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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you for help finding my phone *sob*

33 replies

drspouse · 04/07/2017 12:41

I have a Google Pixel which I lurve, I brought it to work this morning, cycled to work and went into the loos in one corner of my building to put on a bit of makeup (I didn't actually go to the loo). Looked at my phone and put it in the pocket of my jacket. It may well have slipped out on the floor at that point.

Now it's lost. If I ring it, I get "the mobile phone you are ringing is switched off". Find My Android shows it as still in the part of the building the loo is in (big building, last signal at arrival to work time). The reception desk (usual lost item repository) hasn't had anything handed in.

I looked in the loo - behind the water pipes, everywhere - and on the stairs and corridor up to my office.

I was pretty convinced I'd set up voicemail but I'm not getting voicemail when I ring. I've been ringing it every 15 mins or so since I noticed it was gone (1/2 hour after I last had it).

I'm about to do the "ring for 5 minutes" option but if it's off (or was knocked into the loo by someone) it's not going to ring.

It had a full battery when I left this morning, if it's just off (as opposed to destroyed/drowned) would it still be locatable?

There is also a main reception outwith my building and I've rung there and nothing.

Heeelp... any more steps I can take? Or should I just wipe it and order a new one, hopefully on insurance?

OP posts:
blueskyinmarch · 04/07/2017 12:48

Can you ask to have an e mail put round asking people if they have seen it or to look out for it? Have you checked all your pockets and every bit of your handbag?

WineAndTiramisu · 04/07/2017 12:49

I'm sure you can make the phone ring via the find my phone thing, even if it's switched off (I also love my pixel!)

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:08

I went on to Find my Phone and pressed "make it ring" but it's said "connecting" for 20 mins.

We are a huge organisation bluesky so I don't think they'd all be too chuffed to get an email every time someone lost keys/phone/wallet! Urgent comms are strictly of the "power cut back on at 2pm" and "main exit road blocked due to accident, use the alternative till 5".

OP posts:
Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:09

Have you checked all your pockets and every bit of your handbag?
Yes I have but if it was in the room, and was working, I'd hear it ring... it's just going to Frosty Lady saying "phone is switched off".

OP posts:
Pickleypickles · 04/07/2017 13:13

I can't help in regards to finding it but if it makes you feel better I lost my phone once getting out of my car and searched everywhere and it was not there and then it randomly turned up in a hedge by where I thought I lost it (and had searched said hedge already) 8 days later!
So maybe it will turn up yet Smile

Shnorbitz · 04/07/2017 13:13

Have you retraced your steps? Do you have Facebook friends with colleagues in other parts of the building so you could post and ask for help?

Pickleypickles · 04/07/2017 13:19

On a possibly slightly more helpful Google says "you can't find the location if it has been switched off has no signal or battery dead you can only see its last live location so you have to wait and hope someone turns it on or hands it in"

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/07/2017 13:19

Phone your provider and get them to block the phone, and then phone the police to get a crime number for your insurance. It has probably been stolen. Find my phone will show the last location, not necessarily the live location. Set your phone to erase itself as well if possible.

Depending on how much of your life is on the phone, and how well protected it is you may want to consider changing passwords etc.

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:23

I have retraced my steps, about 3 times - the building I am in is not that big (I am actually surprised that Google Maps distinguishes between "my office corner" and "the loos corner" but it does and it's clearly last seen 3 hours ago in "the loos corner".)

It's the overall organisation that is enormous so alerting everyone would be rude (and impossible). I can (and will) send an email to everyone on my floor but our floor is a separate specialism to the other floors so I can't contact lower floors (upper floor is my department but I haven't been up there today!)

The puzzle is that it's off/not taking messages/not responding to Find my Android, because it was working fine and I, at least, didn't drop it in any water.

OP posts:
peachgreen · 04/07/2017 13:23

If it's now switched off and it wasn't when you last saw it, it's been stolen.

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:25

Oh dear peach, I assume I should erase it (nothing to lose), but what can they do with it now?

OP posts:
Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:26

Oh and if I can't locate it/ring it, can I still erase it?? Will it be erased if anyone switches it back on?

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/07/2017 13:38

I think it will factory reset as soon as it gets wifi - contact your phone provider too so they can bar the phone.

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:40

Am doing that now!

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/07/2017 13:41

Did your phone have a lock screen enabled?

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 13:43

Yes it has, I have to have one to have my work email.

OP posts:
Triskaidekaphilia · 04/07/2017 14:34

Make sure you contact the police to get the imei blocked, then they can't use it or trade it in anywhere.

TwoFs · 04/07/2017 14:42

Can you post a 'lost phone' message up on the door to the loo? I don't work in an office so no idea if that's allowed!

MidsummerMoo · 04/07/2017 15:20

Yes make sure logged with phone company and police. I lost mine once, indicated it was a couple of miles away which completely stressed me out but had actually been run over by a car and was then given in to police station.

peachgreen · 04/07/2017 15:26

You might need to tell your work if you had work email on it. Such a shame OP, sorry it's happened.

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 15:41

Make sure you contact the police to get the imei blocked Oh do I have to contact them rather than the phone company? Phone people didn't mention this?

peach You need an extra passcode (or fingerprint) to get on to work email so I think they'll be fine if I just erase it.

OP posts:
Triskaidekaphilia · 04/07/2017 15:58

It may be possible that the phone company has already done this for you, but when I had mine stolen my manager (used to work somewhere that traded in phones) told me I had to report it to police before the imei would come up as blocked on our systems. This was a few years ago so the process could have changed.

FooFighter99 · 04/07/2017 16:01

Go and check in the bin...

SirVixofVixHall · 04/07/2017 16:11

Are you sure it didn't drop into the loo? It might make very little noise doing that. Dropping onto the floor is noisy, I think you'd have noticed. Have a proper peer into the loo as it might have slipped down towards the U bend.

Original poster
drspouse · 04/07/2017 16:16

I didn't stand anywhere near the loo - the mirror is the other side of the facility.
But of course someone else could have come in and seen it and then dropped it!
I had a bag with me and I can't remember where I/jacket/bag were so it could have kind of slid onto the floor.

DH says he was just about to increase the excess on our home insurance but we need to report it as lost or stolen within 24h so I'm just getting my IMEI number - the phone company have blocked it but I set a password to unblock it in case.

OP posts: