Help! Droid 2

[NoleFan]

Help! My husband's otterbox clip sprung his phone off and into water. It was only immersed for a few seconds. He immediately removed it from the case and the phone worked and appeared dry. However, it stopped working a few hours later, at which point we removed the back and battery and immersed in dry rice.
Unfortunately, our carrier is now claiming that the phone is not insured. When we purchased it, we went into great detail regarding protection of the phone (hubby works outside), requested insurance and purchased the otter box. Said phone is a company phone and therefore we didn't know that the line was not getting billed for the insurance he'd added!
Long way of asking if there is ANYTHING else we can do. His phone is his work line/lifeline/office. Carrier won't even change number over to a flip phone until the office secretary on the account is in the office!

 

[lunatic59]

If the account isn't his (and I am going to assume you are with Verizon or Sprint, since you could easily swap the sim out of a gsm phone) and you don't have online access to that account, you are really going to have to wait until the account holder can make the change.

Where you went wrong was using the phone right away, even though it appeared dry. Moisture in electronics is insidious and finds any way it can into the interior of the case. My prime suspect would be the headphone jack or the speaker/mic hole. In the future, if a phone (or any electronic device) is dunked, you should immediately dry off the surface moisture, open it up and remove everything -- battery, sim (if it has one) and SD card. Put them all in the back of dry rice for 48 to 72 hours. Even the tiniest bit of liquid inside a phone (as you found out) can arc or short components enough to kill them, or, over a brief period of time corrode connections enough to break them.

In any case, unless you have the original bill of sale that specified you wanted insurance, or can find the clerk who would remember you and be willing to admit that you did indeed request insurance, I think you are out of luck. Sorry.

 

[Unforgiven]

If the account isn't his (and I am going to assume you are with Verizon or Sprint

The Droid line of phones is only available for Verizon, it is the Milestone on any other carrier. I only mention this as a tip. Sometimes the naming of a phone helps identify carrier. Everything else you said is dead on.

I would check with your company as they may have an insurance policy separate from the carrier. Depending on the number of devices the company owns, if may be the same insurer and handled through Verizon wireless. I may just be handled at a corporate level.

 

[lunatic59]

The Droid line of phones is only available for Verizon...

So many times any Android phone is called a Droid, I glossed over the title and totally missed the "2". Yes, I know the Droid line is on VZW only. My bad.

 

[Unforgiven]

So many times any Android phone is called a Droid, I glossed over the title and totally missed the "2". Yes, I know the Droid line is on VZW only. My bad.

I wasn't trying to correct you , I learn a lot from others when they point out tells in user posts, and was trying to do the same.

 

[lunatic59]

I wasn't trying to correct you , I learn a lot from others when they point out tells in user posts, and was trying to do the same.

No problems. I appreciate the tap on the shoulder. What's most important is that members get the best answers possible.

 

[Unforgiven]

No problems. I appreciate the tap on the shoulder. What's most important is that members get the best answers possible.

Amen, there's a reason your name is red and mine is blue.

 

[NoleFan]

Thanks so much! We will check on a corporate insurance policy and try moving the sd card to some old phones!
Live and learn, just hoping this isn't too expensive of a lesson. I'm not mad with the carrier just will be certain to thrice verify things in the future. I am disappointed with the otterbox product but we have NOT given them a chance to comment yet. Lesson that my kids will never let my husband live down? Taking the phone into the restroom. LOL

 

[Unforgiven]

Thanks so much! We will check on a corporate insurance policy and try moving the sd card to some old phones!
Live and learn, just hoping this isn't too expensive of a lesson. I'm not mad with the carrier just will be certain to thrice verify things in the future. I am disappointed with the otterbox product but we have NOT given them a chance to comment yet. Lesson that my kids will never let my husband live down? Taking the phone into the restroom. LOL

If the turd really hits the fan, let me know though PM. I have a D2 that is essentially my alarm clock now (because it fits my D1 dock and I have since updated to a GNex) and we can figure something out. I'm not trying to make a buck. I have a D1 that my 4yr old uses that I could use as an alarm clock. If certain functionality on you D2 is OK and it is just quirky, I can deal with that for an alarm clock. Just want to give you an option if you are stuck.

 

[Unforgiven]

NoleFan,

Any luck with the rice tip of with insurance. I know its been a few days.

 

[Colchicine]

Just a note for people that get their phone wet: It does NOT matter if the phone appears to be working, you MUST immediately remove the battery perform whatever moisture removal method you prefer. Don't even turn the screen on, just rip out the battery.