I Want My D**n Jewelry Back, Although I Doubt It's Gonna Happen...
 

Okay, I'll attempt to make this story as short as I can without leaving out any important information. It's kind of boring, but here it is:

Last week, a plumber came by my house and when he left two diamond rings left with him. Within 20 minutes of him leaving my house, I had filed a police report.

Later that day, I had a voicemail from the plumbing company's secretary asking me to call back. I assumed it had to do with the rings, but when I called she asked me if I could repeat the number of the Visa card I had used for the plumbing work because the plumber must have transposed some numbers as it wouldn't go through. "Well," I said, "I didn't use a credit card. I paid $380 in cash." The secretary sounded puzzled, thanked me, and we hung up.

Next morning, the owner of the company called me and he asked me again about the transaction and I told him the same thing, that I'd paid in cash, I had a copy of the receipt and there were no credit card numbers written on it. Apparently, this guy pocketed the cash and tried to tell the company I'd used a credit card.

The owner then went on to explain how, after leaving my house, the plumber called in and said he hurt his back and wouldn't be back to work that day. The owner hadn't been able to get in touch with the plumber after that initial phone call, and the plumber still had the company's truck, full of equipment.

I then asked the owner if he had been contacted by the police. He said he hadn't so I gave him the heads up about what had happened with my rings. He said he was sorry it had happened, it was so hard to get good help, the plumber had only been there three weeks, yada, yada, yada.

I asked the owner if he had insurance and he said he did.

Okay, now it's a week and a half later and I am unable to get in touch with the owner of the plumbing company. Should I keep trying? Should I just file a claim through my homeowner's policy? The rings are actually pretty valuable so it would most likely raise my premium.

One one hand, I feel sorry for the guy because it really isn't his fault that he had a thief working for him. But, on the other hand, he sent someone into my house that stole from me and so I think it is his responsibility to make it right.

Aaack! What do I do?

Yikes, that's a tough one. I would probably go ahead and file with your homeowner's policy and let them worry about getting the money from the plumbing company's insurer. I didn't do all that well in insurance law, but I *think* they can do that, and my gut instinct is that your premium shouldn't go up, since it wasn't your fault. Isn't that how it works with auto insurance? Like, if somebody hits you and runs, I think your premium is not supposed to go up because it's not an "at-fault" accident.

Oh, wow. I'm sorry your rings were stolen. I don't know about the kind of coverage you have for homeowners, but I know with mine, when I make a claim, the premiums don't go up like my auto does if I have a ticket or accident. They especially shouldn't since it's not your fault (like leaving your front door wide open with a neon pointing light that says "valuables here".)
I'd keep up trying to contact the company. If you can't get them, contact the Better Business Bureau and see if they can help. Since the smarmy guy was employed by them, they should have to foot the bill for the rings. I still hope you get them back. I had a neckalce stolen by a painter once and even though I got paid for it through the company's insurance, I still wanted my bauble back. It was sentimental.

It's the plumber, I've come to rip you off!
 

Tracy - go after the owner with everything you have. It's his fault he hired a sketchy mono like this. Don't they have to be bonded or something to enter people's homes?

He owes you, period. You should NOT have to pay in ANY way (including higher premiums) for this.

TOTAL COSIGN. I work for a plumbing company (new construction, however, not service), and good insurance is required, so go after his insurance.

Although I do have to agree with the owner that plumbers who aren't dumbasses are like finding a needle in a haystack.

Don't file a claim with your insurance. There's always that chance that they won't contact the owner's insurance company. The owner hired the guy and most likely did not do a background check. The owner is at fault.

Tracy, I would check and see if the Plumbing Co. is Bonded.That means they are insured through a Bonding Agency.

Do you have a copy of the Police Report?

The BBB can be like peeing up a rope, they sound good, but (?)!

Keep on the Police's butts about it if it is a significant amount for the jewelry.

Good luck!

Besides the BBB, you could also contact your states AG's office and see if they have anything on this company.

I would just use a "shot-gun" approch to this and contact everyone. Even local media...perhaps.....

Good Idea!!!
Most TV Stations have a report getting screwed site on their webs.

Can really put a hurt on people!

Tell everyone you know about the Company too!

Start calling around to the area pawn shops IMMEDIATELY. They have to show an ID when they sell something. Describe your rings. You would be surprised on how cooperative they will be.

I recovered a tennis bracelet that was given to me by my boyfriend and stolen by my roommate this way.

One more thing...if you file a claim against your Homeowners, they will use it against you later if you have something more significant. Most of the time jewelry is a separate peril and the max a standard policy will cover (without SPECIFICALLY covering jewelry) is only $1,000.

Yup, I learned this the hard way.

Also, record any conversations you have with the company...worry about if it's legal or not later.

So do not have to worry about taping!

If one side knows then it is clear sailing.

Good Idea on Pawn Shops.

Sounds like the scum sucker would head there first!:mad:

This is a very good tip--I know people who've had to do this, and some of the stolen stuff was actually recovered.

And also what 33girl said--I think the owner is responsible, too. All that crap about how "it's hard to find good help" might be true, but it still doesn't change the fact that he's the one who hired this thief and it all comes back on him. Don't let him try to weasel out of it. After all, I was brought up to appreciate jewelry (my mother's words: "You can never go wrong with fine jewelry") and this is damn important. ;)

We just recently moved to Boston and I am so anal about being home whenever we have service people coming in. I always make sure I'm close by so they can't take anything.

I'm sorry your rings got taken, that's terrible that you have to be so untrusting anymore....

Does the Plumbing Company advertise itself as "bonded and insured"? If so, the chances are good that the bonding is good ONLY if the plumber is found guilty in court. Sorry to say that, but that's how most bonding agencies (at least in this state) work. If it wasn't advertised as such, then file criminal charges against the company, too.

The BBB is as good as nothing. Consider how many times you've called the BBB prior to buying something - usually very seldom. Call them if you'd like, but there's a ton of forms that you'll have to fill out.

Hopefully, the Plumbing Company has filed a police report on their employee for the truck & tools, because police are more likely to look for vehicles than jewelry. Bottom line is, try the pawn shops as has been said - the cash you gave him and the cash he got from the jewelry has long been smoked or shot up. (((((((((((((((((KR)))))))))))))))))))

Sorry about the loss of your rings:(. My mother had her purse stolen last year and it had my grandmother's engagement ring in it-worth much more than the lousy 1000$ the insurance co. gave us (we did look at pawn shops initially but in San Antonio there are 100's of them). I am having all of my jewelry appraised and getting separate insurance for it so if anything were to happen I will at least recover what the jewelry is worth. Of course no one can pay for the sentimental value. Good luck-personally I would show up at the plumbing company and insist on talking with the owner (would also have a witness with me). If he/she isn't present then I would camp out.

This depends on the state; so it's not "clear sailing".

Yikes. I have the refrigerator magnet that I got from the plumber before he stole my rings in front of me and it doesn't mention that it's bonded and insured, but there is a state licensing number written on there.

I wonder if I could contact the Maryland Board of Plumbers (lol, or whatever the hell it is) and give them the licensing number. Maybe they'd have the insurance info?

In most states, in order to be licensed, you have to have insurence. Not all, so I would call.

It's so important to keep a watchful eye on anyone coming in to do service. A guy from a vent cleaning company had done a few houses in my brother's neighborhood. Apparently he was checking out possible ways to break in while he was working, because he attempted to break into my brother's house and a few others.

KR... good luck with all that. Hopefully you can find your jewelry or at least get the money for it.

This is why I wrestle my very big dog out the back door in front of them while they usually ask "Does he/she bite?" and I reply "You never know with a big dog like this" PM me with that vent cleaning company, ok? (Don't want to use that one!)

KR: I hope you get some compensation in all this.

KR, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I don't have any advice to add, just a {{{ hug }}}. I hope you recover your rings.

Sorry to disagree with You.

You had better check the laws.

No, you better check the laws.

Only 38 states allow one-party consent. Maryland, where I believe KR lives, is not one of them and requires the consent of all parties to the phone call.

Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402: It is a felony to intercept a wire, oral or electronic communication unless all parties to the communication have consented.

Hm, that is interesting. Try looking up a supreme court ruling.


No, I will not post a link. Look it up law student if you do not mind.

Then post what you find!

I would be gratified to hear what your find?:)

What year was it decided and if it was over turned via a Federal Mandate.


Here is Md ruilng:


Maryland
[Back to state index]

Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402: It is a felony to intercept a wire, oral or electronic communication unless all parties to the communication have consented. But all-party consent will not make the recording legal if there is a criminal or tortious purpose behind it.

Disclosing the contents of intercepted communications with reason to know they were obtained unlawfully is a crime as well.

Violations of the law are felonies punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years and a fine of not more than $10,000. Civil liability for violations can include the greater of actual damages, $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, along with punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs. To recover civil damages, however, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant knew it was illegal to tape the communication without consent from all participants. Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-410.

State courts have interpreted the laws to protect communications only when the parties have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and thus, where a person in a private apartment was speaking so loudly that residents of an adjoining apartment could hear without any sound enhancing device, recording without the speaker's consent did not violate the wiretapping law. Malpas v. Maryland, 695 A.2d 588 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1997); see also Benford v. American Broadcasting Co., 649 F. Supp. 9 (D. Md. 1986) (salesman's presentation in stranger's home not assumed to carry expectation of privacy).

It is a misdemeanor to use a hidden camera in a bathroom or dressing room. It is also a misdemeanor to use a hidden camera on private property "for purposes of conducting deliberate, surreptitious observation of a person inside the private residence," or in a private place with "prurient intent." Md. Crim. Law §§ 3-901, -902, -903. A person who is viewed in violation of these statutes has a civil cause of action.

If there is a crimainal intent!

In this case. I do not think there is applied here.

KR, Tom Earp is not an expert on Maryland law (and neither am I.) If you're going to record it, ask for consent to cover your ass.

Tom, you quoted the same statute that I quoted, so I'm not really sure what you think you are proving. It says it's a felony unless all parties have consented. It then says that EVEN IF all parties consented, it's still a felony if it's being used with a criminal intent.

Tom, I may only be a 1L, but I believe that the bolded line is the key one here. Regardless of any disagreements about interpretation of the statute, I'd be extremely careful about taping any phone conversations.

KR, that's awful that it happened. Stuff like this makes me angry - my dad is a contractor, and it's hacks like these that give the profession a bad name.

I am so sorry that this horrible thing happened to you. I hope that you get your rings back.

I'll ask my brother tomorrow. BTW... when is your daughter selling girl scout cookies? We never saw anyone to buy from. Topic that came up with my mom today. PM me back. Lol I'm too lazy to PM right now.

Sorry for hijacking!

It can't hurt. If they do have to provide insurance under state licensing:

-You contacted the company in good faith.
-You paid for the services in good faith, and have the receipt.
-The man they needed to investigate stole from you.
-Therefore, you should be compensated, preferably by finding out where the jewelry was pawned.

BTW, you'll probably be asked for a list of anyone and everyone who was in your house from the day you last saw the jewelry until the day you noticed it was gone. It's a good idea to have that list ready, and if it includes any strangers, interrogate them, also!

If I were you I'd contact your Homeowners insurance company and put them to work. Then in turn should go after the plumbing company with their own claims and possibly legal people if necessary. I'd make them do all the work instead of doing it yourself.