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Craigslist phone...

Last week my wife broke her Evo. I decided to go on craigslist (I've bought a few phones this way w/ no issues) and get her a decent used phone to get by until we can upgrade. Found an Epic for a good price, got it home, called sprint to activate and they're telling me its active on another account with a high outstanding balance. There's nothing they can do. The d-bag I got it from won't answer my texts. What else can I do with this phone? Thanks
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

JesseJames said:
Last week my wife broke her Evo. I decided to go on craigslist (I've bought a few phones this way w/ no issues) and get her a decent used phone to get by until we can upgrade. Found an Epic for a good price, got it home, called sprint to activate and they're telling me its active on another account with a high outstanding balance. There's nothing they can do. The d-bag I got it from won't answer my texts. What else can I do with this phone? Thanks
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
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Maybe it's me but, I always ask for the ESN to check status before buying a used phone. I once took a used phone and called Verizon to check it while standing there with the person I was buying it off of (he was not looking happy after about 5 min on hold).
You've got a phone that has a "bad ESN" your pretty much done unless the user who had it clears it up. Unless you want to use it as a Wi-FI browsing device or something, there is not much you can do, sorry.
File a police report maybe ? They did sell you a device that that claimed working that was not (they wont do much but, it will be on file). Also, if you text him, try to call him from a different number than the one you texted him from (he might pick up thinking it was someone else).
Good luck, sorry about the news, Lesson learned, always check ESNs before buying a used phone.

DavidinCT said:
Maybe it's me but, I always ask for the ESN to check status before buying a used phone. I once took a used phone and called Verizon to check it while standing there with the person I was buying it off of (he was not looking happy after about 5 min on hold).
You've got a phone that has a "bad ESN" your pretty much done unless the user who had it clears it up. Unless you want to use it as a Wi-FI browsing device or something, there is not much you can do, sorry.
File a police report maybe ? They did sell you a device that that claimed working that was not (they wont do much but, it will be on file). Also, if you text him, try to call him from a different number than the one you texted him from (he might pick up thinking it was someone else).
Good luck, sorry about the news, Lesson learned, always check ESNs before buying a used phone.
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If I ever buy one again I'll definatly ask for the ESN up front I've learned my lesson. I was wondering if I were to unlock it could it be used on another carrier? Like boost mobile or something? Then maybe I could sell it straight up without screwing someone else. I even thought about listing it on ebay with a big bold disclaimer saying it cannot be used with sprint. I gave $200 for it and it's in perfect condition

You can definitely put it on Pageplus, Cricket or Metro. Not sure about VM or Boost since they are also on Sprint's network.

Nexus s + medianet $15 data plan (at&t)

Has anyone gotten this to work?
For this to work, att can't have the imei of our phone. This leaves out the att version sold by best buy USA.
But what about the Canada version?
Sent from my Nexus Uno using XDA app

andrewxu said:
Has anyone gotten this to work?
For this to work, att can't have the imei of our phone. This leaves out the att version sold by best buy USA.
But what about the Canada version?
Sent from my Nexus Uno using XDA app
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If you cant pay you cant play...... Seriously if you cant afford another 10 dollars you shouldn't have bought the phone.

Ok asshole. Instead, I'm a high schooler who wants a dev phone (relying on just the sdk emulator is a *****), and has to pay for it by myself because the nexus s isn't on Verizon, which is what my parents have. I can't sign a contract for another 10 months because I'm not old enough. And I can't afford to wait until the prime, because I have work I want to finish right now.
I'm not using the medianet plan. I'm using the $50 unlimited plan. They work the same, because at&t scans for imeis of known smartphones that they sell, like the atrix. I was just wondering if the canadian nexus s worked because recently best buy USA started selling an att version.
My nexus one never worked on it (only text and calls), so I was just wondering about the s. I can get a new white one for cheap.
Edit: but seriously dude why would you come to a random person and say stuff like that? I guarantee you wouldn't say it to my face. I bet you wont even call me and say it. Why do you think you're so much better because you can sign a contract and pay extra money?

AT&T Crack Down
AT&T will eventually find out that you are using an excessive amount of data throughput via "medianet". I know there was an iPhone 2g trick that would fool AT&T into allowing the $15 plan; however the access in which your smart phone "dials out" to AT&T would expose your phone as being a smart phone. I had an N1 on AT&T and they knew the IMEI number... I bought it via Google too. AT&T has their ways...
The only thing you could do is get the NS, w/ or w/o a 2yr plan and use the DataPlus plan for $15. (If cost is an issue.)

Cost isn't the issue, its the contract. I can't sign one. I'm on an incredible s right now from Canada on the dumb phone plan with ATT and I was just wondering if the nexus would know or not. They knew about my n1 but not my inc s.
CrispiVizz said:
AT&T will eventually find out that you are using an excessive amount of data throughput via "medianet". I know there was an iPhone 2g trick that would fool AT&T into allowing the $15 plan; however the access in which your smart phone "dials out" to AT&T would expose your phone as being a smart phone. I had an N1 on AT&T and they knew the IMEI number... I bought it via Google too. AT&T has their ways...
The only thing you could do is get the NS, w/ or w/o a 2yr plan and use the DataPlus plan for $15. (If cost is an issue.)
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Sent from my HTC Incredible S

I bought one prior to it releasing on AT&T (through Best Buy mobile) and it worked fine on the $10/$15 MEdiaNet Data plan. Decided to sell it as soon as AT&T released it as their own. I've been wondering the same question lately seeing it's one of the best android phones for the price (I can get a used Rogers one for about $300 unsubsidized.) I'm currently using the Desire Z from Bell Canada on the MEdiaNet plan.
P.S. Would you be willing to sell your Incredible S for around $300?

No thanks, I'm looking for closer to 400 on it. But OK cool the nexus worked
Sent from my Incredible S using Tapatalk

First off kid, grow up. Then when you do take a deep breath and realize the stupid reply you actually took the time to write. I would have no problem saying it to your face, while smiling of course. You are like every other kid I deal with daily. In fact I bet you are the type that will start crying thinking it will stop me from writing you a ticket.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

Rem3Dy said:
First off kid, grow up. Then when you do take a deep breath and realize the stupid reply you actually took the time to write. I would have no problem saying it to your face, while smiling of course. You are like every other kid I deal with daily. In fact I bet you are the type that will start crying thinking it will stop me from writing you a ticket.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
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hhaha ohh shoot a cop! mannn i am so sowwy..
i looked through your other posts, you never have anything constructive or productive to write, so im not gonna worry about you. youre an asshole, the kind that give cops a bad name.

You obviously didn't look too hard. I guess that is to be expected. You are right, I am an asshole because I thought it is lame to try to cheat the system for 10 dollars. Good day kid.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

the unlocked t-mobile version isn't seen as a smartphone by at&t and the poor soul who had the nexus one that was spotted as a smartphone, if yours had the t-mobile frequencies then you were just unlucky.
if its built with t-mobile 3g then it will only connect to the EDGE network and i don't think at&t really cares.

Rem3dy,
The OP asked a specific question. If you can't answer it, don't post.
Leave your moral observations for when you are on the clock, and within your jurisdiction.
What you said was unhelpful and insulting. Step down from the high-horse and be helpful or fellate your service weapon.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

theSlack said:
Rem3dy,
The OP asked a specific question. If you can't answer it, don't post.
Leave your moral observations for when you are on the clock, and within your jurisdiction.
What you said was unhelpful and insulting. Step down from the high-horse and be helpful or fellate your service weapon.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
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Thanks for chiming in 17 days late. So I'm on a high horse because I think trying to cheat a company out of 10 bucks was stupid? Are you going to support him when he comes back and asks how to download paid apps for free? Where are you going to draw the line? You say to leave my morals out and to either help the kid or say nothing? So what exactly did your post do to help him?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

lulz! cops gettin trolled and peeps gettin trolled by cops! haha! lulz! Hope this helps.

r0adki111 said:
lulz! cops gettin trolled and peeps gettin trolled by cops! haha! lulz! Hope this helps.
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I laughed!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

Everyone should just stop. I figured it all out, I'm now on straight talk for unlimited everything + 2gb data for $45 a month, and it uses AT&T towers (mvno carrier). This plan worked better, but it requires a $100 fee to start up, but I paid the price because I can't sign contracts.
I wanted to use the medianet plan because I can't sign a contract while I'm under 18. I never wanted to get free apps, or do anything like that. I've been around XDA for a bit, dabbled in devving for a few phones, and I'm pretty sure some of my threads are even stickied. I know the rules etc.
All that said, PLENTY of threads are on XDA about taking advantage of the medianet loophole. It saves $20+ a month, and data is unlimited (not available to other plans) and unthrottled. Many people have no problem sticking it to a corporation that they hate like AT&T, and IMO unlimited data should be unlimited.. smartphone or not, so I had no problem with the idea of it.
Sent from my Incredible S using Tapatalk

I bought a rogers nexus s (french+english text on box) and they changed my data plan

I got a white i9020a (canadian?) and they changed my dataplan from medianet to a smartphone They can't have the IME number though.. and I tethered all the time on my Nokia E71 w/ medianet so I don't think it was data usage that tipped them off.
How could they know I got an i9020a Nexus S? Maybe a heuristic like if you download from Google's market servers you're on a smartphone?

drleospaceman said:
I got a white i9020a (canadian?) and they changed my dataplan from medianet to a smartphone They can't have the IME number though.. and I tethered all the time on my Nokia E71 w/ medianet so I don't think it was data usage that tipped them off.
How could they know I got an i9020a Nexus S? Maybe a heuristic like if you download from Google's market servers you're on a smartphone?
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Nah the imeis are public domain.
And they do sweeps every once in a while I guess. Looks like they got a few people.
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using Tapatalk

[Q] I have a Sprint NExus S with a bad ESN. What can...

I do with it? I tried for days to get a good deal on a Sprint Nexus and inadvertantly bought one that had a bad ESN. I know it was a stupid thing to do and I've learned my lesson. I suppose I'll put it on EBay and try to unload it. I've read that these phones can b used on Cricket but what other options are there? Are there other carriers that can use this phone? Can the average Joe flash these phones to alternate carriers or do they need to be sent to hecking geniuses that charge a fee to do it?
Anyone want to take it off my hands?

That sucks. I believe it may be flashable on metro pcs as well.
Sent from my Nexus S

That really does suck, next time meet at a Sprint store.. you'll never get burned that way. So how much are you wanting for the phone?

xjreyes said:
That really does suck, next time meet at a Sprint store.. you'll never get burned that way. So how much are you wanting for the phone?
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I paid $160 for it. I'd like to try to get my money back. The phone literally is in mint condition. I can't find a single scratch or scuff anywhere on it. It came with a black silicon case. I'm going to register and post it for sale over on the cricket forums. I was reading and it seems like it's a favorite for cricket users.

This really can't be fixed? I hears you can

I have seen them with bad esn sell for 200+ on ebay
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

You can put it on boost without flashing
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

[Q] Is there any such thing as a non-US Sidekick 4G?

I saw a listing on Ebay for Sidekick 4G t839. The seller had all of the same specs and everything listed as every other t839, but in his description text he claimed that they would not work in the US, but only international. Also mentioned you'd need to unlock and that they would not work on T-Mobile. Is there any such thing? IS there any reason to think I could not buy such a phone, unlock it, root it, flash it with a different ROM and run it on ATT like I have done with other T839 Sidekick 4Gs?

SgtMac02 said:
I saw a listing on Ebay for Sidekick 4G t839. The seller had all of the same specs and everything listed as every other t839, but in his description text he claimed that they would not work in the US, but only international. Also mentioned you'd need to unlock and that they would not work on T-Mobile. Is there any such thing? IS there any reason to think I could not buy such a phone, unlock it, root it, flash it with a different ROM and run it on ATT like I have done with other T839 Sidekick 4Gs?
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Sounds like it might be a bad ESN. Trust me there are a lot of reasons not to buy a phone with a bad ESN. In XDA terms, bad ESN = another way to say "Do not buy." A bad ESN simply means the phone is locked or for some other reason you CAN NOT get it activated. Ask the seller for the ESN number, call the carrier of the phone (Probably T-Mobile) and ask them if they can run a check on the esn of that phone, if the seller won't give you the esn, well thats just another way of saying "Do not buy." Don't make a bad decision, if it seems to good to be true. It is.

The auction in question was this one. It ends a little after noon EST today.

Yup, it's a stolen phone.

Tanks for the feedback. I opted out of the bidding on this one...I'll keep waiting to catch another outstanding deal like the one I found for the one I'm currently using. (Trying to find one for my wife now)

I seend the phone for about 250+ nothing higher than 300 its a rage though
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App

I actually picked mine up in good condition off Craigslist for $70. I'm trying to find another deal for about $100 (now that I realize how much they're actually worth and what a good deal I got). I've seen quite a few that I could snag for near that, but my timing keeps missing out.

Anyone else upgrading in next few months?

Anyone else upgrading to a different phone within the next few months? If so which phone? Ill be upgrading to the galaxy s4 once its released
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

I'm downgrading actually to the iPhone 6 lol jk I want Note 3 figured if I save a dollar a day from here til it comes out I'll still be like $400 short lol
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Haha, the note 2 is already like $700, the note 3 going to be like $900? I may acquire an s4 or something new like it, but not sure whats going to be out in 5-6 months as im going army reserves and will be gone for some time
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

idk my contract ends on September but i asked on t-mobile and they said the earliest i can renew my contract with full discount and everything will be in march on my b-day but i might just wait till a holiday so i can get those juicy specials so maybe the s4 or note 3 on the 4th of july
anybody wanna make a new holiday?:laugh::laugh: lol

So... by the time you're renewing your contract, will T-Mo have scrapped their classic plans and phone subsidies completely yet?

My contract is due next week. I want a Nexus 4 and use it with a prepaid service. Here in PR, TMo signal is not good or maybe is this phone not being able to pick 3G. I don't know. My mom has AT&T and she has signal everywhere with her Samsung Focus. So, I think Nexus 4 with one of those minor carriers that uses AT&T network. Won't go back to a two year contract hopefully never in my life. It's been a pain in the...
My gf got a Note 2 and it's great, but without contract is too expensive, worth 2 N4. So Nexus it shall be.

Im waiting on my N4 to get here. Ive already bought the sim from straight talk. I advise any of you guys that plan on using straight talk to goto walmart.com and buy the att micro sim while its in stock. After they are gone no more att straight talk byod sims. Apparently they lost a contract with att to sell just the sims. Ill be picking up two more in the coming weeks if they are still available just because.
Chris if you are going to goto a att mvno make sure you can bring your own phone. Most of them restrict you to their phones. Atleast in the states they do.

My contract expired over a month ago and as always it will depend on $$$. I want my next device to be LTE capable. It's great that T-Mobile is finally implementing LTE yet it's only in a few markets right now. last time I looked the Note 2 was the only LTE device T-Mobile had. I heard they'll be getting the LTE capable Galaxy S3 soon. Until T-Mobile steps up with adequate devices it's pointless to upgrade yet. Just my opinion.

I'm on Chris' s same track. I also live in PR and Tmo's signal is unpredictable. My contract expired 3 weeks ago, and my wife bought me the Note 2. I can't complain, I'm in love again with my device as i was with my SGS4G. Battery life is amazing, considering the 3100mAh and running pure stock, with some bloat removed. :thumbup:
I still lurk around this community and test some of the Roms here, as I gave my SGS4 to my son.
Sent from my Die Hard Galaxy Note II

eollie said:
Im waiting on my N4 to get here. Ive already bought the sim from straight talk. I advise any of you guys that plan on using straight talk to goto walmart.com and buy the att micro sim while its in stock. After they are gone no more att straight talk byod sims. Apparently they lost a contract with att to sell just the sims.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy a SIM cutter for a few dollars that will punch a micro out of a standard one.
For example, http://www.amazon.com/Noosy-Generation-Micro-Cutter-adapters/dp/B005EMS1YG/ or http://www.amazon.com/QQ-Tech®-Cutter-Standard-iPhone-Adapters/dp/B009P16FKY/
(I have not used one of these, but the reviews seem good)
Posted from my SGS4G, thanks to Team Acid development

jeffsf said:
You can buy a SIM cutter for a few dollars that will punch a micro out of a standard one.
Posted from my SGS4G, thanks to Team Acid development
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Or download templates online or borrow a micro one and line it up and cut it with scissors or just wing it. lol. I have an old prepaid card that I use for unlocking iPhones with (still legal in Canada) and I just winged it and cut it and it works.

jeffsf said:
You can buy a SIM cutter for a few dollars that will punch a micro out of a standard one.
Posted from my SGS4G, thanks to Team Acid development
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Its not a matter of the sim size. They are going to stop selling the att brand sims. It will be only T-Mobile brand sim cards.

eollie said:
Its not a matter of the sim size. They are going to stop selling the att brand sims. It will be only T-Mobile brand sim cards.
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Does that mean that they'll also loose the tower contract with ATT? I haven't looked into it at all but isn't the tower contract part of anti monopoly law? If so is this ATT's way of finding a workaround?

I've got to say that getting off the subsidy-based plan makes far too much sense to me now, especially with T-Mobile re-farming the spectrum in the US. With better alignment of the bands, I find it hard to consider a T-Mobile-crippled phone (both hardware and firmware). When you take into account the difference in price in the plans over a two-year period, even if it is only $20 a month (and it is significantly more for me), that is $480 -- which is probably more than the subsidy would "buy" you anyways.

jeffsf said:
I've got to say that getting off the subsidy-based plan makes far too much sense to me now, especially with T-Mobile re-farming the spectrum in the US. With better alignment of the bands, I find it hard to consider a T-Mobile-crippled phone (both hardware and firmware). When you take into account the difference in price in the plans over a two-year period, even if it is only $20 a month (and it is significantly more for me), that is $480 -- which is probably more than the subsidy would "buy" you anyways.
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Yep. Add to that that unlocking a carrier based phone is "illegal" and I'll only be buying non branded phones. Plus the international versions always have better specs than the US versions anyway. I don't live in an LTE area so that is far from a deal breaker for me.

hechoen said:
Does that mean that they'll also loose the tower contract with ATT? I haven't looked into it at all but isn't the tower contract part of anti monopoly law? If so is this ATT's way of finding a workaround?
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No just the sims for the byod plans. I just ported my number to straight talk today. It was a pain in the ass but ugh finally. From the limited info given out straight talk just lost sim card contracts. Tower usage is still the same. But if you get the t-mobile sim you CANT connect to the att towers.
Unlocking your phone is not illegal as long as you get permission. I am on the fence on that as I think people shouldnt buy phones subsidized then unlock pay etf and change carriers. But if you have been a customer long enough for them to give the code it shouldnt be a issue.

Is the note 3 and s4 going to be LTE? I live in Tennessee and im sure theres no LTE out here but it wont bother me any.
And isnt it only illegal to unlock a phone if it was bought after a certain date? Or is it legal if you buy it straight out or from another owner
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

I will probably get the s4 when it comes out in April. I like the Note, but it is kinda big.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

gizmoscoop said:
I will probably get the s4 when it comes out in April. I like the Note, but it is kinda big.
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The note is big, i agree, so im probably getting the s4 as well, the specs are amazing
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