As in that quote did you change gender? if so thats you're issue, other then that the only thing i can think of, have you changed you're cd-key(using a different copy)?
The main reason that i think most people are missing there equipment now and then is they join a team too fast and are not recieveing there character data before they have there char screen up, make sure you wait for the 'Update for your character incoming' Message before you select a team.