For those of you who I saw in Australia, you may be aware that I lost both my work Blackberry and my personal mobile phone. Lost it, last seen on Xmas Day at my sister in laws, never seen from again despite extensive searches by all the family. To me, it was annoying and at the time very frustrating, but to be honest life without the CrackBerry has been fine.
But, work expects me to be available on email virtually 24x7 so I made arrangements here at work to get a new Blackberry. Spoke to my boss about it whilst in Australia and upon my return got his and my bosses boss to signoff on me getting a new one. They had no issue at all.
Then the secretary pulls me aside yesterday and says that for the IT department to give me a new Blackberry, they need a "Police Report".
Huh?!
I said, I lost it in Australia and in Australia, we don't report missing phones to the police when we misplace them. We probably wouldnt even bother if it was stolen, let alone simply "lost".
So she went back to tell the IT department that...
Today however, I have been told that it is "impossible" to proceed with the issuance of a new BlackBerry without said report and that I need to go to Abu Dhabi Police to get the report.
So to summarise, I "misplaced and lost" my BlackBerry in Australia but I have to report it missing to police in Abu Dhabi to authorise my company, a company with turnover measured in billions of US$, to spend approx A$1000 on a new BlackBerry device.
Apparently yes, that's exactly the case.
Upon investigation and asking around, I cannot go to any police station, I have to go to the General Headquarters in downtown Abu Dhabi in which I have to take a number and wait to explain my situation to a government employee (who will in all cases will not be an actual police officer) and have that person issue the report. I have also been told on the quiet that I shouldnt say it was lost but rather stolen as they will tell me that if its lost, then they cannot actually verify that I didnt simply sell the said BlackBerry for cash and am now making it all up.
So, I have been told that I should report the BlackBerry "stolen" as that is more believable...
I am tempted not to bother and to continue living a "BlackBerry Free" life...
But, work expects me to be available on email virtually 24x7 so I made arrangements here at work to get a new Blackberry. Spoke to my boss about it whilst in Australia and upon my return got his and my bosses boss to signoff on me getting a new one. They had no issue at all.
Then the secretary pulls me aside yesterday and says that for the IT department to give me a new Blackberry, they need a "Police Report".
Huh?!
I said, I lost it in Australia and in Australia, we don't report missing phones to the police when we misplace them. We probably wouldnt even bother if it was stolen, let alone simply "lost".
So she went back to tell the IT department that...
Today however, I have been told that it is "impossible" to proceed with the issuance of a new BlackBerry without said report and that I need to go to Abu Dhabi Police to get the report.
So to summarise, I "misplaced and lost" my BlackBerry in Australia but I have to report it missing to police in Abu Dhabi to authorise my company, a company with turnover measured in billions of US$, to spend approx A$1000 on a new BlackBerry device.
Apparently yes, that's exactly the case.
Upon investigation and asking around, I cannot go to any police station, I have to go to the General Headquarters in downtown Abu Dhabi in which I have to take a number and wait to explain my situation to a government employee (who will in all cases will not be an actual police officer) and have that person issue the report. I have also been told on the quiet that I shouldnt say it was lost but rather stolen as they will tell me that if its lost, then they cannot actually verify that I didnt simply sell the said BlackBerry for cash and am now making it all up.
So, I have been told that I should report the BlackBerry "stolen" as that is more believable...
I am tempted not to bother and to continue living a "BlackBerry Free" life...
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