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

[sugarplumfairy]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

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?

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.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by sugarplumfairy

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.

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.

[uksparkle]

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....

[honeychile]

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)))))))))))))))))))

[aggieAXO]

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.

[KillarneyRose]

Originally Posted by honeychile

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.

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?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

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.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

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?

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!

[bluefish81]

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.

[aephi alum]

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.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by uksparkle

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....

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.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

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.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by AGDee

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.

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!