Related
Noob here.
I'm having to make a financial decision and when my contract ends with Verizon in April, I'm going to switch to Straight Talk. I would love to afford the biggest and best, but I cant, so I'm having to go with something a bit less. My question is, has anyone been able to flash or convert their standard Verizon phone to work with Straight Talk? I'm wondering whether it be a regular phone, windows mobile/smartphone, or android, if anyone has been able to pull this off, and if so, how? I enjoy getting my phone and other devices to do more than allowed at original purchase and think this would be fun to do when I make the switch. Please let me know if anyone has done this and how. Thanks!
anyone with any info on this subject?
An issue like this requires a bit more than rooting, or 'unlocking' the phone. What your looking at doing is essentially jailbreaking the phone. This CAN be a complicated process.
I don't know for sure that whether or not there is an area in XDA committed to doing this. My suggestion at this point would be to google jailbreak (your phones name).
depending on the phone, this isnt always possible. On top of this, there are potentially features that your phone has that will not be supported once jailbroken.
Good luck.
EDIT: I should mention that, depending on the phone, you may not be able to do this. Certain phones REQUIRE that you have not only a talk plan, but a data plan as well. These are usually newer smart phones.
StraightTalk Now Had Android Phone
With straight talk now offering an android phone, will this help in converting my OG Droid to straight talk?
HELP i did succeed in flashing phone,everything works great. but the problem is i started gettin text messages from 31778 and 55330, and it only gives a series of numbers. can you help me with this issue? thanks
Mind sharing or pm'ing me on how you got it to work? I got a donor st phone and 2 fascinates from verizon. I successfully got the esn changed, *22890 to work. I can browse the net and receive texts. sending text says fail but still go through. The calls won't go out, get a autho error. If I am outside my market it will send/receive calls fine but soon as I cross back into it quits working. Occasionally it will even recieve a call and work but then it goes back to autho failure. Any idea where I went wrong?
Verizion or sprint android phone to straight talk on verizon towers
Still looking for anyone who is working on this project. I have found several people selling this service. Anyone have more information to share.
Thanks
Do you guys not search? this thread was orig posted back in Dec asking about flashing VZW to ST, but this guide had been posted already for months, was posted back in August... pretty much has everything you need to do for VZW to ST flashing:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1210240&highlight=+straight+talk+
justan00b said:
Do you guys not search? this thread was orig posted back in Dec asking about flashing VZW to ST, but this guide had been posted already for months, was posted back in August... pretty much has everything you need to do for VZW to ST flashing:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1210240&highlight=+straight+talk+
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ha thats the same thing i was going to post so i can do that method on DROID 1?
But that thread is more specifically aimed at the Fascinate, and it's ilk, than the X or X2's. If anyone has more detailed procedures pertaining to the MB870 please don't hesitate to PM me.
Thread lightly cleaned of ESN discussion. Keep that out of here... Time to reset and get on topic. Final warning.
^^ .... So like I was saying... I'd Just your contract run out, give em a call and tell em that if they want to keep your business switch your phone over to Straight talk. They want your money no matter what but until you push them they won't do squat for you...
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time post here.
I just got off the phone after a nightmare of random reboots and so on and so forth. VZW send me a text today saying an update to my phone was available. Thinking I'd find out if it was simply to disable mobile tether or not I called in. The tech was surprised, but said he did see the notes on my account that the message was sent.
He said it was NOT 2.3, but another maintenance release, approved today for push tomorrow. All of this can be dismissed, however he did say something quite interesting. He said he couldn't fully help me because my phone was rooted. Obviously I denied that, and he said look man, I know it is. I said how? He replied that he could see that I was running DASbamf 2.1, which I am. Explained that it was part of the new system for the 4g phones. Believe me or not, I just wanted to put it out there that VZW can apparently tell, his words were that more than likely, it's pulled from when the phone is activated. Has anyone else heard of either of these? This is also posted on droid forums, just putting that out these to avoid the duplicate talks.
I always thought they knew, just can't do much about it. However, if they start using that information to deny certain services, it would be a major problem.
We need one of the nifty Verizon employees that frequent here to comment on this.
that is interesting. In theory, they could use that to deny warranty claims.
or the devs could just change the listing and fake the rom info right?
Well, thats my thought / hope. He read right back to me saying I was running a custom rom. I got to talking with him and he admitted he was rooted as well, and additionally stated that as a whole VZW doesn't pursue the issue. it just tripped me out, that he read it out. He had a very "don't bull**** me" tone. haha
tricky verizon.... they are catchin on!
if their phones didn't come with so much bloatware i wouldn't feel the need to root.
The screen cap was from today, obviously. What do you guys think of that?
son0fthunder said:
The screen cap was from today, obviously. What do you guys think of that?
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i think you need to charge your phone
i think you should download that and drop it on xda early for all of us.
I agree,I believe a charge is in order
1.21 giggawatts Thunder™
nrfitchett4 said:
that is interesting. In theory, they could use that to deny warranty claims.
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Click to collapse
Anyone dumb enough to return a rooted phone deserves to be denied.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Haha, all warranty-implications aside, that's pretty cool that he could tell you what rom you were running.
Jcase has said before that they can tell, a big give away is you radio/baseband version. Do they care if you're rooted? Probably not unless your stealing services ,in which they are starting to act on and try to eliminate.
I root because I like to tinker with computers, I like the customization and speed that rooting gives us.
No flame please.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA Premium App
son0fthunder said:
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time post here.
I just got off the phone after a nightmare of random reboots and so on and so forth. VZW send me a text today saying an update to my phone was available. Thinking I'd find out if it was simply to disable mobile tether or not I called in. The tech was surprised, but said he did see the notes on my account that the message was sent.
He said it was NOT 2.3, but another maintenance release, approved today for push tomorrow. All of this can be dismissed, however he did say something quite interesting. He said he couldn't fully help me because my phone was rooted. Obviously I denied that, and he said look man, I know it is. I said how? He replied that he could see that I was running DASbamf 2.1, which I am. Explained that it was part of the new system for the 4g phones. Believe me or not, I just wanted to put it out there that VZW can apparently tell, his words were that more than likely, it's pulled from when the phone is activated. Has anyone else heard of either of these? This is also posted on droid forums, just putting that out these to avoid the duplicate talks.
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Click to collapse
Hi. I just bought a Thunderbolt after having problems with Sprint. I was told the same thing and when I mentioned it in the forum from a thread I posted, I was called a liar, among other things. I was told, as you can see from my post, that they also know every site you visit and whether you are paying for the Mobile Hot Spot. Sorry to hear your story, but glad that it validates what I was told from Sprint.
Schedonnardus said:
i think you need to charge your phone
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Click to collapse
That was a great reply!! Hilarious!
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App
I do it to get rid of crapware
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Well I'll just jump on over to Sprint if they terminate my contract! The developer support is the reason I have an Android phone. I'm sure the devs could come up with something to block this though.
Honestly... I think terminating contracts over rooted phones would be one of the dumbest moves a cellular company could make.
It takes a certain technical know-how to root a phone, even with "easy root" phones such as the Google Nexus series. These technical people are also the people that are likely to be in positions of IT buying power in major organizations. If one of these people were to loose service over the rooting their personal phone, they may make the case to organizational management to move the organizational fleet of phones away from that carrier. In turn, the termination of one contract leads to the eventual termination of an entire fleet of phones. This "Mutually Assured Destruction" scenario prevents the cellular carriers from taking any large scale averse action against rooted phones. Furthermore, these technical people frequently talk to each other through rapid dissemination means (i.e. these forums). This sets up another scenario where the cancellation of one person's service may lead to the loss of many current and future subscribers.
These two factors leads to an environment where rooting is tolerated but not encouraged by the carriers. Carriers do not want to encourage rooting because it allows people to get rid of money making applications (i.e. City ID). However, they can not take averse action against rooted phones as that would launch the "mutually assured destruction" scenario discussed above. Carriers have turned to the method of locking down the phones as much as possible to prevent casual rooting of the devices. However, once a device is rooted, it is out of the carrier's control.
I fell asleep shortly after this thread was posted, I will however post updated pics once phone is charged.
Wasn't sure if anyone would find this interesting or even if this is where it needs to be posted... I think it's a good step for consumers!
http://www.cfoworld.com/technology/26143/carrier-iq-drops-legal-threat-against-security-researcher
Might want to check this out too
http://androidsecuritytest.com/features/logs-and-services/loggers/carrieriq/
ALL OTHER THREADS WITH SAME TOPIC WILL BE CLOSED, THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION
I read that CIQ is just a subcontractor and that Google is behind this? Anyone have a source on that or more information?
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/android-news-rumors/10232-verizon-no-carrieriq-our-phones.html
Senate Step In
It's about time
http://gizmodo.com/5864218/carrieriq-gets-hit-with-senate-investigation
I hope this company goes down the pan. Unbelievable they got away with it for so long.
Sent from my Nexus S on CM9, Morfic's SEUV Kernel and some help from Tapatalk!
do our rooted/CFW phones have this?
Its messed up i agree that why has this company is still around. the government or someone is letting this go on. and yes a very good question does our rooted phones have this?
Pretty scary stuff tbh. Hope people get to the bottom of this soon
East2West said:
I'm honestly not that surprised. With all the bloatware that carriers are putting on our phones these days, I had been wondering if they had software like this in the background at their disposal. Yet another reason to switch to an AOSP rom.
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Yep, I normally only use a stock ROM for a few days anyway. Feel bad for the people who don't root and don't have a clue about it. Call me a conspiracy nut but I believe we are spyed on all the time anyway. I feel even more sorry for our kids because when they grow up, I believe surveillance will be everywhere.
Sent from my Nexus S on CM9, Morfic's SEUV Kernel and some help from Tapatalk!
benrees21 said:
Yep, I normally only use a stock ROM for a few days anyway. Feel bad for the people who don't root and don't have a clue about it. Call me a conspiracy nut but I believe we are spyed on all the time anyway. I feel even more sorry for our kids because when they grow up, I believe surveillance will be everywhere.
Sent from my Nexus S on CM9, Morfic's SEUV Kernel and some help from Tapatalk!
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+ 1 I believe it too
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
Just learned of this today. The story was featured on the local news, of all things! http://www.newschannel6now.com/stor...lions-of-phones-secretly-records-all-activity
I just bought a Samsung Captivate Glide, and this really does not help my comfort factor after reading through all of the terms and conditions agreements I had to go through just to get to use some programs. (yes, I did read them)
Phone seems to be too new to get rooted yet...maybe I'll go back to a dumb phone.
Yeah I think this company is f'd I've done a little bit of research and apparantly they are inviolation of some international treaties. Far as I know AOSP Roms don't have any of the carrierIQ crap because I asked that same question on another thread.
Sent from my Incredibly awesome Droid Incredible.
Well here is my experience with Sprint. I called customer support to find out how to remove this and the first woman I spoke to was incredibly rude and did not help at all. She would not even send me a printed copy of my contract, but instead referred me to a generic copy of the contract on the website - not even found in my account but under the plan. When she asked if she resolved my issues, I obviously said absolutely NOT. I was then forwarded to customer relations to find out why she didn't help me - this women was no better. She told me there is no way to opt-out unless I root my phone which would indeed void my manufactors warranty as well as my Insurance which I pay $8 x 2 ($16) a month for.
She did however tell me that there is an application on the market to remove CIQ called "Logging Test" which costs $1. It requires root access however, so we were back to square one. She told me that if I root my phone and anything happened I could accidently drop it in the toilet and they would still replace it since it wouldn't power on, they wouldn't know I rooted it. Little does she know, that application is for HTC Devices ONLY and not the Epic 4G Touch, in fact, if you attempt to use it on the Epic 4G Touch it will indeed (soft) BRICK your phone. WOW! Thanks Sprint, instead of giving me a simple opt-out to illegal wiretapping, you'd prefer that I root my phone, void my warranty, pay for an application to remove CIQ which will indeed (soft) BRICK my phone. What. The. Hell.
She then transferred me to another person, this time a technical support guy higher up I'm assuming. He gave me the same statement that Sprint released a few weeks ago about how they do not collect personal information and that "I need to do my research". The conversation with him went from bad to pretty decent actually when I explained to him what CIQ is, that they can log information on phones that are deactivated or on Wi-Fi networks, that it logs every single keystroak made and that is basically a rootkit. That the U.S. Senate has already sent them a letter demanding to know what information they collect, that a class action lawsuit is coming, which specific carriers have it on their phones and which don't and video proof of the CIQ App logging every bit of information on the phone (including hitting the home key, back key, dialing a number, sending a text and displaying https (secure) logins in PLAIN TEXT.
By the end of the conversation I had woken him up to what CIQ was and proven that I had done my research. He ended up being very nice and interested once he realised that the e-mail he got from Sprint HQ to tell customers was utter bull****. However, the fact of the matter is, they have no way at customer or technical support to help you opt-out - the only way to get it off your phones at the moment is to root your phone and install a custom version (ROM) of Android that does not have CIQ pre-packaged. Any other methods to remove it will be unsucessful and could brick your phone. If you root your phone or install a custom version of Android you have voided your warranty and if you pay insurance, too bad, it voids that too.
Best of luck to everyone who is stuck in a contract with Sprint. I just signed up 4-5 days ago so I still have a chance to cancel my contract and head on over to Verizon who does not install CIQ on their phones (see their statements in the news today).
Well your wrong about Verizon too. They do have CIQ apps. Recently I flashed a sense Rom to my Incredible to give it a whirl and I did log test app on it and it found them so I went back to CM7.
Sent from my Incredibly awesome Droid Incredible.
dirtsky said:
Well your wrong about Verizon too. They do have CIQ apps. Recently I flashed a sense Rom to my Incredible to give it a whirl and I did log test app on it and it found them so I went back to CM7.
Sent from my Incredibly awesome Droid Incredible.
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Are you sure this was a stock ROM from Verizon?
I can't say for sure if they do or don't, I'm just going off the statement that they released today stating that they are sympathetic to consumers who have it installed on their phones and that they do "not have Carrier iQ installed on ANY Verizon phones".
To Gigaom, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson denied any connection with Carrier IQ: “Any report that Verizon Wireless uses Carrier IQ is patently false.”
dbaybay said:
Are you sure this was a stock ROM from Verizon?
I can't say for sure if they do or don't, I'm just going off the statement that they released today stating that they are sympathetic to consumers who have it installed on their phones and that they do "not have Carrier iQ installed on ANY Verizon phones".
To Gigaom, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson denied any connection with Carrier IQ: “Any report that Verizon Wireless uses Carrier IQ is patently false.”
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Click to collapse
My Dad has the Rezound on Verizon and I checked it front to back....NO CIQ installed (He's stock)
Pipsqueak approved this message
Privacy and security issues aside, who told the carriers they could use the airtime we purchased for their utilities?
I'm new to this and I bought the 200mb plan. I've got a data monitor and don't need more than 200mb by using wifi. However for every 15mb or so I used I'd be about 4mb off what the AT&T website posted.
Could this application be using that much of MY paid bandwidth without my permission?
Just an FYI... Carrier IQ just published a new press release.
dbaybay said:
Are you sure this was a stock ROM from Verizon?
I can't say for sure if they do or don't, I'm just going off the statement that they released today stating that they are sympathetic to consumers who have it installed on their phones and that they do "not have Carrier iQ installed on ANY Verizon phones".
To Gigaom, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson denied any connection with Carrier IQ: “Any report that Verizon Wireless uses Carrier IQ is patently false.”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the time I checked I was trying out Ice Cream Sense 1.2 for Droid Incredible. I asked the Rom developer about the CIQ apps but he said it shouldn't.
Sent from my Incredibly awesome Droid Incredible.
users won’t have to worry about keystroke recording– the only data used is not private data.
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And how do they sort between your data and private data? lies... my usage phone stats alone is a attack of privacy.
One question left unaddressed belongs to AT&T and Sprint. Both companies admitted that the software was present on their devices, but neither clarified whether or not users were charged for the data used when Carrier iQ software uploads analytical information to their servers. Users shouldn’t be forced to pay for data that was not used by themselves.
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Still busted.. and it still does it anonymously without your consent.
Carrier IQ = Busted
AT&T = Deep ****e
Sprint = now be Crawl
Seriously.. 14 DEC is Drop the Carrier IQ day.
So, I bought a Verizon galaxy s iii off of craigslist, but did not have a sim card to use. So I brought the phone into the verizon store to get a sim card for it, and I was told that the phone is on a "missing or stolen list" so they could not activate it. Would unlocking the phone allow me to activate it, or is there any other solution? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Should have checked the esn. Might as well sell it on eBay as a bad esn phone for parts.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Only solution is to call the police. Unfortunately you've been scammed.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I thought you could just pop your current 4g sim in and it will work.....you just cannot activate it going from 3g to 4g. I swear i did this to a bad imei thunderbolt and it worked....
This is exactly why you meet people from CL when buying a phone at the verzion store. I make them come in with me, check the ESN. Then we go back out and I give them the money. No other way ever.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
once a person call verizon and reports it lost or stolen it is permanently flagged in their system and cannot be activated anymore, I think in europe all the carriers share banned esn's with each other so you cant just steal a gsm phone and use it on a different gsm carrier, not sure if they do that here
I would see if you can contact the person you got it from but most likely they are long gone and they scammed you knowing full well the phone was stolen, this is why its better to deal with ebay since you are protected from this stuff
do you root your phone?
My issue is very similar but not exactly the same, posting here instead of new thread
This thread seemed to be closest match to what I'm facing... Hi, I'm trying to fix a phone. It's a Samsung Galaxy S3 that's deactivated. It has a Verizon logo on it, but calling 611 connects to AT&T who tells me to call Verizon who claims the imei # is bad because they tried looking it up multiple times and were unable to locate ANY info in their system about it, they recommended that it's not a Verizon phone and I go into the store for the relevant carrier (Which there aren't any AT&T stores around anymore, and I don't feel like walking into Verizon until I've got better/more info so I'm not feeling like an idiot). I believe the phone was previously rooted, because it had a few apps on it such as "rootland" but no su or busybox, but I'm not sure. Rootchecker was already installed but says "no root access" or "root denied". I performed a factory reset. It did nothing. I simply want to have it be capable of being actived on a prepaid acct, I know it was used this way before on Verizon. The baseband is showing as S:i500.05 K.EI20 the kernel version is 2.6.35.7 the model # is SCH-I500. What do I do? My phone number is 60three nine2three 2zero4six my name is Sandra. Please help! I've goggled for hours and simply cannot seem to find any up to date info which is useful! I don't know what to do anymore, my friend needs a working phone as hers sucks and I'm trying to help by getting this one fixed for her to try, because she doesn't have the $ to buy one and this was given to me when the previous owner got a new one and didn't want it anymore but she didn't tell me it was basically a paperweight (probably why she gave it away)... Anyways, help would be fantastic, also I have a computer but no internet, only data plan on my cell, which is why my number is included because if I need to hook it up and hot spot I can but wouldn't be able to communicate online at the same time... The number I provided is connected to a separate phone which is mine and is 100% working, it's a Verizon Galaxy S5 which I'm also trying to root, and it's a pain in the ass not having internet since the block of geohash and towelroot exploit stopped, but I'm close I think, I've done my research and I believe I simply have to down grade the kernel first with odin. I've never actually used odin or rooted a phone but I'm doing my best to learn as much as possible and not bother people. I don't want to be a noob and annoying. Just really stuck here. Sorry msg is so long, figured I'd try to be as detailed as possible to reduce any time on your end so you can either help or point me in a different direction by not having to go back and forth asking questions. Of course if there does happen to be something I left out please don't hesitate to ask. I am seeking your assistance after all. I don't want to bug you or anyone with my issues and lack of ability to sort through... I'm pretty sure I'll have used most of not all my data before being able to read any replies, so calls/text is best to the phone number I included, which I'll repeat again. Sixzerothreeninetwothreetwozerofoursix. I AM PRONG MY PHONE NUMBER ON PURPOSE AND I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF DOING SO INCLUDING STALKERS OR CREEPS OR HACKERS OR WEIRDOS ETC ETC ETC. I GET IT. MIGHT BE CALLED STUPID BUT WHATEVER. I'VE HAD THIS NUMBER FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IT'S NOT HARD TO GET, I GET STRANGE CALLS CONSTANTLY AND I'VE LEARNED HOW TO UNBLOCK CALLER ID AND BLOCK FREAKS FROM CALLING/TEXTING A 2ND TIME. I NEED HELP AND AM WILLING TO CHANCE MORE CALLS/TEXTS OR OTHER ISSUES BY POSTING MY #. I'm a big girl I know the world is scary, I've lived through nightmarish crap, I'll be alright and won't blame anyone but myself if this causes **** to hit the fan. It's official and in writing so xda cannot be held liable AT ALL for ANYTHING, nor can ANYONE ELSE if it is related to my choosing to post this, which I am doing of my own choosing. I'll now eagerly await any help available to fix my issues. I'm hopeful I've come to the right place asking the right people who will help me understand more about what I could do to learn how to get better educated on these topics and in future not require so much of your valuable time. I'm more than willing to put in the time and effort to take responsibility for enacting any actions to perform a solution, I've just gotten very confused and overwhelmed trying to navigate correctly and learn what needs to be done. Pointing me in the correct direction would be wonderful! Thank you in advance!
---------- Post added at 12:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 AM ----------
It has a US cellular logo physically on it. Calling 611 puts me through to AT&T, but I know for a fact it was last used on Verizon prepaid.
---------- Post added at 12:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------
Sorry for that, I have spent so many hours researching the 3 relevant companies, root/unroot info, kernels, roms, builds, learning about variations on android os, and anything I coups find remotely related that I had a slight mix-up, but hope that's now clarified.
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
I really should say I'm surprised but in reality I'm not. Your right when you say they don't care because I've experienced it for myself and with my gf over the phone and my mom for that matter. The sad part is they are getting way too big for even themselves and like most companies don't have very good customer service. I'm unlocked as well and have never had issues with voice calls on this phone, only my first phone with a weird rom. It's not there business to ask you if you've installed a custom rom or not. I wouldn't even of answered the question myself.
Personally i would dump verizon if they treated me like that. I was in the store yesterday with my gf and she is a looooong time VZW customer. I'm taking 14 plus years and she went to best buy to get a phone because VZW doesn't know how to take care of customers at all.
It's a sad trend but the bigger the company the worse the customer service is
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
mrbonine said:
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear that. I have mine until June next year. Not quite sure what I'm doing just yet. The Super power saving mode is quite a nice feature. It basically disables all apps but the essential ones. The battery life then goes way over a day plus on the S5
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Et tu Verizon
Thanks for the info. I did have the MyVerizon app installed, I believe. I don't remember it requesting root, but I sometimes click through those things without paying too much attention (since I'm fairly careful about what goes on the phone); the reason I install software requiring root is to access it (circular, I know) so, they are doing what they must to run. I appreciate the suggestions about other call centers, etc. I do have the contact information from the single most helpful and polite (funny how that goes together) person I talked to through this debacle. I'll drop him a quick note, but really, since they never even bothered to call back, it's clear to me that they want me to leave. Paying over $200 per month to be treated like crap is not something I could ever do. They are big, very profitable, and don't care about anything but extracting cash from people under contract, or too complacent to leave (I'm in the 2nd category until now). Being in a codependent relationship with Verizon is not only self-defeating, but irrational. Until we have some politicians owned by the people instead of corporations we have no chance of reigning these folks in. Sure, they employ lot's of people, but an army of good people working against the best interest of everyone is not good, it's an uncontrollable menace: just look at the banks that gambled with people's homes, lost their bets, then collateralized them when the bottom fell out of their own septic tank of greed. The entire world economy hit an air pocket, but we're still letting the same greed intoxicated pilots fly. My only regret is believing their lies as long as I did. I deserve better, and it's won't be particularly hard to find it. Since the 4.4.3 G3 (nor the 4.1.2 for that matter) are particularly compatible with the GSM carriers, and Samsung is the lookout for the felonious Verizon, I'll probably get a Nexus 5. I think the G5 is better for several reasons, but that's too bad. All of the tech and marketing in the world will not make me "grateful" to manufacturers or carriers that somehow feel controlling how you use the equipment you buy from them is somehow acceptable. The money Verizon cares about is the corporate contracts, since they can manage that process much better, the revenue is less volatile, and they don't have to take calls from subscribers, wasting the money that could be spent on acquisitions, and expanding their market oligarchy. Public utilities create natural monopolies. There are not 2 sets of power lines, or water lines, or sewers running into your home. And the idea that competition from fiber will for improvements from Comcast is false, prices may move, but service will not get better. Only when barriers of entry are low can new competitors help drive down the price of entrenched utilities. We could all create our own mobile system on meshes of unlicensed 5.0 Gig or other spectrum, but it would be very costly to do that and linking this metropolitan radio webs would be tricky. But probably, someone is already working on that. Ask a HAM radio enthusiast about how they handle phone calls over shortwave. They have licenses, yes, but the technology to connect 2-way voice wireless signals to PSTN phone calls has been around for many years. Big corporations exact huge profits and drag down anyone that needs the services, the trick is to find creative ways around them, most importantly by thinking outside of the feature/function cage they've placed around us. Soon, you'll be able to buy just the cable channels you want, perhaps. I have hundreds and I generally watch less than 10.
The accusation flung at me by the enraged employee is little more that hot air. It reflects a corporate culture of mendacity and blame. My fault was to allow him to take control of the conversation, for a millisecond. Whatever I've done to the software on the phone (which, as you noted, was not a ROM change) it's still my phone and not theirs. They don't even provide the "insurance" to replace the failed device, a third party does. I didn't stop my phone from working to get a new phone. Had the replacement worked as well or better as the one it replaced I would have been happy. Now, I'm going over a week with no phone and they will never get paid for that week. The longer it takes to resolve, the less on my final bill, which will be coming up soon. When folks have experiences like this it's best to communicate the problem to the FCC (as if they cared) and their state PUC. Not that they will do anything about it, but it's important to remember they have a duty to regulate whether this group of appointees cares or not. The only thing that affects Verizon is withdrawing my monthly gratuity and when that happens because of abuse, manipulation, and possible fraud, the regulators need to be informed, if only so they can't say they didn't know.
Thanks for the reminder that they have no business asking questions about rooted phones or ROMS. That lingering guilt that one may have done something Daddy Verizon doesn't approve of is there, for sure, but since what I was accused of I didn't do, it was easier to just say, no, I didn't do that.....when I offered to factory reset TWICE during the call and he pretended not to hear me I realized it was all just a manipulative game played by a bully. No, no lunch money for you today, dude. I think they actually hire volatile people and use them as scarecrows. If Verizon didn't want their customers to be exposed to abuse, they'd fire these guys. The second guy was so cold, trying to do the right thing, but hating it. If you've ever been to a time-share presentation and not purchased one, you are familiar with this game. It's not only wrong, but it reflects how truly manipulative and immoral the employers are, they are paying the guy to be insulting, intimidating, and thuggish. So many large companies act this way, it's amazing we let them get away with it. The only way to stop it is to stop paying them and tell them why. I worked in a small hardware store in a small town 30+ years ago. Even when customers were trying some trick, like returning something they didn't buy from us, or a more elaborate ruse (I'll bring the old stuff back tomorrow......), I just explained how it worked and enforced the process; I never shouted, "You are so busted...." These were customers, some making honest errors, some trying to take advantage, but there were none I didn't want to come back again, because it would be bad for business and likely make an enemy. After I leave Verizon I will never give them another dime ever, and I think they honestly don't believe that.
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse