[Q] AT&T Service - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Maybe I'm crazy...
I went to AT&T today to switch my number and service. My Vibrant is unlocked and everything went fine, they ported the number, started the service, etc and then suddenly they said "This is a 24 month contract" and, of course, I told them no and to switch it back to T-Mobile. They said it was not possible for me to use my phone and not sign a two year contract unless I went prepaid -- is this true?
I've taken phones to Verizon and T-Mobile sans contract and got service. I freaking hate telecoms - what's wrong with me paying someone and in exchange they give me service without me signing my life away or having to fill minutes up. On a side note I talked to ATT Online and they said I wouldn't have to sign a contract.

No, this is not true. Just go to the store, buy a sim card for like 25 bucks and then call customer service to activate.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Related

Do not upgrade via net or phone!

I have been an AT&T customer for 9 years now and still have my original voice plan which has since been replaced by more expensive plans. I initially tried to upgrade from my iphone 3s to the SG2 via the internet but I could not get the $199 price. I called into Small Business Support (my account is linked to my company's so I get a discount on my monthly bill). AT&T support said that my voice plan was so obsoleted so I would have to upgrade to a current plan. However, to even get close to the minutes I have, I would have to pay about $25 more a month. On top of that, I would lose my true unlimited data plan I had with my iphone 3gs. I told the rep I have a been a customer for 9 years, yada, yada but they would not budge.
Feeling pretty mad about the situation I walked into an AT&T store, chatted up some young kid, got my $199 upgrade, kept my voice and data plan.
Moral to the story, do not upgrade over the net or phone. The folks on the phone are trained to read from a script and not deviate at all. It may be less convenient, but go into a store, talk to someone. I have found people at the stores are almost always willing to "pull some strings" and work with you.
tboooe said:
I have been an AT&T customer for 9 years now and still have my original voice plan which has since been replaced by more expensive plans. I initially tried to upgrade from my iphone 3s to the SG2 via the internet but I could not get the $199 price. I called into Small Business Support (my account is linked to my company's so I get a discount on my monthly bill). AT&T support said that my voice plan was so obsoleted so I would have to upgrade to a current plan. However, to even get close to the minutes I have, I would have to pay about $25 more a month. On top of that, I would lose my true unlimited data plan I had with my iphone 3gs. I told the rep I have a been a customer for 9 years, yada, yada but they would not budge.
Feeling pretty mad about the situation I walked into an AT&T store, chatted up some young kid, got my $199 upgrade, kept my voice and data plan.
Moral to the story, do not upgrade over the net or phone. The folks on the phone are trained to read from a script and not deviate at all. It may be less convenient, but go into a store, talk to someone. I have found people at the stores are almost always willing to "pull some strings" and work with you.
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Click to collapse
Call again. You are grand fathered in for unlimited data. They have to let you keep your rate plan and unlimited data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
seh6183 said:
Call again. You are grand fathered in for unlimited data. They have to let you keep your rate plan and unlimited data.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called 3 times, talked to 5 different people...wasted over an hour and got no where. Walked into a store and walked out 15 min later with my SG2 and my grandfathered voice and data plan.
I had a similar experence......I had a HTC Inspire, and damaged it. So I needed a new phone. I called AT&T but they said I had to pay full price reguardless if I wanted to resign or not. Now keep in mind I am not up for a upgrade so I figured that was fair.
I couldnt wait for the phone to come in the mail and being I was paying full price I may as well go to the local store. I went to my local AT&T, and the guy there hooked me up with the upgrade price.
So I was able to get a better deal by walking into the local store even after I was told "no sir, sorry you have to pay full retail price. There is nothing we can do"
kezell said:
I had a similar experence......I had a HTC Inspire, and damaged it. So I needed a new phone. I called AT&T but they said I had to pay full price reguardless if I wanted to resign or not. Now keep in mind I am not up for a upgrade so I figured that was fair.
I couldnt wait for the phone to come in the mail and being I was paying full price I may as well go to the local store. I went to my local AT&T, and the guy there hooked me up with the upgrade price.
So I was able to get a better deal by walking into the local store even after I was told "no sir, sorry you have to pay full retail price. There is nothing we can do"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well luckily your area carries the phone, my captivate died on me with endless rebooting and I broke the digitizer by dropping it *first and only drop in 15 months* and I contacted att's fb page about seeing if the insurance deductible was dropping down from $ 125, as well as I asked about why should I pay for their branded sgs 2 when for $ 10 more I could get an unlocked international sgs 2. A csr called me back with in an hour and gave me an early upgrade with out having to pay full price. The only issue I had to order the phone from the store but I still get to keep my data and text plan *have family text and unlimited calling to any mobile*. $ 242 out the door but I am still with out a phone because the local stores do not carry the sgs 2 in my area. Moral of the story, is be nice and literally att will bend over backwards for their customers because they could have told me spend $ 550 or good luck lol..
Cheers,
Charlie
@tboooe > are you sure that kid at the store didn't 'accidentally' upgrade your plan as well? I'd wait to see the bill next month before saying that you good to go with your old limits
vladm7 said:
@tboooe > are you sure that kid at the store didn't 'accidentally' upgrade your plan as well? I'd wait to see the bill next month before saying that you good to go with your old limits
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Click to collapse
LOL! I thought the same thing so I checked my account a few days later..luckily nothing changed.
Even worse, I WORKED for AT&T for years. I had an Employee Plan(No contract,) and when I went to switch to my captivate a year ago, they booted me from the plan. I raised hell, and settled on being in a contract, at full price, then asked them to grandfather in my unlimited data from the employee plan.
They said they don't have a record of me ever being a customer before I started my last contract, even though I worked for AT&T, and paid them monthly, for over two years.
vladm7 said:
@tboooe > are you sure that kid at the store didn't 'accidentally' upgrade your plan as well? I'd wait to see the bill next month before saying that you good to go with your old limits
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DING!
I've seen lots of unscrupulous dealers pull the same #(%#.. Only interested in the sale.
Mall kiosks are the worst, super high turnover and will lie to you about anything to get your signature on the dotted line... Waived activation fees, imaginary discounts, etc.
I have had a few customers who have come to me, I've let them know about the changes required (smartphone = required data plan). They were upset, so they went to a kiosk, where they were 'promised' that nothing would change, waived act. fees, etc.. Then wanna come yelling at me why their bill went from 120$ for 4 phones, to over $180..
I've never had problems with my local corporate store. I've known for a long time to avoid kiosks - ALWAYS go to a corporate-owned store.
When I got my Infuse, I was upgraded to the 4G unlimited plan. Grandfathered right in, didn't even need to ask, was told, "You won't lose your unlimited data" and I didn't.

[Q] Registering View on Sprint without contract

I purchased an HTC View online and received it today. Has anyone had any luck registering one of these on Sprint without signing a contract? I tried at my local Sprint store and didn't have any luck. It's a "good" Sprint store too - one that understands customer service and usually bends over backwards to make their customers happy.
I'm currently a Sprint customer and would like to sign up for their $20/mo plan for times when wifi isn't available.
Apologies if this has already been discussed - I did some searching and couldn't find any useful information.
Thank you.
They still make you sign a two year contract. I couldn't get around it. However, if a newer device comes out on Sprint, you should be able to upgrade immediately, provided you didn't buy through Sprint initially and have to wait for their upgrade.
Yeah they make you sign a contract. They also offer a prepaid option but the monthly rate is 45 with 1.5gb of 3g/4g. They also have daily and weekly plans. Think its like 15 foe day and 30 for week. I forget. I'm running on the monthly right now just to test it out.... works good so far.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Sprint sucks! I went to the store because I saw the news flash on prepaid. Store said they have no prepaid. I called sprint and they said no and transerred me to Boost, they offered it (wrong). Disconnected twice, then I called local boost store, only boost handsets can join.
I gave up and while playing with it last night, I found the prepaid option on the activation screen. I selected the month (daily and weekly were options) for 49.99 and and used my cc on the screen and 4G works pretty good.
I bought my View from ebay without contract. I called Sprint and after some haggling got on the $19.99 plan with no contract. They did however charge me an activation fee of $36 which I called later about and had it waived.
Like it so far and use it when I dont want to burn my Evo 3d's battery when tethering.
Also I have an upgrade available on this new line that I might use for an upgraded phone. That would mean a new contract though on that View line.
I tried to use the "Free Day" romo code but it would not work.
I wonder if a bad esn is to blame
http://reviews.ebay.com/BAD-ESN-Carrier-wont-activate-the-phone-What-2-Do?ugid=10000000007584227
Always better to call rather than go into the store for something that is outside of official policy. We are tracked on everything we do so unless it's an honest mistake the store usually won't do something like that.
Just call care and make a reasoned argument.. Be patient and calm and keep hanging up and calling back later till you get someone who will do it.
Otherwise you should be able to do the month to month option for 50... But I'm sure you can eventually get someone to do the 19.99 1gb plan with no contract. I haven't looked into how to do it as a customer so I will get back to you when I go back to work. Merry Christmas!
Edit: forgot to mention, if you get calls or texts rating the service, rate them as perfect and that they fixed your issue on the first call even if they can't. Not fair to penalize them for something they aren't supposed to do. Unless they are jerks, lol.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
huynhc said:
Yeah they make you sign a contract. They also offer a prepaid option but the monthly rate is 45 with 1.5gb of 3g/4g. They also have daily and weekly plans. Think its like 15 foe day and 30 for week. I forget. I'm running on the monthly right now just to test it out.... works good so far.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one in store or in customer service on the phone knows about the pay as you go data plan.
I could only activate mine using the $49.99 option I accidently left remeber my credit card check and got a message about how sprint will automatically renew for me thanks
tried to find a place in Sprint Zone to change it no luck. Tried to create an online account to manage it nope. Looks like I am canceling my credit card in a month
I also bought an Evo View from ebay. Today I went to Sprint and bought an iphone4S. Then I came home and moved my service over to the Evo View. (This won't work online- you have to use Sprint Zone on the tablet). Now I've got my Evo on a two year plan for $20/month and an iPhone I can sell.
*edit- unable to add source link since I'm a new user- search fatwallet for more info*
meconfu5ed said:
I also bought an Evo View from ebay. Today I went to Sprint and bought an iphone4S. Then I came home and moved my service over to the Evo View. (This won't work online- you have to use Sprint Zone on the tablet). Now I've got my Evo on a two year plan for $20/month and an iPhone I can sell.
*edit- unable to add source link since I'm a new user- search fatwallet for more info*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an awesome idea.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
meconfu5ed said:
I also bought an Evo View from ebay. Today I went to Sprint and bought an iphone4S. Then I came home and moved my service over to the Evo View. (This won't work online- you have to use Sprint Zone on the tablet). Now I've got my Evo on a two year plan for $20/month and an iPhone I can sell.
*edit- unable to add source link since I'm a new user- search fatwallet for more info*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this same exact thing. Worked great! The Sprint rep seemed a little confused at first when she asked me "what kind of a device are you transferring you iPhone 4S' service to?" Once I told her it was an HTC Evo View tablet, she witched it right over to a tablet plan.
I sold the iPhone on ebay for $530 which payed for the phone and the tablet.
Just make sure to tell the rep at the store not to open the iPhone! That way you can sell it sealed.
I'm trying to convince sprint to let me activate this thing without contract. So far I've talked to 3 or 4 different folks and nobody seems to want to budge. There's no way I'm signing a 2 year contract on this thing.. Anyone else had any luck?
Why bother lol. Just tether the flyer by usb cable or wifi hotspot from your smartphone. Works great.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
I have an iphone on at&t so tethering, meh probably not worth the effort.. this is the first android device that really stuck with me and I love it so I'd love to have data on the go.. Now to get rid of the xoom (I hate that thing sooo much)
After haggling with some reps I managed to get the 1gb plan month to month. Took some time but it's active with no contract. I am however going to cancel the service since I hardly use it to justify the fee.
This was back in mid December.
Sent from my Evo 3D
I just activated a Samsung Galaxy Tab with Sprint, and when they said there would be a contract, I told them I wasn't interested. The guy persisted, so I said "thanks anyway, but I'll pass." He then said he'd check with his supervisor, and after a couple minutes came back with the same story. I told him once again I wasn't interested in a 2 year contract and that I'd just forget about it. He said he'd try "one last time" with his supervisor or account services. At that point I knew I was in, and sure enough he came back on with an account services rep who explained that if I wanted to cancel I'd have to call and let them know, to not just abandon the service. No problem. So it is possible, you just have to be persistent and if at first you don't succeed, try again with another rep on another day.

[Q] T-Mobile Advice

I have a HTC One in my hand 1 day after finally getting an order thru (5 calls after the original web order). Shipping speed was astoundingly good.
Here's my situation: I am switching from Sprint to TMO and have 2 months left on Sprint contract. I have not yet activated my TMO SIM. The plan I chose was the non-contract, Simple Choice.
I have an offer from HTC to trade in my Sprint phone for $100 rebate, and an offer from TMO for a $50 rebate (the $100 is dated which is why I hurried and am dealing with potential overlap).
Will I be charged monthly by TMO for service if I haven't yet activated the SIM? Does the charge start the day I activate the SIM? What are the downsides to waiting a month or 2 on this?
I think that with people switching to TMO in droves with these new phones out, this question will come up.
My understanding, service does not start until SIM is active.
Thanks, that makes sense. The sim card itself says "must activate by 2015"
How much did you pay for the phone? If you paid 580 you will get charged b/c your on a post paid service. If you paid 650 you are most likely prepaid and will have to pay your service when you activate the sim.
The date on the sim means nothing to consumers it is internal use.
Hope that helps
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
I switched to tmo postpaid a few months ago and they billed me for the few days my SIM card was in the mail. You could call them from your Sprint line to be sure but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that tmo is already charging you for service.
essdiddy said:
How much did you pay for the phone? If you paid 580 you will get charged b/c your on a post paid service. If you paid 650 you are most likely prepaid and will have to pay your service when you activate the sim.
The date on the sim means nothing to consumers it is internal use.
Hope that helps
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm on the payment plan. paid 99 + 20 for 24 mos. but i'm on the 50/mo plan.
oh well might as well activate. i can eat the ETF with Sprint.
If you're doing the financing part you are definately post paid and already getting charged for service regardless of sim status. I want to check something, but don't cancel sprint yet. O will post another reply later today.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
If the OP did not get a new number, then the SIM is not activated. Was a new phone number given when you bought it OP?
Found It
RangerLG said:
If the OP did not get a new number, then the SIM is not activated. Was a new phone number given when you bought it OP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The actual sim card is irrelevant, he could change 6 different sim cards a day on the same phone number/account and it would not affect the date of when the service was activated. His account was activated when the financing was started on a post paid service. He is currently being charge for service regardless of whether it is in use, it is accessible to him.
essdiddy said:
If you're doing the financing part you are definitely post paid and already getting charged for service regardless of sim status. I want to check something, but don't cancel sprint yet. O will post another reply later today.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I was looking for. If you did this online or through telesales, you might qualify for a $50 rebate, it would help on that ETF. It looks like you have to port which is why i said don't cancel your sprint yet, port it to the new TMO service. I didn't read the fine print, just wanted to point you in the right direction. Hope it helps, and I cant wait to hear about what you think on the HTC One. Still waiting on shipping on mine
RangerLG said:
If the OP did not get a new number, then the SIM is not activated. Was a new phone number given when you bought it OP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not receive a new number until I put the SIM in the phone last night.
Early Termination from Sprint is cheaper than I expected, so it's a no brainer for me at this point.
essdiddy said:
The actual sim card is irrelevant, he could change 6 different sim cards a day on the same phone number/account and it would not affect the date of when the service was activated. His account was activated when the financing was started on a post paid service. He is currently being charge for service regardless of whether it is in use, it is accessible to him.
This is what I was looking for. If you did this online or through telesales, you might qualify for a $50 rebate, it would help on that ETF. It looks like you have to port which is why i said don't cancel your sprint yet, port it to the new TMO service. I didn't read the fine print, just wanted to point you in the right direction. Hope it helps, and I cant wait to hear about what you think on the HTC One. Still waiting on shipping on mine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you kindly-- I found this too yesterday and have filled out the form. This is 1/3 of the total 150 in rebates I hope to get.
hammysink said:
i'm on the payment plan. paid 99 + 20 for 24 mos. but i'm on the 50/mo plan.
oh well might as well activate. i can eat the ETF with Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you try to get out of your contract with sprint. That's why I did. Let me find the thread about it.
I had a year left on my plan but since they made a change to their terms and services by changing the surcharges on my bill I got out etf free.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Your etf should be $50 if you have 2 months left. If you get good service with T-Mobile then you should port.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] buy without plan?

I'm trying to buy htc one from tmobile online without any plan, is there a way to do it?
It keeps saying "plan is required to complete this transaction"
Can't.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Can't as far as I know.
-Sent from Marino's Nexus 7-
You have to have a line with Tmobile already. Sign into your account, go to "upgrade this line" and you can get the phone in your cart without a new plan.
Or you can just call Tmobile (you don't need an account with them to do this). They'll sell one to you over the phone and you won't need a plan.
jasonleb1 said:
You have to have a line with Tmobile already. Sign into your account, go to "upgrade this line" and you can get the phone in your cart without a new plan.
Or you can just call Tmobile (you don't need an account with them to do this). They'll sell one to you over the phone and you won't need a plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a prepaid plan (T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 unlimited Web and text with 100 minutes of talk)
when I try to upgrade there it says "Your profile email address is missing or invalid. In order to upgrade, you must have a valid email address in your My T-Mobile profile"
email is correct, I guess the only option is order on the phone?
smashcz said:
I have a prepaid plan (T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 unlimited Web and text with 100 minutes of talk)
when I try to upgrade there it says "Your profile email address is missing or invalid. In order to upgrade, you must have a valid email address in your My T-Mobile profile"
email is correct, I guess the only option is order on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got that too when I tried to upgrade through my own account. But I'm not the account holder. I logged into her account and was able to upgrade just fine.
I'd recommend calling though.
jasonleb1 said:
I got that too when I tried to upgrade through my own account. But I'm not the account holder. I logged into her account and was able to upgrade just fine.
I'd recommend calling though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try call, lady said it will be only online, so I can't order on the phone..
It's ridiculous that phone carriers now force a data plan on you if you want to get a smartphone so I feel your pain. I go between my house and school and have WiFi in both places so I have no need for a data plan.
One time I kept complaining to a T-Mobile rep until she finally let me order the phone without adding data but I don't know if it would work again. Maybe call again and explain your situation over and over and maybe you'll have some luck like I did.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Do you have a Walmart in your area? I'm in Virginia and the only place where I live that carries T-Mobile is Walmart. You can buy it there but it's $650 but you can walk out with it without a contract.
Sent from my SCH-R950 using xda app-developers app
pacom20003 said:
It's ridiculous that phone carriers now force a data plan on you if you want to get a smartphone so I feel your pain. I go between my house and school and have WiFi in both places so I have no need for a data plan.
One time I kept complaining to a T-Mobile rep until she finally let me order the phone without adding data but I don't know if it would work again. Maybe call again and explain your situation over and over and maybe you'll have some luck like I did.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently switched my family plan to their new plan from a very old family plan that we've had for years.
Their most basic plan has 500mb of internet included (which is probably more than I use when I'm not on wifi).
You can buy one without a plan but the cost is 650. Not the 580 that everyone pays "with a qualified plan"
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
I was in the same boat as you. I have the $30 plan and an activated pre paid SIM.
I went through the same struggles with the online ordering and customer service. Finally I decided to just buy it as a new line because since I was paying full price I could just cancel the service and keep the phone. I got the order in but there is some kind of fulfilling glitch and my order has been stuck in processing for a week.
Getting tired of dealing with incompetent people on the phone, I started to look around for a store that was carrying the One and I finally found a store in Arlington, VA. I drove out there and was able to buy one in person with little difficulty. The only issue was what somebody mentioned earlier, they wanted me to buy a service plan and I told them no I just wanted to use the plan I currently had. He eventually let me do that but the phone still ended up costing $609 + Tax. I asked why the price was higher and he couldn't tell me. I called T-mobile to get some clarification and they couldn't tell me so I asked around on Twitter and got a response from T-Mobile. They offered to credit me back the $30 difference so overall I am pretty happy.
BTW, the $30 plan works great with the phone. I even get some actual 4G LTE sporadically here in DC.
Good luck with getting the phone. It's definitely worth it.
Yea, I used to have the same problem...
smashcz said:
I have a prepaid plan (T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 unlimited Web and text with 100 minutes of talk)
when I try to upgrade there it says "Your profile email address is missing or invalid. In order to upgrade, you must have a valid email address in your My T-Mobile profile"
email is correct, I guess the only option is order on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I used to have the same problem... Many times in the past I had to deal with that... They have a glitch in their website...
mosi76 said:
I was in the same boat as you. I have the $30 plan and an activated pre paid SIM.
I went through the same struggles with the online ordering and customer service. Finally I decided to just buy it as a new line because since I was paying full price I could just cancel the service and keep the phone. I got the order in but there is some kind of fulfilling glitch and my order has been stuck in processing for a week.
Getting tired of dealing with incompetent people on the phone, I started to look around for a store that was carrying the One and I finally found a store in Arlington, VA. I drove out there and was able to buy one in person with little difficulty. The only issue was what somebody mentioned earlier, they wanted me to buy a service plan and I told them no I just wanted to use the plan I currently had. He eventually let me do that but the phone still ended up costing $609 + Tax. I asked why the price was higher and he couldn't tell me. I called T-mobile to get some clarification and they couldn't tell me so I asked around on Twitter and got a response from T-Mobile. They offered to credit me back the $30 difference so overall I am pretty happy.
BTW, the $30 plan works great with the phone. I even get some actual 4G LTE sporadically here in DC.
Good luck with getting the phone. It's definitely worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol bro same happened to me they over charged me. But I went to my local T-Mobile store and they credit me back my $30.00 bucks I'm happy now. Now I'm waiting for 14 grace period to have SIM unlock
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

HTC One Blocked

So my dad bought an HTC One off of Craigslist brand new a few months ago. Today, it randomly stopped recog izing the Sim. It turns out that the original owners decided to call in the device as stolen and got theirs replaced from their insurance. He called T-Mobile and they said that there's nothing they can do about this.
Is there any way to make the phone usable again? Changing the IMEI, flashing a custom ROM, or whatever. Everything works, except the SIM is not recognized.
Thanks for your help.
Your SOL. You won't get imei changing help on XDA. Advise I seen given in this situation, is to sell it overseas as it useless in AT&T too.
HTC One
You're screwed, unlock it if you can. Hopefully it was fully paid for so you can do that, then like the other guy said sell it on Ebay to someone overseas. Be honest and say it's blocked. It will still sell. The thieves have a good racket going, and the carriers refuse to stop it by adding kill switches.
jawmail said:
You're screwed, unlock it if you can. Hopefully it was fully paid for so you can do that, then like the other guy said sell it on Ebay to someone overseas. Be honest and say it's blocked. It will still sell. The thieves have a good racket going, and the carriers refuse to stop it by adding kill switches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What would adding kill switches do. ? You take your chances with buying from Cl just this last month I had two htc ones and a iPhone 5. Switched back to a used HTC one and have had no issues. I've met every one of those people at the store. The thing is the system will only grant someone a warranty or insurance claim on a device used last. If enough time passes or the other person registers a new phone the insurance/ warranty system will register a new device. Any claims on the only one will be invalid. I believe scammers are waiting just long enough before that or not registering new devices to their account so they can still claim the device as lost or stolen.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
monkeypaws said:
What would adding kill switches do. ? You take your chances with buying from Cl just this last month I had two htc ones and a iPhone 5. Switched back to a used HTC one and have had no issues. I've met every one of those people at the store. The thing is the system will only grant someone a warranty or insurance claim on a device used last. If enough time passes or the other person registers a new phone the insurance/ warranty system will register a new device. Any claims on the only one will be invalid. I believe scammers are waiting just long enough before that or not registering new devices to their account so they can still claim the device as lost or stolen.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
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Kill switches would prevent the phone from being used domestically and possibly internationally. Similar to how Verizon does it by locking the phone IMEI or MEID whatever they call it on Verizon phones. If you buy one that's locked it "lost or stolen" and doesn't work on their network.
Read this, explains what might be done if the carriers agree. Right now they make too much money from insurance to care. Don't know if I can post links but Google 'cell phone kill switch'. http://www.today.com/money/push-get-kill-switch-smartphones-2D11897060
I ran into this a while back with a GS3 on TMO.
Heres what usually happens. Scammer has insurance on his phone. Sells it to you. Then waits up to 30 days to file a claim. Lost / Stolen.
Once a claim has been filed they have an additional 180 days to pay the deductible and finalize the claim. Once that happens the IMEI gets entered into the system and bam you have a WiFi only device.
I went to the TMO store by my office and spoke with a manager.. The system is flawed in favor of the insurance companies and carriers.
I can prove that unit was active and in use on my account for 3 months before it got shut off. Yet TMO refuses to do anything.
I emailed Assurion twice to let them know the user who filed the IMEI as lost/stolen was performing insurance fraud and it fell on deaf ears.
Why? Because they keep selling the monthly subscription to the scammers and honest users plus they collect the deductible.
Carriers wont do anything because most of the time it forces the user who got scammed to buy buy a new phone.. Rarely will they change carriers. So TMO still gets paid.
IAmSixNine said:
I ran into this a while back with a GS3 on TMO.
Heres what usually happens. Scammer has insurance on his phone. Sells it to you. Then waits up to 30 days to file a claim. Lost / Stolen.
Once a claim has been filed they have an additional 180 days to pay the deductible and finalize the claim. Once that happens the IMEI gets entered into the system and bam you have a WiFi only device.
I went to the TMO store by my office and spoke with a manager.. The system is flawed in favor of the insurance companies and carriers.
I can prove that unit was active and in use on my account for 3 months before it got shut off. Yet TMO refuses to do anything.
I emailed Assurion twice to let them know the user who filed the IMEI as lost/stolen was performing insurance fraud and it fell on deaf ears.
Why? Because they keep selling the monthly subscription to the scammers and honest users plus they collect the deductible.
Carriers wont do anything because most of the time it forces the user who got scammed to buy buy a new phone.. Rarely will they change carriers. So TMO still gets paid.
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Yes that is very typical. It's so sad they do not stop the theft and the fraud. It will happen it's only a matter of time.
Nothing you can do. Sorry but that's just how it is. I refuse to buy any phone that's not from the company I'm with. That being tmobile. That way I have a record of buying my phone and they can't block it
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Sucks man.
I'd say to check your imei against the stolen registries, but that wouldn't have done you any good.
Sent from my LG-V510 using xda app-developers app
If you have even a phone number or any contact information from when your dad bought the phone, you should report the seller to the FBI or your local US Attorney's Office and perhaps even attempt to file a lawsuit for fraud. I'm shocked that people are willing to commit federal crimes for $300.
Actually you are all wrong, Any locked/blocked/stolen/blacklisted tmobile phone be unlocked for att, Tmobile only blacklisted on there own network, I am currently using a blocked htc one that checkesnfree.com says it blocked by tmobile and it says no service when I put in my tmobile sim card, I bought an unlock code form ebay for $4 and am currently using the tmobile htc one on H2o wireless (atat) towers
works perfect
jqwest said:
Actually you are all wrong, Any locked/blocked/stolen/blacklisted tmobile phone be unlocked for att, Tmobile only blacklisted on there own network, I am currently using a blocked htc one that checkesnfree.com says it blocked by tmobile and it says no service when I put in my tmobile sim card, I bought an unlock code form ebay for $4 and am currently using the tmobile htc one on H2o wireless (atat) towers
works perfect
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Actually, you're mistaken.
A "blocked" device on T-Mobile is still usable on AT&T. A "blocked" device is not a blacklisted device, and therefor is eligible for use on another carrier (not MVNO of the blocked carrier).
A device can only be blacklisted if it has been reported as lost or stolen. If the device is just blocked on T-Mobile, then it wasn't reported as lost or stolen.
I buy used phones as a business and if a tmobile phone is blacklisted/lost/stolen/blocked for non payment. they only blackliston tmobile cell towers. This is fact any bad tmobile phone after unlocked can be used on atat regardless of imei status with tmobile, Im currently using a tmobile htc one that is blacklisted/blocked by tmobile, Im using it on atat

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