How to get a crime ref?
Discussion
I bought an iPhone for my daughter last week. On delivery day I was at home all day and DPD said in the tracking that nobody was at home... Same the next day. Eventually DPD said it would be delivered to Matalan which is 10 miles away. 3 days later, I picked up my delivery at last!
Got it home, opened it and it was a Box with 4 packets of Polo Mints.
I ordered from Apple and they say I need a crime number. I tried calling 101 and nobody answered - I held for 1 hour! Then filled out an online 101 which was an awful experience. Got an email and they say they will be in touch.
The last time I had to use 101 online I never got any response after the acknowledgment email so I am not convinced anything will happen.
What should I do do you think? Go into a police station?
Thanks
Got it home, opened it and it was a Box with 4 packets of Polo Mints.
I ordered from Apple and they say I need a crime number. I tried calling 101 and nobody answered - I held for 1 hour! Then filled out an online 101 which was an awful experience. Got an email and they say they will be in touch.
The last time I had to use 101 online I never got any response after the acknowledgment email so I am not convinced anything will happen.
What should I do do you think? Go into a police station?
Thanks
Scabutz said:
The Action Fraud website is easy to use and gives you a reference but I'm not sure this fraud, I guess it's theft.
Other thing to try is walking into your local station. Person on the desk should take a report and give you a reference.
Thanks, I think that is probably the only thing that works these days.Other thing to try is walking into your local station. Person on the desk should take a report and give you a reference.
sixor8 said:
You should be kicking up a stink with Apple. It's been stolen and replaced somewhere in transit or when packaged at the warehouse. They're trying to pass the buck asking you to get a crime number. The police will not be interested.
As far as Apple are concerned I could have done it to be fair.OP, in your online report, where did you say the theft took place? If your address, that of the Apple distribution site, DPD, or Matalan are in different Force areas, I can see some Forces being less keen having it recorded in their area and they'll palm you off.
Also, are you the 'victim' of the theft? or is it Apple?
Also, are you the 'victim' of the theft? or is it Apple?
the tribester said:
OP, in your online report, where did you say the theft took place? If your address, that of the Apple distribution site, DPD, or Matalan are in different Force areas, I can see some Forces being less keen having it recorded in their area and they'll palm you off.
Also, are you the 'victim' of the theft? or is it Apple?
Looks like the OP's paid for the Iphone so he's the victim.Also, are you the 'victim' of the theft? or is it Apple?
The theft could have occured in any one of the force areas between Apple and his address - the force thats first made aware of the theft should record.
Thanks everyone.
The online 'system' only allows certain categories, I ended up saying the crime was at my address. I think I will go to the station today.
I actually bought direct from Apple online, using my paypal. In the past I have bought phones through carphone warehouse, but the particular iPhone 14 my daughter wanted wasn't in stock there so where safer I thought than Apple! The whole tracking looked dodgy and I ended up talking to Apple 5 times over as many days as it didn't look right.
The pack of 4 polos is half the weight of an iPhone 14 google tells me so hoping at soe point the weigh-in details through scanning will highlight where the theft took place.
I am going to have to buy another one (inn store at Currys this time!) so we have the phone for my daughters birthday this Friday while Apple and DPD sort it out. I also have paypal as a backup- at least I hope I do.
The online 'system' only allows certain categories, I ended up saying the crime was at my address. I think I will go to the station today.
I actually bought direct from Apple online, using my paypal. In the past I have bought phones through carphone warehouse, but the particular iPhone 14 my daughter wanted wasn't in stock there so where safer I thought than Apple! The whole tracking looked dodgy and I ended up talking to Apple 5 times over as many days as it didn't look right.
The pack of 4 polos is half the weight of an iPhone 14 google tells me so hoping at soe point the weigh-in details through scanning will highlight where the theft took place.
I am going to have to buy another one (inn store at Currys this time!) so we have the phone for my daughters birthday this Friday while Apple and DPD sort it out. I also have paypal as a backup- at least I hope I do.
Bigends said:
Looks like the OP's paid for the Iphone so he's the victim.
The theft could have occured in any one of the force areas between Apple and his address - the force thats first made aware of the theft should record.
I think Apple are the victim. The OP has paid them for something that they've failed to deliver to him.The theft could have occured in any one of the force areas between Apple and his address - the force thats first made aware of the theft should record.
Bigends said:
MustangGT said:
BertBert said:
I think Apple are the victim. The OP has paid them for something that they've failed to deliver to him.
Agreed. The onus is on Apple, not you.That said, I don't see that Apple are doing anything wrong by requesting a crime number. I suspect as soon as they are provided with one things will start moving pretty quicky.
All forces in England and Wales are on the “Single on line home” platform.
When you select your local police force to whre you live via on line, the crime reporting portal is the same across them all.
That way if you live in one area and the crime occurred in another (live in Manchester, phone stolen from pocket in London, only report when get home) the crime would transfer automatically from GMP to the Met.
Id simply fill in the online crime report as best you can (the location of the theft isn't that important for now, so id suggest the collection point as thats where you found the polos)
That way it will generate a crime ref number.
In all honesty it would probably get “Screened out” (i.e not investigated- too many places and points the phone could have been swapped out for a phone, if it was ever there at all)
Hence the companies involved will argue the toss, but with a crime number one of them will agree to reimburse the purchaser.
When you select your local police force to whre you live via on line, the crime reporting portal is the same across them all.
That way if you live in one area and the crime occurred in another (live in Manchester, phone stolen from pocket in London, only report when get home) the crime would transfer automatically from GMP to the Met.
Id simply fill in the online crime report as best you can (the location of the theft isn't that important for now, so id suggest the collection point as thats where you found the polos)
That way it will generate a crime ref number.
In all honesty it would probably get “Screened out” (i.e not investigated- too many places and points the phone could have been swapped out for a phone, if it was ever there at all)
Hence the companies involved will argue the toss, but with a crime number one of them will agree to reimburse the purchaser.
Did you give DPD permission to deliver to Matalan?
If not, then the courier is in breach of contract.
As DPD was arranged by Apple, the contract is between Apple and DPD, and the key phrase here is that the goods are at the risk of the seller until delivered to you with proof - only a photo of the package in front of your open door is good enough.
Provide the CRN to Apple.
If you paid by credit card, do a section 75 claim. Use the words “breach of contract”.
If you paid by debit card, do a chargeback with your card issuer. Again, emphasise breach of contract.
Your section 75/chargeback is likely to be declined the first time - this is normal, resubmit it and you should get the result you’re after.
Your CC or debit card issuer can then pursue Apple instead of you.
Good luck! And always video yourself opening packages containing high value items in the future to guard against these scams.
/Al
If not, then the courier is in breach of contract.
As DPD was arranged by Apple, the contract is between Apple and DPD, and the key phrase here is that the goods are at the risk of the seller until delivered to you with proof - only a photo of the package in front of your open door is good enough.
Provide the CRN to Apple.
If you paid by credit card, do a section 75 claim. Use the words “breach of contract”.
If you paid by debit card, do a chargeback with your card issuer. Again, emphasise breach of contract.
Your section 75/chargeback is likely to be declined the first time - this is normal, resubmit it and you should get the result you’re after.
Your CC or debit card issuer can then pursue Apple instead of you.
Good luck! And always video yourself opening packages containing high value items in the future to guard against these scams.
/Al
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff