Want school to offer a replacement or some money

[craigton0506]

This my first post and need some advice. Two weeks ago my son lost his mobile phone in his school, (The school allows them have phones with them). We live quite far from the school so he needs it in case of emergencies etc. Anyway a member of staff found it and handed it into the office. He was told to come and collect it, but the next day when he went to collect it he was told it had been misplaced. I have phoned several times and have been told they definitely had it but just don't know what has happened to it. It is an iPhone 5c and a relatively new one. I am self employed and cannot afford a new phone for him at the moment. The school has apologised but have offered no further help. Should I insist that they contribute towards a new phone. Thnks

[MuffyTheUmpireSlayer]

Did you take a screen shot when it was showing up on Find my iPhone? It's obviously been stolen so I'd go to the police now.

[MissKatieVictoria]

Sorry i just noticed your post on this page (still getting used to the chat section, i didnt realise the posts on the first page wasn't ALL the posts in the thread, oops!)
Now it has been confirmed as definitely stolen it's a situation of damage limitation and attempt at recovery. Go to the police and report the phone stolen, which will give you a crime reference number. Contact your network provider, alert them to the theft, give them the crime reference number, and ask them to block the phone. Definitely note down the IMEI number of the phone from the box if you still have it. If the thief tries to sell the phone to a shop/trader etc, or if they ditch it because it is blocked and someone hands it in to the police, they should check the IMEI number and will see the phone is stolen. Having the IMEI number yourself will make returning the phone to you much smoother and quicker if it is recovered as it's basically indisputeable evidence it was his phone.
I cannot express enough my hope that you are able to get this phone back, and hopefully also find the culprit who stole it and have them punished. Theft is a despicable crime and anyone that brazen and selfish deserves the punishment.

[MissKatieVictoria]

This is a very unfortunate situation, and it must be horrible for both you and your son, phones are not cheap. I genuinely hope it wasn't on contract as you won't be able to cancel it if the phone doesn't turn up. Sadly, i don't think there is any chance of you getting the school to reimburse you any money. I notice in my local gym and in carparks big signs plastered about how any property left on the premises is at your own risk and they aren't liable to pay for damage or loss. I would imagine a phone left on the premises, even if handed in to lost property/the office, would still fall under this.
Hopefully the phone has simply been moved by someone with access to the office and it will turn up. There is the other possibility though, that a cleaner, pupil, or even a staff member, may have stolen it after it was handed in.
By any chance did you write down the IMEI number from the phone, or still have the box it came in which should have this written on it? You could use that information to prove the handset belongs to your son if it is found some time later and disputed who it belongs to, or to report it stolen and have it "bricked" which basically makes it a very expensive paperweight and useless to whomever stole it if it turns out to be stolen.

[Hockeydude]

Yes it's theft now it it's 30 mins drive from the school.

In your position, I'd buy a cheapy until you/someone else's phone becomes available for an upgrade. Then he can have a decent phone again and hopefully learn not to lose it.

Although the school clearly has a theft issue (someone who had access to that office nicked it, presumably it's locked to prevent student entry when unoccupied?) I still wouldn't expect the money from them. Someone has nicked it, not the school. The poor school have employed a thief in some capacity.

[RaisingSteam]

Was it named? You can get discreet little labels from easytoname. I got a load printed with surname and phone number and have had all sorts of things returned. Obviously no defence against theft but 90% of the time it's absentmindedness.

[kilmuir]

Tricky. Was handed in and then went missing again, so lost by THEM

[ENormaSnob]

Bit on the fence tbh.

If i find a phone and then hand it in, am I then liable until its collected? 'Cos best not to find anything if so.

Amd dont schools have a "not our responsibilty" clause for expensive items?

[Beeziekn33ze]

Is it claimable on your insurance policy?

[Beeziekn33ze]

Try the police non emergency number for advice.

[craigton0506]

Hello again, 5 days ago I tried the 'find my phone' app for the umpteenth time, this time instead of the phone is off line message I received a location on the phone. It was in a location that is over 30 minutes drive away from the school. It was located close to another school and shopping centre. I immediately alerted the school and asked for a call back. I am still waiting to speak to a member of management. I feel it is a serious issue as this is now a matter of theft as opposed to a lost phone. Am I over reacting. The phone went back to offline a few hours later. Thanks again.

[SouthWindsWesterly]

Thank you Soup 🙄

OP - offline can mean one of two things. When you installed the tracker, was it actually enabled? If no, sorry about the phone. If yes, then it's either out of juice or has been placed somewhere with no access to cellular or WiFi coverage so can't be located. With any luck, it's in a safe. Put the device in lost mode, have it display a callback number for the person who finds the phone to call.

Also, is the phone locked into a network? Log the IMEI number with the operator so if anyone tries to unlock it, it will be reported and easier to track should it be a case of sticky fingers. Is it PAYG? If not, I would check your online billing to see if it's been used between then and now and get the phone locked. And yes - I would also report to the police (in person or 101) mainly because the provider will insist on it plus it will give you a police ref no for insurance plus any phone calls that may have been made by a third party.

[MyDressIsInferiorBlue]

If I find someone's phone in the street and then I lose it, am I responsible for replacing it?

Exactly. Trying to be a good Samaritan does not make you liable. Therefore OP WBU and I'm glad to see she's just going to get her DS a cheap phone now.

[RubbleBubble00]

I wouldn't expect the school to replace it. If you insist then won't they just place blanket ban on Mobil phones?

[TheCraicDealer]

Agree with Hermione here. Even if OP replaces the phone with a £10 jobby from Tesco to teach her DS a lesson, she should still get reimbursed for her property that was lost whilst in the care of the school. If they a) allow high value items like phones and b) keep a lost property stash, their systems regarding looking after those items in that interim period should be robust enough that things don't just go AWOL. I would reply to the school and just ask them how they're planning on reimbursing you for the phone that they misplaced- don't ask if they will.

[HermioneJeanGranger]

Cheap £10 job or iPhone - the school lost it and should replace it! The value of the phone is irrelevant.

[scorpionadmin123]

Can you track it?

[SoupDragon]

Next time install where's my iPhone app to help find it. It will make a noise even on silent and can help pinpoint where it is if its switched on

Next time, RTFT. "It's giving me a message saying 'no location can be shown because iPhone (2) is currently offline. I will keep trying though. Thanks"

[ShelaghTurner]

Mature argument there 🙄

[specialsubject]

unfortunate, but that's expensive sheep stuff for you. Buy him a £10 talk and text job. Doesn't need fawning over like a tamagochi, will stand being dropped, will fit in a pocket and won't get nicked.

[SouthWindsWesterly]

Next time install where's my iPhone app to help find it. It will make a noise even on silent and can help pinpoint where it is if its switched on

[HermioneJeanGranger]

The fact that it's an iPhone is irrelevant, really. The school admit they lost the phone. The fact that OP's DS lost it beforehand doesn't make any difference. They had it in their posesssion and before DS could go and collect it, it went missing. Why wasn't it kept in a locked drawer or a safe or a locked office until DS picked it up?

I reckon it was probably left on a table in the office somewhere and someone swiped it and school don't want to admit they left it somewhere where it could be taken.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I wonder of the school ever had the phone and its DS covering his own back.

In regards to the apology was "I'm sorry, we had it but its gone" or "sorry, Its not here"?

[Rattusn]

Yabu to send an expensive phone to school. Consider this a lesson learnt.

You can get basic models from £5.

Even if the school office had it, I am sure that they cannot be held responsible, as they would have made clear that they cannot be held responsible for loss of valuables.

[PGPsabitch]

What a piss taker that headteacher is Ptarmigandancinginthegloaming. I hope you refused to pay, took your son's things and complained about her scamming.

Op you can speak to the school about this but I don't know how far you will get. Your ds needs a cheap phone (especially if he ends up often misplacing)or insurance that covers lost phones.

[Lovelydiscusfish]

acasualobserver - your post really made me smile. Yes, most teachers are mainly in it for the loot, I think.

When I worked in a school which allowed phones, we made it clear on all the literature that we took no responsibility for them, and they were bought in at the child's own risk. Think most schools say similar.