Related
no
Take it to a TMO store, I doubt anyone here will be too willing to help giving the possibility that you may have a stolen device.
If it is rooted there is a way, I don't have the link, but you use adb to pull and edit one of the db's , if it is not rooted, then most likely SOL ...
colaicee said:
i work at a cellphone repair shop. we also buy sale and trade phones. i use XDA a lot for the new android phones coming out when people have problems.
my coworker bought a vibrant from a customer that came into our store, the thing is that now the phone is patterned locked and we dont know the original email address. he said that it was working fine when he first purchased it. my guess is the customer unlocked it before my coworker played around with the phone.
anyways, no i didnt steal it. or any of that bs. we have a business license, a store front, and 99.9% feedback on ebay.
pm me if theres a way. willing to paypal for info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you really did buy it, then call the person up and ask them.... unless i'm mistaken if any store buys stuff from customers they're supposed to document all information in case the item has been stolen
The phone is locked regardless. There is an android bug that doesn't allow the phone to verify the google credentials after you try the pattern lock too many times. Even if if was the OP's actual phone, he'd need to either factory reset, flash a new rom to the device, or get a replacement phone.
No one here will be able to help you get past it. There were security holes that allowed people to bypass it, but Google has sinec patched those, without fixing the fundamental issue (users, their children, their friends locking them out and basically "bricking" the device for all intents and purposes).
You got got, and it's probably a stolen device (not saying you stole it, someone else could have).
If you go to T-Mobile they will ask for you account information and check the IMEI against you account. T-Mobile uses different bands as AT&T so there aren't that many people buying Vibrants up front to unlock them and use them on different carriers, TBQH. If that IMEI belongs to someone else (it's even on you contract/reciept), they won't replace the phone. They will assume it's stolen.
Maybe if you start a contract/new line the reps in the store may help you out, though.
However, contacting Samsung may yield better results, but I think the Warranty is handled by T-Mobile, unless it's a hardware defect (hardware locked devices and pattern lockouts are both software issues).
"No i didn't steal it"
LOL
:/........
Nvm, lol
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
If it is rooted you could always try this ..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=485988
ookas said:
if you really did buy it, then call the person up and ask them.... unless i'm mistaken if any store buys stuff from customers they're supposed to document all information in case the item has been stolen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, good call there. if the op purchased the phone he should have all of the sellers info on file.
..
do you have phone insurance?
Oh duuuude...
you should definitely call t-mobile and tell them. they can lock the phone by tracking your IMEI or something, rendering the phone useless (that is, if the guy isn't a tech wizard). As for getting a new phone, if your insurance covers it, then you should ask them for one. I doubt it, though, because every time I wanted a replacement phone, I had to send them my old one.
they may not be able to locate your phone w/o the sim card in there. if you have the box with the imei or ssid number, that would be your best bet.
..
sure, by buying one...there is no way to get a replacement without insurance....and even with insurance you had to pay $130...
emonero said:
sure, by buying one...there is no way to get a replacement without insurance....and even with insurance you had to pay $130...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh wait, I thought it is free for getting a new one with insurance
climhazzard1993 said:
this sounds stupid but i was using my phone as an ipod for a month or so (it didnt have the sim card because my parents took it away cuz i got grounded) and some @!#$ stole it in the locker room.. sdfgjhas.. now what do i do? do i tell t-mobile my phone got stolen? or will i have to buy a new one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, you shouldn't use language like that, I'm reffering to F word you used. That word is derogatory, homophobic, and not appropriate.
Anyway, tell your parents, and notify the school.
If you have insurance, notify Assurion insurance (130 deductable).
climhazzard1993 said:
i dont have insurance.. so i guess im screwed? is there any way i can get a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without insurance, if you came to my store or called CARE we would be able to see how long it's been since you purchased your Vibrant. You would probably get a very minor discount, if any. You're pretty much close to buying one outright so it's best not to use any kind of early upgrade unless it's a good deal.
As for blocking an IMEI, I don't know why people continue to suggest this. I have never been able to call in an get a phone blacklisted or blocked after it's been stolen. Maybe they just don't like me or I'm calling the wrong people.
Some ideas for your next Android. On our store demos we either install Lookout or SmrtGuard. Lookout seems to be the better of the two apps because you can remote activate GPS and track the phone. However, with SmrtGuard you can setup SIM Guardian that will register your SIM and when someone inserts another into the phone the phone will send a text to a number you assign or an e-mail. You can also track with GPS by this app.
Again, I've never been able to get T-Mobile to track a phone for a customer just because of theft. It has to be a serious crime with the police involved.
I'm sorry to heard about your lost phone and I hope you can get a replacement.
rjwisniewski said:
Without insurance, if you came to my store or called CARE we would be able to see how long it's been since you purchased your Vibrant. You would probably get a very minor discount, if any. You're pretty much close to buying one outright so it's best not to use any kind of early upgrade unless it's a good deal.
As for blocking an IMEI, I don't know why people continue to suggest this. I have never been able to call in an get a phone blacklisted or blocked after it's been stolen. Maybe they just don't like me or I'm calling the wrong people.
Some ideas for your next Android. On our store demos we either install Lookout or SmrtGuard. Lookout seems to be the better of the two apps because you can remote activate GPS and track the phone. However, with SmrtGuard you can setup SIM Guardian that will register your SIM and when someone inserts another into the phone the phone will send a text to a number you assign or an e-mail. You can also track with GPS by this app.
Again, I've never been able to get T-Mobile to track a phone for a customer just because of theft. It has to be a serious crime with the police involved.
I'm sorry to heard about your lost phone and I hope you can get a replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your right, T-Mobile won't blacklist an IMEI. I don't think any North America carrier will.
suchavibrantthang said:
they may not be able to locate your phone w/o the sim card in there. if you have the box with the imei or ssid number, that would be your best bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile doesn't track phones without a court order, and u wont get that unless you were robbed beaten up and probably almost killed.
Its the thieves phone now welcome to GSM.
130 deductible to get a replacement. Call assurion for that.
Happened to me, BTW. You're sol and nothing anyone else says here that is different has a chance of being true.
Tell assurion u lost it, cause for stolen phone they require a police report (no the cops will not try to find ur phone, either)...
Cdma carriers block esn. GSM carriers make more money. With phones being easily factory resettable you have to tether yourself to a GSM phone to avoid getting pwnd.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
climhazzard1993 said:
i dont have insurance.. so i guess im screwed? is there any way i can get a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. Oh, no insurance. Guessed saving six a month paid off eh?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Homophobic?
Rotfl... seriously just stop. Nothing derogatory about using that term to refer to a thief...
SamsungVibrant said:
First of all, you shouldn't use language like that, I'm reffering to F word you used. That word is derogatory, homophobic, and not appropriate.
Anyway, tell your parents, and notify the school.
If you have insurance, notify Assurion insurance (130 deductable).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Ur SOL son. Next time watch ur stuff more closely. FYI there an app called Kor.im phone locator that will send u an email if ur another sim card is put into u r phone. The email will contain the new sim cards serial number which will help track down who has ur phone. That is if they don't reset the phone, erasing the app in the process.
Sent from THE Vibrant......
Criminals return to the scene of the crime. Let him steal something traceable. lol
sarge363 said:
Ur SOL son. Next time watch ur stuff more closely. FYI there an app called Kor.im phone locator that will send u an email if ur another sim card is put into u r phone. The email will contain the new sim cards serial number which will help track down who has ur phone. That is if they don't reset the phone, erasing the app in the process.
Sent from THE Vibrant......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone with a brain will factory reset before they put a sim in the phone, and most security apparently run on the phone with obvious notification bar icons visible.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
N8ter said:
Anyone with a brain will factory reset before they put a sim in the phone, and most security apparently run on the phone with obvious notification bar icons visible.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then he should just put that app in system/app.. Most people that steal phones don't know how to wipe it completely.. they just know how to factory reset lol
But to the Op.. yeah you are SOL w/o insurance lol
N8ter said:
Homophobic?
Rotfl... seriously just stop. Nothing derogatory about using that term to refer to a thief...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that word is offensive, even if using it towards a thief, it is still offensive. You don't have to be gay to take offense, you just have to have common sense. I don't like that word just as much as I don't like the N word.
I'm sure there are Android users from the LGBT community who use this forum, and they don't need to log on and see the F word.
Master™ said:
Then he should just put that app in system/app.. Most people that steal phones don't know how to wipe it completely.. they just know how to factory reset lol
But to the Op.. yeah you are SOL w/o insurance lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't matter. The factory reset option in Android is too easy to get to, and too easy to perform. It isn't even password-protected. The 3 button method can be done 5 minutes after swiping the phone on the way to the local library to list it for sale on CraigsList.
The only way to make sure someone can't profit/benefit from stealing your phone is to not use a GSM carrier in the United States. Use a CDMA carrier.
The companies care more about their bottom line than what's right. I had this argument with Assurion and T-Mobile when my phone got stolen.
Even with a pattery lock on the phone, unless it's a hardware locked phone it only takes 5 seconds for them to completely wipe the phone clean, pop their SIM card in, and brag about the new phone they got for Christmas.
9/10 the phone ends up getting sold, though.
The carriers are more than able to blacklist the IMEIs, but without inter-carrier cooperation that is kind of useless.
So wait a minute. I can lose my vibrant, and I can report it lost and T-Mobile nor Assurion will block the IMEI? Someone on T-Mobile can find my phone, put in their SIM card, and T-Mobile will do nothing? They won't block the phone? They won't even call the person who is using my phone and kindly ask them to return it?
Well I don't really know why I'm asking, I already know the answer. I've lost a T-Mobile phone before, and they admited someone was using my phone, but they said they couldn't do anything about it for me, not even a courtesy call asking the finder to return it.
T-mobile has a record of every single sim card that has ever been placed into a phone. Even if you stick your sim card in there for 5 seconds, as long as it registers on the network, they keep the sim info documented.
It just shocks me, even at a customers request, that they wouldn't block the IMEI number on their own network.
Hi, I have a stock samsung galaxy s3 phone and i heard google now is an amazing feature so i was tempted to upgrade to jelly bean and i used odin to flash my s3 with jelly bean available on sammobile but it came up without network service.
i then tried to flash it to stock firmware but after repeated attemps i could not get network service. tired and without sleep i finally handed it to samsung service centre. Now, i would like to know why this happened and will it get fixed or have i permanently broken something??
It may be modem related. I think you maybe rushed things sending it back to Samsung.
Did you happen to lose your IMEI in the process? An EFS corruption is another possibility, next time make sure to have a proper backup for it.
Anyway, generally speaking, if the phone is able to boot into download mode (and you made the proper backups) you are not totally screwed.
VulguM said:
It may be modem related. I think you maybe rushed things sending it back to Samsung.
Did you happen to lose your IMEI in the process? An EFS corruption is another possibility, next time make sure to have a proper backup for it.
Anyway, generally speaking, if the phone is able to boot into download mode (and you made the proper backups) you are not totally screwed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phew, thank you thank you thank you for your reply. i heard someone say to me it might be an EFS corruption. probably i did rush into sending it to samsung but i was so nervous and stupid and tired...hoping to get back my phone soon. they take ages to fix anything and service is so bad. nobody picks the phone. no timelines...nothing. Oh by the way i did not make any backups. I just want the phone working again and i dont mind installing all things all over. so is it screwed without a backup?
seedheart said:
Phew, thank you thank you thank you for your reply. i heard someone say to me it might be an EFS corruption. probably i did rush into sending it to samsung but i was so nervous and stupid and tired...hoping to get back my phone soon. they take ages to fix anything and service is so bad. nobody picks the phone. no timelines...nothing. Oh by the way i did not make any backups. I just want the phone working again and i dont mind installing all things all over. so is it screwed without a backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they just called that the phone is ready. i will go now and see what they have done with it.
Ops always ask xda users first before you take another step which you think is impossible.
Sent from my GT-I9300
hero000 said:
Ops always ask xda users first before you take another step which you think is impossible.
Sent from my GT-I9300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i will do that next time. will post soon what they have done with my phone
seedheart said:
Yes, i will do that next time. will post soon what they have done with my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just wondering was the phone rooted and did they cover warranty or did you have to pay for the repair? Just wondering exactly where service centers actually stand (not what the book says)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
delsus said:
I'm just wondering was the phone rooted and did they cover warranty or did you have to pay for the repair? Just wondering exactly where service centers actually stand (not what the book says)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid $45 for the repair. got the phone back but its not doing voice calls on network. just data. Need to go back to samsung but what do you think has happened?
IMEI blocked
seedheart said:
I paid $45 for the repair. got the phone back but its not doing voice calls on network. just data. Need to go back to samsung but what do you think has happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is now blocked by vodafone. IMEI blocked. They wont tell why. Now what do i do?
Check if the imei (dial *#06#) is the same one as on the box or under the battery.
If not and it's not 49.... then the repair shop transplanted a imei from another device which is illegal and can bring both of you in lots of trouble. If it's 49... then the imei is a default one and it's not repaired.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
d4fseeker said:
Check if the imei (dial *#06#) is the same one as on the box or under the battery.
If not and it's not 49.... then the repair shop transplanted a imei from another device which is illegal and can bring both of you in lots of trouble. If it's 49... then the imei is a default one and it's not repaired.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They said there was a problem with mainboard and they replaced it. Then the GT-I9300 became a GT-I9300 T.
Help!! Anyone...someone...
If it became a i9300T then they have replaced it with an incorrect MB - probably not a biggie as it is the Telstra variant.
I would take it back to them. Tell them they have used the wrong MB AND it isn't working. Handing you back a phone which will not connect requires a pretty good explanation as to why they consider it fixed.
Did you check the IMEI as d4fseeker mentioned? What do you have in there? If Voda have blocked you it is likely they have used an incorrect IMEI when 'fixing' your phone so when you go in act all scared about possible legal problems and if they get sticky tell them you will have to go to the police to let them know because you don't want to get arrested for stealing your own phone.
I'm no expert here, but from what I have read so far I think they have placed you in a very good position - were you to get nasty they'd be in serious trouble, with the law as well as Samsung (if they are an authorised repairer.
Download Lyriquidperfection's EFS Pro and make an EFS backup so you have the evidence, maybe make a nandroid backup as well, then go back, indignation firmly in hand and tell them they didn't fix your phone, and, also, they seem to have used an ilegal IMEI etc.
Of course, if your IMEI is still the same, maybe they've done something else. I'm not sure how they'd do it but maybe if they replaced the MB then somehow put your original IMEI back I'm pretty sure that would show at Voda as being an incorrect IMEI.
Hope that helps...
seedheart said:
Help!! Anyone...someone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I'm reading is driving me mad.... this happened to me... I have the S3 GT-i9300 and while updraging I had the very same problem. Im on the 3network and when the install was done after 3 times with no network I got worried all I did to rectifie this was to start from scratch wipe cash and wipe the dalvik cash you will now lose evrything unless you did a backup using TB and backing up your desktops. Start from the begining and donot deviate... I used this how to link put the http: before address.. site wont let me do this yet. //galaxys3root.com/galaxy-s3-roms/how-to-install-custom-rom-on-rooted-galaxy-s3/ and it all came up and with my network too... yeah PHEW!!! was my thoughts... but if yours has now been to shop for so called repairs.. and now blocked.. freekin heck.. not sure what they have done.. is it not just your sim thats blocked?
What have you now got to lose... try it..
Loz.
Loz1 said:
What I'm reading is driving me mad.... this happened to me... I have the S3 GT-i9300 and while updraging I had the very same problem. Im on the 3network and when the install was done after 3 times with no network I got worried all I did to rectifie this was to start from scratch wipe cash and wipe the dalvik cash you will now lose evrything unless you did a backup using TB and backing up your desktops. Start from the begining and donot deviate... I used this how to link put the http: before address.. site wont let me do this yet. //galaxys3root.com/galaxy-s3-roms/how-to-install-custom-rom-on-rooted-galaxy-s3/ and it all came up and with my network too... yeah PHEW!!! was my thoughts... but if yours has now been to shop for so called repairs.. and now blocked.. freekin heck.. not sure what they have done.. is it not just your sim thats blocked?
What have you now got to lose... try it..
Loz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In all this process I have successfully gone mad. The IMEI on the box and my phone is different and they told me they replaced the main board for FREE!!. Mainboard costs a lot so i dont understand why would anyone do anything for free. I contacted them and they asked me to talk to the head office. they said its standard process and they cant do anything...Not sure if the police will do anything either. They have lots of other serious issues to handle than a freakin firmware upgrade!! Damn!
seedheart said:
In all this process I have successfully gone mad. The IMEI on the box and my phone is different and they told me they replaced the main board for FREE!!. Mainboard costs a lot so i dont understand why would anyone do anything for free. I contacted them and they asked me to talk to the head office. they said its standard process and they cant do anything...Not sure if the police will do anything either. They have lots of other serious issues to handle than a freakin firmware upgrade!! Damn!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance of sending it back to have the original board put back? Or the fact is if they have changed the board it's there duty to hand it back working or the phone back how they got it with little or no charge for labour. This really sounds like a scam deal you got here.
Loz
The only legit way I can think of to replace a MB free is to do a warranty replacement - in which case you should not have been charged the $45 either.
Police aren't the only option, but they are the most serious. It probably doesn't even matter if the cops action your complaint or not, the threat should get some action, but you should save it up till you have had no response on the other alternatives. And if they try to tell you the cops will not be interested, politely explain the cops might be VERY interested in criminal activity that the perpetrators think is incidental.
After all, even Interpol gets interested in phone scams of this nature. The potential for terrorists to use such altered phones to avoid scrutiny is enough to kick security into high gear, and if your local cops don't think of it you can always say, in a rather timid manner , I'm just worried they may be producing untraceable phones for criminals - I'm betting the cops would be knocking on the service guys door before you got to the front door of the cop shop.
But, before that you can talk to Voda or a Samsung centre and mention you got your IMEI changed and now your service provider has cut you off. I'd imagine they would be most interested in the details of the service people.
And you do't even have to threaten the service guy, just say, when you get no helpful fix, 'I guess I will have to talk to Vodafone or Samsung to get things restored - who should I tell them to talk to here to get things cleared up?'
Another question is whether the service place is where you got the phone. If not, talk to the vendor and explain that the service has done strange things to your phone and charged you extra for a warranty job (if that's the case) - they may want to change who they use for servicing.
I've got almost no experience in the phone side but after 25 years doing Desktop Support for PC's I can tell you that you are in a solid position - one way or another, these guys have done a shoofty and that leaves you holding the cards. Just stay calm and don't make threats, just comment about what you will have to do next.
For example, with the service guy, you could say, 'So I guess the next step is to talk to the cops - whoever got you the MB could be getting them illegally seeing the IMEI doesn't work. Do the police talk to you or do you have someone else who does the ordering?'
Your case Is similar like me but I am getting no service......no calls no texts after flashing UK Rom
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Journyman16 said:
The only legit way I can think of to replace a MB free is to do a warranty replacement - in which case you should not have been charged the $45 either.
Police aren't the only option, but they are the most serious. It probably doesn't even matter if the cops action your complaint or not, the threat should get some action, but you should save it up till you have had no response on the other alternatives. And if they try to tell you the cops will not be interested, politely explain the cops might be VERY interested in criminal activity that the perpetrators think is incidental.
After all, even Interpol gets interested in phone scams of this nature. The potential for terrorists to use such altered phones to avoid scrutiny is enough to kick security into high gear, and if your local cops don't think of it you can always say, in a rather timid manner , I'm just worried they may be producing untraceable phones for criminals - I'm betting the cops would be knocking on the service guys door before you got to the front door of the cop shop.
But, before that you can talk to Voda or a Samsung centre and mention you got your IMEI changed and now your service provider has cut you off. I'd imagine they would be most interested in the details of the service people.
And you do't even have to threaten the service guy, just say, when you get no helpful fix, 'I guess I will have to talk to Vodafone or Samsung to get things restored - who should I tell them to talk to here to get things cleared up?'
Another question is whether the service place is where you got the phone. If not, talk to the vendor and explain that the service has done strange things to your phone and charged you extra for a warranty job (if that's the case) - they may want to change who they use for servicing.
I've got almost no experience in the phone side but after 25 years doing Desktop Support for PC's I can tell you that you are in a solid position - one way or another, these guys have done a shoofty and that leaves you holding the cards. Just stay calm and don't make threats, just comment about what you will have to do next.
For example, with the service guy, you could say, 'So I guess the next step is to talk to the cops - whoever got you the MB could be getting them illegally seeing the IMEI doesn't work. Do the police talk to you or do you have someone else who does the ordering?'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what does a "/03" at the end of the IMEI number indicate??
Please see the following thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1918601
Ok so ive read alot from the pro devs and people on the forums that unlocking your bootloader most "likely" wont void your warrenty esp. if you just relock it by restoring your TA backup and your carefull and clean about it but i have two problems with believing this. They are as fellows.
cant the sony apps just check for root and send a message
the service app knows if its unlocked and since youve entered your imei number to get your key again coulddnt sony send a message with your imei number
isnt the accounts linked between sony and google shared in the least which means the above questions can be passed on with google to sony
according to sony even if it doesnt void the warrenty that you agree to pay an additional repair fee for modified software.
Lets not beat around the bush and just say it would more than likly void your warrenty or at least have some cost. sorry if ive missread items on the forums but if i have read correctly or others have missunderstood as i may have hipefully this clears the air. Cause after all sony is company to make money but to make money they have to keep us happy so i am more than happy to admit i dont have a clue where it lies but i was about to unlock my boot loader when there was all these disclaimers which kinda scared me. my phones already rooted though so i may have already broken those disclaimers. END RANT.
Rooting is fine, as to my knowledge. It's unlocking the bootloader that you lose your "DRM" keys and thus lose warranty. But from what I've read, very few service centers check for that anyway. If all goes downhill, play the ignorance card and pretend that you do not know a thing about that. I'm fairly new to the whole rooting/unlocking scene and still learning, just as you. Also, from what I've been told, you have little to worry about if you have rooted/unlocked your phone.
As far as I understand you only have to pay if your issue is a software fault aka your fault not sonys. A hardware fault is a hardware fault irrelevant of software
I remember someone posting a thread about sony refused to service his phone without a charge for a hardware fault because of the bootloader was unlocked. That's in Australia tho. Not sure how somewhere else is like.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jeremy.shi said:
I remember someone posting a thread about sony refused to service his phone without a charge for a hardware fault because of the bootloader was unlocked. That's in Australia tho. Not sure how somewhere else is like.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's about right. Australia's not the most customer service friendliest country to be in (with literally less than a handful of exceptions, and this is across ALL industries, be it hospitality or electronics.)
The usual immediate reaction to most warranty claims are "you've done something with the phone to cause this," followed be "prove you haven't done this and we'll accept it, unless we can prove the opposite."
Happening with me and my current phone (samsung s3,) which is why I'm on this neck of the woods with the forum as I'm looking or a new phone.
grungypoo said:
That's about right. Australia's not the most customer service friendliest country to be in (with literally less than a handful of exceptions, and this is across ALL industries, be it hospitality or electronics.)
The usual immediate reaction to most warranty claims are "you've done something with the phone to cause this," followed be "prove you haven't done this and we'll accept it, unless we can prove the opposite."
Happening with me and my current phone (samsung s3,) which is why I'm on this neck of the woods with the forum as I'm looking or a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I don't know. Maybe I'm just lucky. Shops in my suburb offer pretty good customer service. Those people over the phone from my bank, NAB, couldn't be friendlier...the time I had really bad customer service was with Vodafone, but they were not based in Australia. I guess that doesn't count.
Anyway, if after-sale service is what you are looking for, get a nexus from google play store. They are pretty much like Apple I heard. They send you a replacement if there's anything wrong and then you send your phone to them, but you have the get the phone from play store directly in order to get that kinda service. Otherwise, you will be stuck dealing with LG.
I have received really good customer service from Apple, but I guess most people here are mostly android fans.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jeremy.shi said:
Well, I don't know. Maybe I'm just lucky. Shops in my suburb offer pretty good customer service. Those people over the phone from my bank, NAB, couldn't be friendlier...the time I had really bad customer service was with Vodafone, but they were not based in Australia. I guess that doesn't count.
Anyway, if after-sale service is what you are looking for, get a nexus from google play store. They are pretty much like Apple I heard. They send you a replacement if there's anything wrong and then you send your phone to them, but you have the get the phone from play store directly in order to get that kinda service. Otherwise, you will be stuck dealing with LG.
I have received really good customer service from Apple, but I guess most people here are mostly android fans.
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Well I definitely think that Apple has their warranty service down to a tee.
I also think that Telstra's doing this too. What they're doing is creating an extra layer, where they just pretty much "accept" any errors, send it to warranty department to sort out and let you know what the result is. None of this "well, I think you're trying to screw the system, etc etc" talk.
Makes it alot easier. I was at the samsung experience shop and was told by someone who had no tech idea (in the tech/warranty support section, mind you) that I've tampered with the phone and there is no way it will be fixed under warranty, in an attempt to make me feel bad and walk away from trying to get a hardware error (power button,) fixed under warranty. When I tried to explain to them how the bootloader works and how you can reset the counter, they took it as an act of aggression and told me flat "no, you can hand it in but we'll know. Your risk."
I mean, there's no need for that as the phone's going to repair centre to get looked at but they just need to get that swipe in definitely doesn't help add to the customer service experience. But that's pretty much how it is for customer service in Australia.
grungypoo said:
Well I definitely think that Apple has their warranty service down to a tee.
I also think that Telstra's doing this too. What they're doing is creating an extra layer, where they just pretty much "accept" any errors, send it to warranty department to sort out and let you know what the result is. None of this "well, I think you're trying to screw the system, etc etc" talk.
Makes it alot easier. I was at the samsung experience shop and was told by someone who had no tech idea (in the tech/warranty support section, mind you) that I've tampered with the phone and there is no way it will be fixed under warranty, in an attempt to make me feel bad and walk away from trying to get a hardware error (power button,) fixed under warranty. When I tried to explain to them how the bootloader works and how you can reset the counter, they took it as an act of aggression and told me flat "no, you can hand it in but we'll know. Your risk."
I mean, there's no need for that as the phone's going to repair centre to get looked at but they just need to get that swipe in definitely doesn't help add to the customer service experience. But that's pretty much how it is for customer service in Australia.
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Saying about Telstra, just not long ago, a guy on WP posted something about their warranty policy. He said he was asked to sign a piece of paper to declare that if the fault was determined to be caused by the user, he would be charged for the service. I guess they just don't say it out loud to you. Instead, they ask you to sign a legal document that is pretty much an open cheque. However, I never had any personal experience with them. It's just what I read on the internet.
jeremy.shi said:
Saying about Telstra, just not long ago, a guy on WP posted something about their warranty policy. He said he was asked to sign a piece of paper to declare that if the fault was determined to be caused by the user, he would be charged for the service. I guess they just don't say it out loud to you. Instead, they ask you to sign a legal document that is pretty much an open cheque. However, I never had any personal experience with them. It's just what I read on the internet.
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Sounds about right, and that's pretty standard tho'.
I think it's better that way because the techs make the decision based only on the phone they see, not the person who has it.
The only part I'd have a problem with is if they charge people automatically as opposed to giving them a quote first. But then again it stops people from "trying to get it fixed under warranty," if you know what I mean.
In any case, I was at the Samsung shop again today and they guy asked questions about the phone. At first the phone seemed like everything was working, which embarrassed me and had the guy asking if I got the phone wet, but then it started bootlooping, so they swapped it for another phone. I'm still looking at getting a z2 tho'.
hey thanks for the info but has anyone had any reports for hardfaults directly with sony becuase sonys websites say there may be a charge just for unlocking it but they arnt clear?
Why would one unlock the boot loader?
firecard said:
Why would one unlock the boot loader?
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To install a custom ROM.
grungypoo said:
Sounds about right, and that's pretty standard tho'.
I think it's better that way because the techs make the decision based only on the phone they see, not the person who has it.
The only part I'd have a problem with is if they charge people automatically as opposed to giving them a quote first. But then again it stops people from "trying to get it fixed under warranty," if you know what I mean.
In any case, I was at the Samsung shop again today and they guy asked questions about the phone. At first the phone seemed like everything was working, which embarrassed me and had the guy asking if I got the phone wet, but then it started bootlooping, so they swapped it for another phone. I'm still looking at getting a z2 tho'.
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I went to Telstra today to get my phone fixed as Sony advised me that the issue I had was likely to be a hardware problem. It went really well. He did play around with it a bit and verified the problem. He said I would get a brand new unit within a week and he didn't ask me to sign anything. Hopefully I can get my hands on a perfect one soon.
You didn't sign anything? So basically there's no official record of them taking your phone, hopefully all goes well but if not your screwed :-/
Hmm... did he even fill anything in on the computer systems?
Hopefully you remember the guy's name and when you came in if it goes awry.
This probably isn't the best place for this, but I don't really know where else to ask about it.
A few months ago I was on a trip and I found a MetroPCS phone that was locked. There was very little I could do about figuring out who the owner was (it wasn't anyone's in the group I was in) or trying to unlock the phone (no way!). When I got home, I called up MetroPCS and explained my predicament, but they were surprisingly unhelpful and basically told me I had to take it to the store, and even then they likely couldn't do anything for me or the owner. After a bit of arguing about how ridiculous that is, the support guy ended up essentially telling me to throw out/recycle the phone. Obviously there's a whole other issue here with their support on this issue, but I won't touch that at the moment.
Well, the nearest store is really far from me (over an hour away) and its out of the way from any normal driving I do, so I ended up just throwing the phone in a drawer for a while. I was cleaning up yesterday and I found it again, so I decided to look into this once more. Today I learned about ESN and IMEI blacklisting, and I looked the phone up to see and of course it is blacklisted because it was reported lost.
Is there anything I can do with this thing? I guess I could sell it for parts on eBay or something like that, but I feel weird selling a phone that a lot of potential buyers would yell "stolen!" at.
Ductapemaster said:
This probably isn't the best place for this, but I don't really know where else to ask about it.
A few months ago I was on a trip and I found a MetroPCS phone that was locked. There was very little I could do about figuring out who the owner was (it wasn't anyone's in the group I was in) or trying to unlock the phone (no way!). When I got home, I called up MetroPCS and explained my predicament, but they were surprisingly unhelpful and basically told me I had to take it to the store, and even then they likely couldn't do anything for me or the owner. After a bit of arguing about how ridiculous that is, the support guy ended up essentially telling me to throw out/recycle the phone. Obviously there's a whole other issue here with their support on this issue, but I won't touch that at the moment.
Well, the nearest store is really far from me (over an hour away) and its out of the way from any normal driving I do, so I ended up just throwing the phone in a drawer for a while. I was cleaning up yesterday and I found it again, so I decided to look into this once more. Today I learned about ESN and IMEI blacklisting, and I looked the phone up to see and of course it is blacklisted because it was reported lost.
Is there anything I can do with this thing? I guess I could sell it for parts on eBay or something like that, but I feel weird selling a phone that a lot of potential buyers would yell "stolen!" at.
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Wifi toy for the kids / nieces / nephews / friend ...?
Obviously the phone is a lost cause at this stage, despite your best efforts. Typically there is a way to use a button combo to get into recovery to wipe the phone so the previous user's data and passwords will be removed. How to do so, or if it is possible, depends on the model.
Ductapemaster said:
Today I learned about ESN and IMEI blacklisting, and I looked the phone up to see and of course it is blacklisted because it was reported lost.
Is there anything I can do with this thing? I guess I could sell it for parts on eBay or something like that, but I feel weird selling a phone that a lot of potential buyers would yell "stolen!" at.
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You can sell it, just list it as having a bad ESN/IMEI and "for parts".
If there's a SIM card, you could pop it in a MetroPCS or unlocked GSM phone and it should have the phone number (Settings -> About device -> Status). Call/text the number (from another phone, obviously).