. . . last night. I've got the blocks put up on it, all my data is backed up - however, I didn't get it insured, as I regard insurance as a racket, a policy that does look in sore need of revision, I'll grant you.

I reckon I may be looked at anything up to £400 for a replacement (the 3GS). Are there other options? Second hand? I've seen some auction sites where they're going quite cheaply.

Any help and words of wisdom this miserable Sunday (destined to get even more miserable between 4 and 6 this afternoon, I fear) gratefully received.

I feel your pain man. Hope you can sort things out without it costing too much.

That sucks. One thing I don't miss about London is the phone theft.

Any chance you can do something like this, wingco?
iphonetheif.blogspot.com/2010/01/iphone-theif-bust.html

There's always places like CEX where you can pick up an unlocked iPhone for about £250-£300. Even though the thought of a second-hand phone fills me with dread (I'm not Howard Hughes or anything, I'm just a bit funny like that).

Sucks though, thieving bastards.

That's awful, wingco.

Are you completely without insurance? Might your homeowners/renters policy cover it? Did you buy with a credit card that might provide some kind of coverage?

I took my daughters to the swimming pool in Chorley this morning, for an hour of them whizzing down the waterslides while I sat in the jacuzzi. When we parked, I noticed the car next to ours had a mobile phone (and a very posh one at that) on the dashboard , not only on, but charging up as well.

I did fleetingly think "wow, that's tempting fate". Then, I even more fleetingly thought, "fate? I could stick that window through now myself, with the tyre iron that's in the boot, we could drive off, I'm £300 up ..."

Obviously I didn't. I'm many things, including an awful role model as a father, but I'm not a thief. But some people really do tempt fate.

This has absolutely nothing to do with wingco's phone or his particular situation, obviously, but the thread just reminded me of this morning.

Sorry to hear this. Echoing what Ursus says, is there a chance your bank account has some insurance included in the management fee they want to charge now?

Thanks, folks. The credit card suggestion may be the way to go indeed so cheers UA, Tubby.

Have you tried ringing it? Maybe it'll play Ride of the Valkeries and some rather unconvincing RADA-trained thug behind you on the coach will have it.

It was your review of The Football Factory I recall in WSC, wasn't it?

Rogin! You sound like one of those 'if you take your ipod out in public and it gets nicked then it's your own fault sonny Jim' adverts that we have all over the place. eg

You posh folks have got to get smaller phones. Mine's so wee a thief would have more chance of inserting one up my arse undetected than making off with my phone from my front trouser pocket.

Lyra, does the person in that pic ever use their arse for sitting?

Wingco, this would never have happened if you had a three year old sony phone, with the battery held in with sellotape. No-one has ever stolen one of my phones, unless they were nicking my bag and didn't realise what they were nicking. I'm surprised I didn't get my phone sent back to me the one time it was nicked.

Were you listening to The News Quiz over the weekend?

Nope. I just have a phone that no-one would steal. I imagine that I couldn't even lose it it's so shit.

Any chance you can claim on your contents insurance? I've got mine covered for loss or theft outside the home.

Afraid not, Crusoe. Don't have contents insurance. Too exorbitant where I live - a high security apartment but with a postcode the insurance calculators don't like.

Anyway, I bought a new one today - if I tell you the price my eyes will start to water - however, by coincidence, a big bit of work came in today, very nicely paid, which compensates for the iPhone loss. Coincidence, not karma.

Does the job pay well enough to insure this one, Wingco?

I'm sorry, wingco, but (if you'll allow me to put my "professional" hat on for a second) that's just mental. Seriously. By all means check on aggregator websites to be told no, but why not try speaking to a broker - high street national or otherwise - who should be able to offer you some options. Higher excess levels, for example.

Have a wander round your flat, tot up the value of everything you own, and then have a sit down. Chances are it's more than you think.