I know this isn't a wm6 question, but I do know this is the most viewed forum for this wizard, and I am really reaching out for help from yall. I am fairly certain my phone just got stolen within the past couple of hours. I'm sure many of yall are like myself, in the face that having your wizard stolen/lost would be probably on of the list of things you would forever dread happening. I have tried calling it and it goes straight to voicemail.. Which for my phone (and probably many of yalls) never never happens. I NEVER turn it off.. Unless its getting a new rom or being reset it doesn't know what being turned off is like... So the fact it is going to voicemail leads me to believe a couple things and scenarios.
First someone jacked it, couldn't figure it out, and it turned it off to later resale or whatever else.
Second, since my phone is the Cingular 8125, if the person who stole it has cingular, they could have popped their sim card in, thus making any call I would recieve go straight to voicemail...
I bought the phone off of ebay, so its never been formerly aknowleged with cingular that I have it.
My question is... If someone was to try to use it, is there anyway cingular would even be able to tell (since technically it was never registered officially with them), or should I possibly say goodbye forever...
Also I had no security/stolen phone programs installed... totally regret that now..
I know its just a phone, and not the end of the world. However I know this is a forum where our phones aren't just always phones, but something we put a lot of time and energy into. So I hope you feel where I am coming from...
I am currently a college student, stuggling as all of us are... So losing it is going to hurt the ole wallet pretty hard no matter what I end up doing.. Any input yall have whatsoever is greatly appreciated..
Thanks for listening and letter me vent...
Unfortunately, its probably gone, and I doubt its traceable (if you know the IMEI of the phone, you might be able to get Cingular to shut it off the network, but I doubt they do much more than that).
I've been thinking about installing one of the anti-theft programs (there is a free one I recall that will detect a differnet SIM card). Seeing your post makes me think I need to find this now and look into doing this (I've come close to leaving mine at a resteraunt a few times).
BTW: While I realize you are a college student, but if you have renters insurance (I'm assuming you don't own a home, otherwise we'd be talking homeowners insurance instead), you could possibly make a claim on this there. Also (not that it helps that much) when you do your taxes next year, you can claim property theft (make sure you have documentation though) as a loss / write off (but you have to itemize to claim that so may not be worth it to you if you don't already itemize).
mfrazzz said:
Unfortunately, its probably gone, and I doubt its traceable (if you know the IMEI of the phone, you might be able to get Cingular to shut it off the network, but I doubt they do much more than that).
I've been thinking about installing one of the anti-theft programs (there is a free one I recall that will detect a differnet SIM card). Seeing your post makes me think I need to find this now and look into doing this (I've come close to leaving mine at a resteraunt a few times).
BTW: While I realize you are a college student, but if you have renters insurance (I'm assuming you don't own a home, otherwise we'd be talking homeowners insurance instead), you could possibly make a claim on this there. Also (not that it helps that much) when you do your taxes next year, you can claim property theft (make sure you have documentation though) as a loss / write off (but you have to itemize to claim that so may not be worth it to you if you don't already itemize).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mfrazzz,
You are truly a good person. Not only do you give your time an effort in regards to fine roms and teaching, but you you reach out and help anyone an regarding anything. You gave Zack84a an honest answer and something too turn a bad situation good. I commend you and appreciate you. It's a nice way to be!
http://thinkabdul.com/2007/03/02/mo...monitor-sim-card-changes-via-gps-coordinates/
the above link is for the above mentioned security freeware, at that site is a link for the download, as well as an explanation of how it works. i'm gonna install it now, and hope it works. sorry to hear about your 8125, i know this link is too late for you, but perhaps will help someone in the future.
I don't know how it works in the US but this is what I would be thinking if this happened to me in the UK...
1. I need to report the SIM card stolen to my carrier straight away. Any calls made on that SIM before I report it stolen means I have to pay for them.
2. When reporting it stolen I'd ask the carrier to block both the SIM and phone IMEI. I don't need to know the IMEI, the carrier can trace that from my phone number. It also doesn't matter if I bought the phone from my carrier or elsewhere as my account with them is registered by the SIM.
3. The best I could hope for is that once the phone is IMEI blocked the thief will throw it away and some kind person will hand it in to a police station. Here in the UK you can register your IMEI on a national police computer database so it can be sent back to you if found (obviously if you don't have a record of your IMEI then you can't do this, and here in the UK a carrier wouldn't be allowed to give you the IMEI).
Hope some of this might help.
akashastrega said:
http://thinkabdul.com/2007/03/02/mo...monitor-sim-card-changes-via-gps-coordinates/
the above link is for the above mentioned security freeware, at that site is a link for the download, as well as an explanation of how it works. i'm gonna install it now, and hope it works. sorry to hear about your 8125, i know this link is too late for you, but perhaps will help someone in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to remember one thing about that software. It only works if your phone has GPS. The 8125 does not have GPS hardware. So this wont do anything for us 8125 or MDA users.
something i did, was change my boot screen. it has an image i like, but using a paint program, i typed over the image:
this mda belongs to jennifer boyd
it may have been lost or stolen
if found please contact me
[email protected]
at least when they boot the phone, unless they whore xda and KNOW how to change the boot screens, they will see this message...in my mind, it may not get my phone back, but at least i will guilt trip the person...and if it is found, perhaps a kind person will actually return it to me.
and all the above suggestions are good. i wish you the best of luck. i'd freak if i lost my precious.
and damn and double damn, i was hoping that software would help. guess i'll stick to my guilt tripping method.
How about this one?
nottoosmart said:
You have to remember one thing about that software. It only works if your phone has GPS. The 8125 does not have GPS hardware. So this wont do anything for us 8125 or MDA users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.scpsoft.com/
I´m sorry Zack84a, I know is too late.... but here it is, doesn´t require GPS and creates a similar message as described in the prvious post.
luiggi said:
http://www.scpsoft.com/
I´m sorry Zack84a, I know is too late.... but here it is, doesn´t require GPS and creates a similar message as described in the prvious post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone used and tested this app? Is it worth $20? Sorry to here about the lost phone Z!
akashastrega said:
something i did, was change my boot screen. it has an image i like, but using a paint program, i typed over the image:
this mda belongs to jennifer boyd
it may have been lost or stolen
if found please contact me
[email protected]
at least when they boot the phone, unless they whore xda and KNOW how to change the boot screens, they will see this message...in my mind, it may not get my phone back, but at least i will guilt trip the person...and if it is found, perhaps a kind person will actually return it to me.
and all the above suggestions are good. i wish you the best of luck. i'd freak if i lost my precious.
and damn and double damn, i was hoping that software would help. guess i'll stick to my guilt tripping method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done a similar thing, by putting the "owner" info into the rom and changing the registry to remove the "owner info" control pannel applet then when they hard reset they get my welcome note same as you and also they can't disable/change owner details
Thanks everyone.....
I've pretty much decided that getting it back is a lost cause.....
I encourage everyone to some type of antitheft application installed... its something I always saw, but always thought "oh it will never happen to me"....
If anyone knows of someone trying to get rid of their wizard, or know of a place other than ebay that sells used phones... please let me know...
Zack
ps mfrazzz
Thanks for the help that you give everyone in this forum.... Its probably no coincidence that you were the first to reply and the fact that I had crossbow reloaded on my phone at time it was stolen... You do awesome work and are an asset to this forum...
eye on thief
Hi
Since a couple of weeks I have the application Eye on Thief on it... and... it works.
Eye on thief is an application that sends an SMS message to a predefined other number (of your girlfiend/mom/dad/... ).
In that way you have the mobile phonenumber of the one who stole it/found it/ bought it from the thief.
akashastrega said:
http://thinkabdul.com/2007/03/02/mo...monitor-sim-card-changes-via-gps-coordinates/
the above link is for the above mentioned security freeware, at that site is a link for the download, as well as an explanation of how it works. i'm gonna install it now, and hope it works. sorry to hear about your 8125, i know this link is too late for you, but perhaps will help someone in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, MobileJustice is free, and it does work fine on the Wizard (you just can't use the GPS or LOCman part of it). I installed it last night on my phone (after reading Zack84a's post) and set it up and it sent an SMS to my wife's phone when I didn't tell it a valid SIM. Also has a feature where you can send an SMS to your phone (so after you get the SMS about an unknown sim, you can reply back) with a password and a command and put messages on the screen of your phone (they don't see the SMS come in, just suddenly a dialog box with your text shows up on the screen).
I've made a package for this, and plan on building this in to the next version of Crossbow Reloaded if people want to use it. Like Zack84a, I've always seen these apps, but just thought I'd do it later... Seeing his post has made me realize I need to put this in place.
Downside with MobileJustice is unless you build something inot the extended rom, a hard reset would knock it out. Some of the commercial stuff apparently does this for you (so that alone may make it worth the $20 or so to register).
IMEI nomber
Hey Zack84a,
Your Cingular 8125 IMEI # is on a label on the original box, if U still got it/keep it.
Hey, I have a friend selling his T-mobile MDA (htc wizard) for $200. Let me know soon, and I can put you in contact with him, cuz he's posting it on ebay.
hey i know exactly how you feel. my phone didnt exactly get stolen but it was lost and i wasnt able to find it. and here in the US theres not much you can do about your phone getting stolen so it really sucks. luckily i got a new one from a friend because he works for cingular and someone that worked there had it.i put the security software on my new phone too.
so im sorry for your lose and hope you figure something out.
mfrazzz said:
Actually, MobileJustice is free, and it does work fine on the Wizard (you just can't use the GPS or LOCman part of it). I installed it last night on my phone (after reading Zack84a's post) and set it up and it sent an SMS to my wife's phone when I didn't tell it a valid SIM. Also has a feature where you can send an SMS to your phone (so after you get the SMS about an unknown sim, you can reply back) with a password and a command and put messages on the screen of your phone (they don't see the SMS come in, just suddenly a dialog box with your text shows up on the screen).
I've made a package for this, and plan on building this in to the next version of Crossbow Reloaded if people want to use it. Like Zack84a, I've always seen these apps, but just thought I'd do it later... Seeing his post has made me realize I need to put this in place.
Downside with MobileJustice is unless you build something inot the extended rom, a hard reset would knock it out. Some of the commercial stuff apparently does this for you (so that alone may make it worth the $20 or so to register).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't figure it out! I put a bogus SIM number in and the wife's phone number to report to and I did a soft reset and nothing!
calouro said:
I can't figure it out! I put a bogus SIM number in and the wife's phone number to report to and I did a soft reset and nothing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the 3rd post of the Crossbow Reloaded 1.7 thread. Maybe that will help. Personally to test it I've just deleted all sim's in the auth list. Just enabled it and setup the person to send it to.
Thanks, but I did what the post said, still no go! I sent an SMS to my wife's phone manually (just to make sure it works) and it went through! So, for some reason, the MJ program just will not work with my config. Not sure why.
Zack84a said:
I know this isn't a wm6 question, but I do know this is the most viewed forum for this wizard, and I am really reaching out for help from yall. I am fairly certain my phone just got stolen within the past couple of hours. I'm sure many of yall are like myself, in the face that having your wizard stolen/lost would be probably on of the list of things you would forever dread happening. I have tried calling it and it goes straight to voicemail.. Which for my phone (and probably many of yalls) never never happens. I NEVER turn it off.. Unless its getting a new rom or being reset it doesn't know what being turned off is like... So the fact it is going to voicemail leads me to believe a couple things and scenarios.
First someone jacked it, couldn't figure it out, and it turned it off to later resale or whatever else.
Second, since my phone is the Cingular 8125, if the person who stole it has cingular, they could have popped their sim card in, thus making any call I would recieve go straight to voicemail...
I bought the phone off of ebay, so its never been formerly aknowleged with cingular that I have it.
My question is... If someone was to try to use it, is there anyway cingular would even be able to tell (since technically it was never registered officially with them), or should I possibly say goodbye forever...
Also I had no security/stolen phone programs installed... totally regret that now..
I know its just a phone, and not the end of the world. However I know this is a forum where our phones aren't just always phones, but something we put a lot of time and energy into. So I hope you feel where I am coming from...
I am currently a college student, stuggling as all of us are... So losing it is going to hurt the ole wallet pretty hard no matter what I end up doing.. Any input yall have whatsoever is greatly appreciated..
Thanks for listening and letter me vent...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you still have your phone box?? perhaps you can report the IMEI of the phone so they disable it and no one can use it, more over they can catch the robber.
Good luck m8. im sorry for you big loss
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+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...
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
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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
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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
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Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
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XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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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
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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
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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
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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