Stolen phone help

[Courtney97H]

I took a phone only contract out to help a friend out (they were to pay for the phone and then once they got sorted return the phone and my dad was to have it as it would've been his phone in the first place) this friend then decided to not pay and then block me and moved, I contacted sky who told me to contact police which I did but the police won't help, what can I do as I'm paying for a phone that I do not have and this person will not return the device even tho it's been blocked

[GD1]

@Courtney97H  Unfortunately you're liable for the credit agreement payments regardless if you have the device, that would be the case if it was lost also.

If Sky have blocked the phone then there isn;t anything more they can do

It does seem the police may consider this as a private matter as you willingly gave them the phone?

[63johnw]

Hi @Courtney97H  why won't the police help ? Have you reported the phone as stolen to them ?

[daveNOS]

@63johnw It's not something the Police will get involved with as it will be considered a civil not criminal matter, this is due to the agreement made by both parties which effectively makes it a breach of contract dispute.

[63johnw]

Thanks @daveNOS  doesn't sound fair though, that person has taken something that doesn't belong to them and won't return it. What can the OP do to get this resolved 🤷‍♂️

[Daniel0210]

@63johnw 

I agree with @daveNOS The police would class this as a civil matter, would not issue a crime number nor investigate it. 

[daveNOS]

---

@63johnw wrote:

Thanks @daveNOS  doesn't sound fair though, that person has taken something that doesn't belong to them and won't return it. What can the OP do to get this resolved 🤷‍♂️

---

@63johnw I agree 100% as in my eyes it's theft, but the law thinks differently. I don't think there is much that can be done, unless the OP can convince the Police that the friend entered into the agreement with no intention of paying for the device, as that would technically be fraud by misrepresentation or deception. If no payments have been made, then that would probably be the way to go rather than making a theft report.