[Q] Selling Broken Contract VZW phones - General Questions and Answers

Recently some of my family members took advantage of T-Mobile's offer to pay the ETF should they switch their lines to T-Mobile. We had older Verizon phones so we gave those to T-Mobile instead of the phones they most recently upgraded to. Since we have these extra phones, we'd like to sell them so that we can have some money to help pay the ETF but we're worried that whoever we sell the phones to will not be able to activate the devices because they are from an account with a broken contract that has not yet paid the ETF. Is it possible that they could have a bad ESN or anything that would prevent the phones from being activated normally? I've tried looking for VZW support documentation but I haven't really found anything. Thanks!

Bump.
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Buying GS3 from friend

I was looking to buy a GS3 from craigslist. But, my friend just bought a GS3 with verizon on a 2 year contract. He is switching to AT&T with an international GS3. He offered to sell me his verizon GS3, even though he is tied to a 2-year contract on it with verizon. I assume he is not going to fulfill his contract with verizon and jump ship to AT&T. My question is, can I just put my SIM into the phone and keep it for myself, or will the phone not work because I did not transfer the ESN to my account? And finally, will verizon allow me to transfer the phone to my account even though it is tied to a 2-year contract on another account. I guess I want to know all this because he wants to sell it to me at his cost, which is the $148 he paid at Walmart, and I won't be tied to a contract extension and get a great deal on the phone. Thanks for your input.
if you already have an account with verizon, then your friend will just have to pay his early termination fee and you can buy his phone and put your SIM in it. If you do not have Verizon or a SIM card, his plan can be transferred to you
I don't think he has the intention to pay the early termination fee. He just wants to sell me the phone and leave verizon. I already have verizon, so I wondering if I can just take the phone with no issues on my end, even if he defaults on his account.
ms2knights said:
I don't think he has the intention to pay the early termination fee. He just wants to sell me the phone and leave verizon. I already have verizon, so I wondering if I can just take the phone with no issues on my end, even if he defaults on his account.
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Click to collapse
No, verizon will blacklist the imei until the amount is paid up.
ms2knights said:
I don't think he has the intention to pay the early termination fee. He just wants to sell me the phone and leave verizon. I already have verizon, so I wondering if I can just take the phone with no issues on my end, even if he defaults on his account.
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That's not good for his credit
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xXJay_RXx said:
That's not good for his credit
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I guess he doesn't really care about it, lol. I was hoping this could work out in my favor, but it seems that it will not. I thought that I could just pop my sim in the phone and use it as my own. I guess I can't get that deal.
Not at all, but if it's in nice shape you could pay his 300 or so termination fee and still be ahead, it's an expensive phone
I appreciate everyone's input. I think I may steer away from this, to avoid any problems.
People like your friend are the reason why verizon has a 350.00 early termination fee.
All he has to do is activate another phone on his line. Like an old flip phone. The SG3 will be taken off his line. And the you can add it to yours with no probelm.
Then he has to deal with ending his contract. The phones are separate from the contracts.
Rocking T2 on the S3 (V)
so if your friend wants to cancel its gonna be $350 no matter what phone he currently has (feature or smart) there might be activation fees also when switching phone on top of that

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
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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
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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
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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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
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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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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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Click to collapse
The note is big, i agree, so im probably getting the s4 as well, the specs are amazing
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Buy on Sprint and later use on TMobile

Will I be able to use the phone on sprint and then when my contract is up use the same phone on T-Mobile?
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slyd0997 said:
Will I be able to use the phone on sprint and then when my contract is up use the same phone on T-Mobile?
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Click to collapse
Well, since the one device has all the frequencies we would assume that it could be used interchangeably. However, if you buy it straight from sprint its really up to them (but they should be required to unlock it as long as your account is in good standing).
I'm hoping the playstore just sells one version that will work on all carriers.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
No, since you used the Galaxy Nexus, if you're one Sprint, there's your answer. Verizon sell 'world phones' but it come through them first, with the software approved and ESN allowed to be activated, there will be two versions if they're going to be a CDMA version.
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big gulps huh? said:
Well, since the one device has all the frequencies we would assume that it could be used interchangeably. However, if you buy it straight from sprint its really up to them (but they should be required to unlock it as long as your account is in good standing).
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Click to collapse
This is what I am hoping for. My Sprint contract doesn't end until February but my SGS2 is starting to show its age and what can I say...I get impatient.
I am hoping to buy a N5 unlocked and it would be great if I could buy it at launch, do a device swap on my Sprint plan so I can use the newer handset for the last few months of the contract, and then buy a T-Mo prepaid SIM for the $30/mo plan, port my number, and cancel Sprint.
I'm gonna have to keep an eye on things to see how that works out since I don't want to just assume it will work and I end up screwing things up somehow. I mean...I can wait until February if I have to, I'd just rather have the new handset sooner than later if I'm already buying it outright with no subsidy.

[Q] Off Contract Advantage?

I am on the Sprint Network and will stay with them for a variety of reasons. I have always had a contract with them and upgraded whenever that opportunity presented itself. I am no longer on a contract and I'm considering a few options. The Note 3 (probably won't go that way due to problems on voice calls), The LG G2 or the Nexus 5. Advantage of the Nexus 5 is that it is off contract but if I am staying with Sprint anyway what advantage is there to being off contract? Sprint won't discount my monthly bill as far as I know so the off contract advantage has me a bit puzzled from the purely dollars and cents point of view. I'd be happy to hear views from others as to why this seems like a good idea. I'm leaning toward the LG G2 which will likely have a better camera and battery than the Nexus 5 and it's only $99 at Sprint with the 2 year contract. I'd go for the Nexus 5 at 399 for the 32GB model if it meant something off my monthly bill but I don't see Sprint giving me a discount just because I bought the Nexus 5 off contract. What am I missing?
I am in the exact same situation as you, except I bought a Note 3 and just returned it. If the Sprint Nexus 5 is available through google play, you buy that, use your upgrade towards an iphone 5s and sell it sealed. If the Nexus 5 winds up being only available through Sprint, then I'm not so sure what I'm going to do.
You can change your mind and leave whenever you want. And with the nexus you will be able to go to any carrier you want (except Verizon).
All in all, it gives you more options on what service provider you want. I would recommend seeing what offers the best service (data and calls) and pick that carrier or see if you can go prepaid. I know straight talk offers at&t and T-Mobile Sim cards and its like $51 a month after taxes for unlimited everything with 2.5 GB uncapped data.
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ricecake2000 said:
You can change your mind and leave whenever you want. And with the nexus you will be able to go to any carrier you want (except Verizon).
All in all, it gives you more options on what service provider you want. I would recommend seeing what offers the best service (data and calls) and pick that carrier or see if you can go prepaid. I know straight talk offers at&t and T-Mobile Sim cards and its like $51 a month after taxes for unlimited everything with 2.5 GB uncapped data.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I totally agree that there are A LOT of options. I've even thought about picking up Tmo @ $30/month, but I'm on Sero, only pay $50/month for unlimited everything, and my Sprint service has been fantastic since relocating to Orlando, FL. Oh decisions decisions
Jocelyn said:
I am in the exact same situation as you, except I bought a Note 3 and just returned it. If the Sprint Nexus 5 is available through google play, you buy that, use your upgrade towards an iphone 5s and sell it sealed. If the Nexus 5 winds up being only available through Sprint, then I'm not so sure what I'm going to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boom Baby. Haha
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Trying to weigh my options as well.
My 2 year contract expired many months ago. I can buy the 16g Nexus 5 for $150 if I sign a new 2 year agreement, I can change to the Sprint One Up plan so I can be eligible for a new phone once a year (not sure pricing details), or I can buy through the Google Playstore for $350/$400. I have so many family members tied to the plan I am on I probably wouldn't switch carriers.
So if I bought through Google and in a year's time I wanted to switch phones I guess I could sell the Nexus 5 then use my upgrade to buy whatever phone I wanted. If I buy through Sprint, the upfront cost is cheaper, but I will have to wait a couple years if I want to switch phones.
Decisions, what do ya'll think?
For someone off-contract but that wants to stick with their post-paid account, the only advantage is flexibility. If coverage or financial conditions changed, you have the choice to be able to switch providers with no termination fees.
The only real exception to that would be the newer T-Mobile post-paid accounts where they do offer plans with lower base costs per month because they split off the phone subsidy, so if you bring your own phone you pay less since you aren't using a subsidy.
If you have a high degree of confidence you will be staying with your current contract provider and that other things like your financial situation will remain stable, I would say it makes more sense to just re-up with them and choose whatever phone you want from them. As far as which one, read some reviews and then try them out in-person at your local provider's store. Everyone has slightly different things they want out of phones, so without specific criteria it would be hard to say whether a Nexus 5 would still be the best phone for you.
I agree with you, flexibility is the main advantage of staying off contract. I've had an S3 for the last couple of years and am getting the itch to switch. If the HTC One came out today I would probably get that because I love the looks and build of it and I liked my original Evo, but it's so "old" now I want something newer - LG G2, Nexus 5 or some other upcoming phone.
electricpope said:
For someone off-contract but that wants to stick with their post-paid account, the only advantage is flexibility. If coverage or financial conditions changed, you have the choice to be able to switch providers with no termination fees.
The only real exception to that would be the newer T-Mobile post-paid accounts where they do offer plans with lower base costs per month because they split off the phone subsidy, so if you bring your own phone you pay less since you aren't using a subsidy.
If you have a high degree of confidence you will be staying with your current contract provider and that other things like your financial situation will remain stable, I would say it makes more sense to just re-up with them and choose whatever phone you want from them. As far as which one, read some reviews and then try them out in-person at your local provider's store. Everyone has slightly different things they want out of phones, so without specific criteria it would be hard to say whether a Nexus 5 would still be the best phone for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It always amazes me how people would rather be in a contract that will require them to pay between $1-2,000 more over two years, instead of buying a phone outright and upfront, and save the money. Unless someone is too broke to afford a phone upfront... Of course if you can't afford a phone upfront, you likely can't afford a $100 monthly cell phone bill either.
wvcadle said:
It always amazes me how people would rather be in a contract that will require them to pay between $1-2,000 more over two years, instead of buying a phone outright and upfront, and save the money. Unless someone is too broke to afford a phone upfront... Of course if you can't afford a phone upfront, you likely can't afford a $100 monthly cell phone bill either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, but for people who only pay $50/month for essentially unlimited everything ( 1000 landline minutes, unlimited mobile minutes, texts, and data), subsidizing phones works in our favor.
We've been w/Sprint forever and have numerous phones on the account. I'm one of the ones who pays $50 for unlimited. I'm assuming I would continue to pay $50/month whether I bought a phone outright or through contract. I doubt if I bought a phone off contract my bill would be lower than $50/month.
Jocelyn said:
Sure, but for people who only pay $50/month for essentially unlimited everything ( 1000 landline minutes, unlimited mobile minutes, texts, and data), subsidizing phones works in our favor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your on contract, why not buy the phone through google play and just use that on Sprint til you leave for ATT/Tmo?
I'm off contract, like a year now.
SageWilliams said:
If your on contract, why not buy the phone through google play and just use that on Sprint til you leave for ATT/Tmo?
Click to expand...
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How to get a Note 5 for only $300!

Note: I take no responsibility if you try this and it doesn't work for you...
So this was totally accidental. But I essentially bought my Note 5 for $300 after trading in two other devices for it. I ordered the note 5 on the edge plan so I could take advantage of the $200 device trade-in. As soon as I got the phone, I paid off the remaining balance so that my monthly fee essentially stayed the same (actually, it somehow got cheaper). In essence, I bought the phone outright for $496 plus tax.
But then about a week or so later, I received a text message saying "Congratulations on buying a new Note 5, you are now eligible for a $200 trade-in" along with a promo code to enter at their website. Mind you, I was skeptical at first since I already traded a phone in, but I went ahead and gave it a shot anyway figuring I've got nothing to lose. I went to the website and put in the promo code (the value of my trade-in device jumped from $1 to $200 lol), received the packaging material in the mail, sent in a pos phone, and received a $200 verizon gift card. This brought my total out of pocket with tax down to $330 for a brand new Note 5. My next step is convincing them to unlock it as I will be doing a lot of international travelling and if they think I'm going to be paying Verizon international roaming fees they are out of their damn minds.
So while I hate Verizon for locking bootloaders, disabling features, and blocking Samsung pay, along with all of their other gimmicks, I am at least a little internally satisfied that I DID get my money's worth on this particular phone. Thank you Verizon. You still suck!
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I did something similar. About to send in my m7 and s3
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Verizon phones are globally unlocked now I believe. Has been that way for a while now.
This has been true for the past few releases since the note 2. However nobody I have talked to at Verizon has been able to give me a straight answer on whether or not the note 5 is factory unlocked which raises my suspicion. In the past, that information was readily available and was actually used as a selling point.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
I got the same text. I wish I had a junk smartphone laying around. I thought about buying a phone on ebay, but didn't want to take the risk.
toskabab said:
This has been true for the past few releases since the note 2. However nobody I have talked to at Verizon has been able to give me a straight answer on whether or not the note 5 is factory unlocked which raises my suspicion. In the past, that information was readily available and was actually used as a selling point.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is def unlocked. Verizon was forced to unlock all LTE phones. It was part of an agreement for frequencies or bands.
Due to Lte 700 Mhz C block rules, the Verizon LTE phones have been sim/carrier unlocked.
That doesn't mean it supports all LTE bands though. You have to check the bands the phones support if you want to use them on another carrier.
I found this cool website willmyphonework.net. to check for frequencies in various countries.
Verizon Note 5 is sim unlocked but i believe they have Knox locked. Meaning you cant root the device and install custom ROMs.
This worked for me!
Thanks!
If you are on one of old's Verizon plan, I am on 1400 family plan, then I upgraded my wife's and my sister in law's phones to note 5 through Costco in California and they signed 2 years contract and got the phones subsidized at $277 including tax with free external charger. I didn't lose my unlimited data either when they upgraded.
I have edge plus that I bought at full price from best buy
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