Around 88% of people these days don’t even step outside without having their mobile phones with them. Given that most of us rely on these ubiquitous devices every day losing one can be a disaster.
As mobile phones have become increasingly small and lightweight they’ve become easier to lose, drop or misplace. In 2008 around 200,000 mobile phones went into washing machines, around 600,000 were dropped down the loo and 55,000 were left in the back of taxis.
We must also consider the very real possibility that a phone may be stolen. There are over 2 million mobile phones stolen in the UK every year. This equates to around one every 12 seconds and this figure is on the increase.
Initially, when a phone is lost, there is the cost of buying a new one. There may be significant call charges amassed during the time between when a phone is stolen and when it eventually gets disabled. Then there are the problems that will arise as a result of losing contact details and other valuable data stored on the mobile phone.
It has been found that fewer than 1 in 5 people who rely on their mobile phones go to the trouble of routinely backing up their phone data. Although most phones come with software that makes it easy to backup data from the phone to a computer few people take advantage of this.
So what steps can we take to help keep hold of our mobile phones?
- Firstly, don’t make it easy for a thief to steal your mobile phone. Never ever leave your phone unattended in your car and always store it securely.
- Make certain to record the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number from your mobile phone. This is a number that is unique to every mobile phone and can be used to disable a phone if it’s been lost or stolen.
- You can set your mobile phone to only operate after a configured PIN has been entered. Having to enter a PIN each time you want to use your phone can be a bit of a nuisance but it will prevent a thief from running up significant call charges on your account.
- Another recommendation is to switch your phone to vibrate mode when in busy public places in order not to attract attention when your phone rings.
- You may like to engrave your name and maybe your car registration details onto your phone and its battery. Alternatively there are systems for attaching unique serial number stickers (as provided by trackitback.com) to your phone which will help identify your phone if it is lost or stolen.
- It is worthwhile getting into the habit of backing up your SIM card data frequently. As a general rule you should back up your phone data as often as possible which should be every day if you are updating your contacts or appointments every day.
- Finally, make certain that you have some mobile phone insurance that provides the protection that you need. There are differences between various mobile phone insurance policies so be certain to read the small print and ensure that the policy suits your requirements.
Hopefully, by following these simple steps you will avoid becoming one of the lost or stolen mobile phone statistics.
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You may also like to protect your income with income protection and don’t overlook the need to protect other devices with some useful gadget insurance.
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