I'm meeting someone from craigslist to buy a used Verizon phone and I have a couple of questions. I am going to meet them at a store, but there are no official Verizon stores around, only a Wireless Zone (which is an authorized Verizon retailer I believe). Will they be able to activate the phone on my account and confirm that the ESN is clear? (i.e. am I able to guarantee the phone won't be marked stolen at a later date if it is activated on my account?) Or is this the type of thing that should only be done at a real Verizon store? Any other advice for buying phones on craigslist?
winterknoll said:
I'm meeting someone from craigslist to buy a used Verizon phone and I have a couple of questions. I am going to meet them at a store, but there are no official Verizon stores around, only a Wireless Zone (which is an authorized Verizon retailer I believe). Will they be able to activate the phone on my account and confirm that the ESN is clear? (i.e. am I able to guarantee the phone won't be marked stolen at a later date if it is activated on my account?) Or is this the type of thing that should only be done at a real Verizon store? Any other advice for buying phones on craigslist?
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I've been here before. When you see your new phone, yank the battery, take your current phone dial *611, then get to customer service. Tell them you are buying a used phone and you want to make sure the ESN is ok to activate on your account.
They will ask for the ESN of the phone, then they'll give the OK, good or bad. They will tell you if the phone is ok to activate or not, that will be what you need to move on and buy it.
What ever the seller says, could be bull...so MAKE SURE YOU CALL.
Wireless zone MIGHT help but, they are a 3rd party, they might not help at all or charge you something for checking. Calling Verizon directly might be your best bet here. You'll be able to do this all on-line too...
Don't forget to hit thanks if this helped
Thanks David..if I'm not the account holder, will I need any sort of PIN or passcode do you know?
winterknoll said:
Thanks David..if I'm not the account holder, will I need any sort of PIN or passcode do you know?
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To access your account, the automated system asks for the last 4 of the SS number of the account holder.
Customer service is pretty good over all, so if your dialing in from a Verizon phone, and you get by the logon prompts fine, you should be all set.
Do you have a verizon phone now ? If so, just hit *611 and see if the option to get to customer service is presented to you, if so, it should be all set for you when you go check out your new phone.
Edit: Another thought, if you have been talking voice wise to the seller, as him/her for the ESN number so you can check out the phone, then call CS. When you get to see him/her, you just gota open the back cover and make sure you have the right ESN that he/she gave you.
Related
Hey guys, I'm new here and I had a couple of questions before I bought a used Fuze. Right now I have verizon and I am switching over to att because my contract is over.
1. I am scared to buy a used fuze because if I buy a used one from someone and it is stolen can it still be activated?
I know that if I buy a verizon phone that is stolen then it can't be activated.
not sure how you handle it in usa but in europe I never had to activate any phone
just pop in the sim and type in the sim code
heard about the aktivating in usa in relation to iphones
The thing is that I'm gonna sign a 2 year contract with att, I just wanted to know if I buy a used phone and it is stolen will I still be able to use it.
I am not going to take a chance on buying a stolen phone if I can't use it.
Get a phone you know for sure isn't stolen, make sure it comes with all the accessories and box and then you can feel safe.
Do not buy a phone if you know it is stolen, that is both illegal and wrong.
if you buy a stolen phone which have been reported stolen the police give
the IMEI number hardcoded in the phone to the operators to be added to their
block of service list in the country
and other countries the operators have a working relationship with
Ya ok, then the best thing to do is buy a new phone.
I was saying that if I buy a used phone and it is stolen then I wouldn't be able to activate it.
I didn't mean to say I WAS gonna buy a stolen phone, no no.
Thanks guys. Goin to get it in an hour!
if you're signing a 2 yr contract anyways, why not get a subsidized phone straight from ATT. up until a few days ago, wireless att com website had the refurbished Fuze for FREE w/ 2yr contract. just checked website now and it is out of stock. they go in-out of stock so call in and ask.
atlaswing said:
if you're signing a 2 yr contract anyways, why not get a subsidized phone straight from ATT. up until a few days ago, wireless att com website had the refurbished Fuze for FREE w/ 2yr contract. just checked website now and it is out of stock. they go in-out of stock so call in and ask.
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Thats a deal, I'll call them and ask about it. Thanks
Here in the USA we don't have the IMEI blocking service, even if the phone was stolen you can still use it. When my Blackberry was stolen I called AT&T to report it and all they could do was block my PIN from the device and not the device itself. It's not like Verizon or in any other country.
mbudden said:
Here in the USA we don't have the IMEI blocking service, even if the phone was stolen you can still use it. When my Blackberry was stolen I called AT&T to report it and all they could do was block my PIN from the device and not the device itself. It's not like Verizon or in any other country.
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verizon uses CDMA... if (for whatever reason) you need to change phones, you have to go through Verizon to activate the ESN(cdma version of IMEI) on the phone to tie to your Verizon account
for GSM, as long as the phone is unlocked, just slip the SIM card into in and the phone should work
one reason why i like GSM better: you don't have to do much to get a replacement phone
Wanting to get a Nexus S and i even called TMobile and they said "Best Buy is the only place you can buy it." I then asked if they knew when that ended. They said no.
So, coming from ATT to TMobile for this Nexus S, but i want to keep my current number, not get a new one.
Has anyone else, ordered online, through Best Buy, and been able to become a new customer while keeping their original phone number? I went all the way through their online process, but there was nothing that said "Keep your existing number". I know if i go to a TMobile store, i can do it, but can the Best Buy website do it?
I've never done it online at Best Buy before, but why not go to the store and have them do it for you? They can order it online for you and I'm sure you can port your number.
If not, then just get the new number with contract. Once you comfortable with T-Mobile, call customer service and ask them to port your number over. Of course, you need to keep your At&t service until the port is successful.
I did not know that they could port the number over AFTER I setup the service with them. I might have to do that then. Im going to a different Best Buy that sets up TMobile phones, so hopefully, they can do it for me immediately (If they have any left) in store and i wont have to port the number over.
thanks!
Tomorrows the big day for those of us who didnt pre-order. Im actually using someone else's upgrade (on a completely different account) to get the phone. They're telling me that they have to first activate it on the original line, then swap sim cards? does this sound correct? cant we just buy the phone, then activate it via verizonwireless.com ourselves?
socalwrx said:
Tomorrows the big day for those of us who didnt pre-order. Im actually using someone else's upgrade (on a completely different account) to get the phone. They're telling me that they have to first activate it on the original line, then swap sim cards? does this sound correct? cant we just buy the phone, then activate it via verizonwireless.com ourselves?
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no, youll have to activate on the original account. just go into the store and have them do it there for you. they can do the swap in like 15 minutes. I did this for another line on the 27th just this way.
I used the upgrade on my primary line and activated it out of the box on another line with no issues if that helps.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I've called a few times and emailed regarding this as well. A phone is ordered from vz.com and I want to activate it on another account.
1 CSR said I had to keep the phone on the "account" it was ordered on for at least 24 hours. She informed me that it didn't have to be the line it was ordered on, just had to be activated on the account for a period of 24 hours or I would receive a charge back for the full retail price of the phone. I asked when the charge back would occur, she informed me when the phone is activated on a different account, that I would receive a charge back. (This seemed very unlikely)
The next CSR informed me that since my contract was renewed and showing 2 years since ship date of the device, I could do whatever I wanted to with the device. There is no charge back. He never heard of anybody getting a charge back. He said the device is mine and I can do what I want with it. Whether that be activate it on another account or line.
A third CSR confirmed what the 2nd said.
The 4th CSR said that I should at least activate the phone on the line it was intended for before changing it to another account. She wasn't 100% sure if I had to, but suggested I follow this method as a fail safe. She also informed me that this was for 3G devices and the process for a 4G LTE device would be different.
The email I sent has not been responded to yet.
just go into a store and do it. it doesnt need to be this tough.
I actually did this. there was no charge for doing it. took 15 minutes.
tillithz said:
just go into a store and do it. it doesnt need to be this tough.
I actually did this. there was no charge for doing it. took 15 minutes.
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Exactly. I just did it for my GS3. Make sure you have the other account holder with you or that you are authorized on the other account. Simple process.
Sent from my SGS3
Basically, if you order online, you have to activate it on the line it was ordered on first because they place a block on that particular line/IMEI until the device is activated. If you go in store, 9 times out of 10, they won't let you leave with an unactivated device if you used an upgrade for it unless you give them some **** and bull story. So, my suggestion would be to let the rep at the store activate it, leave, swap your sim into the shiny new GS3, and then activate whatever phone you plan on using on the freshly recontracted line via VZW.com
I've done this for nearly major device release with Verizon since WinMo. 10 lines over 2 accounts, juggling upgrades back and forth.
There are cases where you want the phone sealed and unopened.
1. If you are selling the phone, a sealed phone is better than a opened phone.
2. If you are giving it as a gift, it would be nice if you didn't open it before giving it to someone.
With that being said, going to a Verizon store and having them activate the phone isn't the ideal scenario.
I received an email from Verizon,
"You will not be charged if you give the phone to someone else without activating it first. It is by purchasing the phone online that the terms and conditions are already accepted so the phone does not require being activated to recognize that. The device is now yours to do with as you please."
The question is in reference to the Verizon online procedure, this is not confirmed for in-store, indirect agents, or other online retailers.
socalwrx said:
Tomorrows the big day for those of us who didnt pre-order. Im actually using someone else's upgrade (on a completely different account) to get the phone. They're telling me that they have to first activate it on the original line, then swap sim cards? does this sound correct? cant we just buy the phone, then activate it via verizonwireless.com ourselves?
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I had to do this on tmobile. It was first activated on my moms line. Then they switched sims. I didn't have a mini sim, so they had to get one. It saved my a## when I had to do an exchange cause of a pink blob in the bottom right corner an hour ago.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app
Some of you may give me the advice of avoiding Craigslist all together, however as I am a poor college student, there's not much you could say to deter me from risking a little for a cheaper Samsung S3. On Ebay most S3s are 400-550$ while on Craigslist I see quite a few in the 300-400$ range. I understand that deals that are too good to be true are scams, but there are certainly exceptions to the rule. I need your help understanding the tricks of the trade and how to prevent scams. Here are the few that I know and how to prevent them, I ask you as the community to add onto this list:
SCAMS:
Stolen or Unpaid Phone
Agree to meet @ carrier store, ask a CSR to check IMEI and if it's clean to change the phone to your account. Assuming that your partner knows the info to his account, this will ensure that your phone will not be blocked in the future.
Chinese Clone
Download Android System Info check info compare to screenshots found here. Avoid this.
OTHER TIPS
Ask seller to Bring Driver's Licence, & record their name.
Ask seller to bring account information if this phone used to be on the same carrier.
Make a call/ receive a call
Open browser
Check wifi radio
Check GPS
Ensure the touchscreen works in all areas.
Record video to ensure mic, camera works
Ensure the phone shut down and starts up properly
Ask about the warranty*
Test all hardware buttons
Test headset and loudspeaker work
using my daily bump
bumping, any advice?
Any thief worth his or her salt is going to have a good fake ID and no problem lying.
Agreeing to meet at T-Mobile support and have them check it out, tell you the details (if phone is under EIP or attached to another account), and make a record on your account is probably your best bet.
Pennycake said:
Any thief worth his or her salt is going to have a good fake ID and no problem lying.
Agreeing to meet at T-Mobile support and have them check it out, tell you the details (if phone is under EIP or attached to another account), and make a record on your account is probably your best bet.
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Thanks a lot for the reply. If I am using the Tmobile prepaid 30$/month wallmart plan. Is there any way for them to make a note on my account is there? How do I go about this? I see two possibilities:
1) Phone in question is not paid off yet (purchased for discounted price):
If I go in there and they tell me the phone is attached to someone's account, is it still ever reasonable to go through with the trade? Is it possible to break that link somehow with 100% certainty that someone else's lack of responsibility won't come back and bite you in the arse?
2) Phone in question is paid off (purchased for full price):
no problem here, if I have them check it and it looks ok then done deal right? or can it still be reported stolen later and blacklisted despite me checking in with them?
Thanks a bunch.
Just spoke to a t-mobile CSR. Here's how the process works.
A phone can be blocked for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only:
1. A customer has not paid his monthly account bill on a discounted price phone
2. A customer reports a phone stolen within 30 DAYS.
The solution to avoiding getting scammed via either method is to ask the CSR at the store to add the phone to your account. It doesn't matter what plan you're using, as long as the phone is on your account, you are safe. Have the IMEI ready.
Normally when you buy the phone from a carrier, and if you loose your phone, call in and get it blacklisted and people can check the database to see if it blacklisted and all that good stuff...
I bought my N5 from Google Play and can use it on any carrier, so if its lost/stolen, do I call the current carrier and have them blacklist it?
What if someone got a hold of my IMEI and called to get it blacklisted.. how would I go about getting it unblacklisted if I wasnt the one who called it in???
Does google have their own blacklisting database?
I'm pretty sure your carrier will not blacklist the phone till the caller can confirm that they are the owner of the phone (maybe by carrier's records, or by proof of purchase etc).
But since the N5 can be used on other carriers, a carrier blacklist is really not sufficient (if the phone is stolen). I would certainly hope that Google has their own blacklist that will prevent the device from accessing any google services.
I found a story on somewere else of an user whose Google play. N5 got blacklisted by Spring
These are 2 quotes fro the same person:
AIO's website says my Google Nexus 5 is on the lost and stolen list?
Device Reported Lost or Stolen
Our records show that this device is on the national lost and stolen list. Please contact the company that previously provided wireless service for this device for help.
Aio Wireless cannot activate a device that another wireless company added to this list.
This phone was purchased from the Google Play Store. It's been on RingPlus, and StraightTalk (which it's currently on). Is it possible that someone marked it lost or stolen, but it's still working without any problems on ST? It might have been on Net10, I did have the SIM card in it, but I don't think it was active.
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I just got off the phone with Google support. That took around an hour of my time. The Google rep was quite lost on to why in the world Sprint would EVER blacklist phones that were not lost or stolen and have no contracts with them. I was put on hold a couple of times, and I explained what happened. After talking to him, I was transferred to the shipping dept (which apparently takes care of all returns for any reason).
The rep in the shipping dept was very nice, but he kept wanting to give me a refurbished phone for something I never did anything wrong with to begin with. My battery is charged at 50% all the time and I don't want to get stuck with a used phone or a bad battery. I kept telling the rep that I even have an email from RingPlus explaining the situation and that my phone was activated before they knew of this secret blacklist that included Google Play store purchases. He told me he would talk to his lead, came back, and claims that they will be sending me a new device. I don't know if I'm actually getting a used or new device, but at least when it comes it will hopefully not be blacklisted.
I was hoping to switch over to another carrier to save a few dollars each month. So after a $431 dollar hold was put onto my credit card, I guess I wait 3-5 business days and see what I end up receiving in the mail. I'll have to reorder one of the glass screen protectors for my device.
I guess this was a learning experience. Be very careful what CDMA carriers can do to your devices, because they need to have the numbers for it as they can't just pop in a SIM card and go. I'm not sure I will ever be using a Sprint or Verizon MVNO again, or at least for quite a while, and wouldn't ever do it with any devices less then a few months old.
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Original article. http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...Google-Nexus-5-is-on-the-lost-and-stolen-list
Not sure about the US, but in europe some countries/carriers have joint IMEI databases. If one carrier marks the IMEI as stolen the phone won't work on any carrier in that country.
Sent from my Nexus 5
liud said:
Not sure about the US, but in europe some countries/carriers have joint IMEI databases. If one carrier marks the IMEI as stolen the phone won't work on any carrier in that country.
Sent from my Nexus 5
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I know this.. thats the situation with in Canada, US and so on... that wasnt my question...