordge it as THEFT case.
4. Block the SIM and get the confirmation.
Be calm and dont loss hope, if all is done promptly from our side there are less chances that we may get fooled. “Patience pays its price”
habeeb says
i lost my mobile sony Ericsson w8 on last week i have bill of Sangeetha shop where i purchased but i m not getting the way how to claim my mobile insurance please can u help me out
Navz says
What is the twist? Is pick pocket covered? Do they categorise it as simple theft?
nandini says
i lost my mobile nokia x3-02 on last week i have bill of Sangeetha shop where i purchased but i m not getting the way how to claim my mobile insurance please can u help me out…
Amit Gupta says
Dear Friend,
In my case i have lost my Nokia N97 today. It was pick pocketed when i was entering into a mutiplex.
I have not submitted complaint at the Police station , pls suggest me what should i do.
I have not insured my phone. Is there any way to block the mobile using IMEI number? Is there any way to track the mobile phone location?
Balachander RK says
Sir,as similar to your case i have lost my SONY ERICSSON G900(Rs 13000) three days before. It was pick pocketed when i was traveling in a bus.
I have submitted a complaint at the near by Police station,but they refused to issue a FIR. I have given my phone details along with IMEI Number to the police station. But they are not caring too much on this issue.
I have not insured my phone. Is there any way to block the mobile using IMEI number? Is there any way to track the mobile phone location?
Mohan says
It should be possible. Please contact the mobile service provider.
Balachander RK says
First of all Thank u for ur quick response sir. When my mobile was stolen i immediately contacted my service provider(Airtel) and blocked my sim card. Now i have got the duplicate sim with the same number. My doubt is whether we shall get the mobile phone location only with the IMEI number. Since i have blocked the sim and got the duplicate sim we cannot use this for tracing the location.
So now i m in a situation that i can trace him only with the mobile IMEI. Is this possible??
Mohan says
Sorry Balachander, I have no clue about it. Do let us know if you get a way to track and manage to disable that set.
Balachander RK says
Thank u very much sir. I ll ping if i m able to get my mobile. I have came to know about theft insurance only after i have lost my mobile through my close friend. The mobile phone showroom’s r not insisting on theft insurance since they r concentrating on lowing down the price. Do familiarize people about THEFT INSURANCE thru various means. I ll also try to propagandize about theft insurance.
Tanvi Srivastava says
Hello sir…this is Tanvi and I’ve found your writings very interesting…let me know as we would like to get in touch with you when we have stories running on our channel regarding civic issues…Our channel’s name is News X channel of INX Network…
Pls provide us with your contact no.
Mohan says
Hi Tanvi, thanks for getting in touch. You can reach out to me via email through the contact page, link is provided to the same at the top of this page.
manisha says
Hats off to you Sanjay…..you will surely win.
We should learn from you , not to give up ..wish I could do something about the lost mac from office desk…wanted to do..but then corporate things are out of my inderstanding …kudos to you 🙂
Ghouse says
Have you got the reimbursement money from insurance company ?
Nishant Singh says
I had to go through similar hassles when I lost an expensive phone (and it wasn’t even mine!). Though I was extremely lucky to not go through any hassles while registering for an FIR! But yes, I wouldn’t wanna go through that again ever!
Nice Post though. Kinda like a suspense story with a second part coming! ha!
Mohan says
I know… everybody can relate this story very well with their own experience!
Viyoma says
That was a great information sharing post!!
Thanks to the author for allowing this Guest post. Theft Insurance, i something very few know abt…and more importantly the mobile stores educates the clients of this option! Kudos to Sangeetha Mobiles
Mohan says
Glad you liked the post Viyoma. Things wont work as per rules in the book yet in india, please await for a follow up post on more details.
Journomuse says
I guess the offer of insurance itself is such a big scam. I wonder if I would be able to persist through all the steps that you did to file an FIR, get all the necessary papers together and claim insurance. I have by now lost 4 mobiles, two of which very pretty heavy hits on my pocket…
Mohan says
Well, it is indeed a scam I would say. The very fact that the police avoid by all means in issuing an FIR while the mobile companies are betting big on such theft policies is no wonder.
Chandana Shekar says
Phew.. I had lost my Nokia N70 too. I had written abt it. It’s here . I share the same feelings aas u do. finding a lost mobile is a task in itself sure!!
Mohan says
Sorry to know about you losing a mobile. Let me head over to read your article.
Pankaj Batra says
Tracking lost mobile and filing FIR is a big issue in india still
Mohan says
Yes it is indeed a big deal!
Maria says
hmm…gud post. and waiting for more details 🙂
Mohan says
Will post it sometime soon… Stay tuned 🙂
Pooja says
Phew!! what a hassle!!
I’ve known people going through the same procedure here too.. It is quite a tiresome experience..
Glad things turned out right in the end..
Mohan says
Not really a good end… there was a twist to the story… more details to follow soon.
sankar says
Oh! good experience… thank god u have insurance u got something back, i lost 2 mobiles in bus i don’t have insurance. So be careful about ur mobile while u r journeying with BMTC Bangalore buses especially (201, 600, 360 Buses)……
Mohan says
Bang on… I have heard more such pick-pocketing stories on the mentioned routes in Bangalore. Readers.. note down the routes if you aren’t aware and be careful.
Sunitha says
Be careful about ur mobile , because those are the most stolen things in present trend than your wallet….especially wen u r using public transport.
Wish u gud luck to get ur insurance soon….
Mohan says
Well, I use a good old sony ericsson k750i, and it is time to move on to a new mobile. 🙂
Shibashish says
Please update us on the rest of the developments too, i.e. how u filed for insurance, the process, how and when you will receive the insurance amount, etc.
Off topic, I find it so silly why the police do not try to track the mobile phone? or why they cant instruct the mobile operators to block the IMEI !?! Blocking the IMEI across mobile operators will make the phone useless and thefts can be controlled (well, we know even IMEI can be changed/cracked).
Tracking the lost phone is easy, any mobile operator can find out who is using that phone, the network, the location etc. The police can easily track the person… but they are not… why why why? Any answers.
Mohan says
Sure, will bring in more details as and when my colleague updates me with his experiences.
Vineeta says
I can understand how heart-burning this thing can be! But glad to know that insurance claims are reality. Thats one reason to buy from a standard dealer because your mobile is covered under insurance. Recently bought HTC legend but not covered under insurance.. touch wood 🙂
Mohan says
There are still a major loopholes in the system which both mobile sellers as well as our ‘law protecting’ police system is riding on… more details to follow.
Prats says
That was an ordeal…. Please do post when you get the claim and hassles in it…. I am really curious about the porcess and time taken by the Insurance companies.
Mohan says
Stay tuned… there will be one more article on the proceedings that brought a twist to the whole story all over again.
Sanjeeta kk says
Hope you get your mobile soon. Informative article.
Mohan says
I wish the same too for my friend!
Himanshu says
Well firstly congrats half heartedly at least you had the insurance cover & will get 75%. It may be equal to the present market value as you purchase 6 months sorry 171 days back. I know next time you will take care of cell more especially while in public transport.
Mohan says
Well, there was a twist to the story on the next day. Will bring out more details on that soon.