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
Related
..
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.
Okay. So about a week ago, I got my GTS7500. On the first day, I successfully rooted it. The next day, I broke it in a incredibly careless way using the command line: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1744909
It is now completely unresponsive. Don't question me on that. I know.
I emailed Samsung with a fabricated story, trying to sort out a repair/replacement... 3 days later, nothing.
So after giving up with the email system, I finally phoned customer support yesterday.
I described everything that had happened (a version in which my phone just dies unexpectedly with no wrongdoing from myself...), and I was sent an email with all the information I need to send it to a repair centre.
So, it's all packed and ready to be sent to Norwich Samsung Repair Centre.
...I am quite anxious though.
I asked if I'd be getting a replacement, and I was told I would be getting the phone I sent but repaired. Well... if they DO repair the phone, they'll see that I've tampered with it.
Unlike what I thought, I won't be getting a replacement... but what if they can't repair it?
I'm nervous I'm going to get an email or a phone call from someone at the repair centre with bad news... or confronting me on my heinous crime.
Also, if they find something, they'll likely remember my phone and my details and have it blacklisted from being repaired in any repair centre.
To add to my worries, I finally got a reply from my email:
Unfortunately we are unable to replace your mobile phone as your warranty in accordance with your statutory rights within the first 28 days lies with your retailer, after this time has elapsed your warranty is a repair only, therefore if the retailer are refusing to exchange the unit for you, all that we can offer you is a repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More and more seems like they won't be sending back a new shiny phone... which is a shame.
The virgin mobile branding really pisses me off.
Also, I have written a description of what happened to my phone which I must send with the phone to the repair centre. At the end of it I've added:
If it does turn out to be completely unrecoverable like I expect, I ask that you refurbish me with an unlocked phone. Unfortunately, the seller I bought this phone from claimed it was not locked to a provider, but it turned out to be locked with Virgin Mobile. In the time the phone was working, I had not yet changed providers/sims.
This would be much appreciated to save me the hassle of doing this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this a good idea? Will it do any good/harm? Given that it seems quite unlikely I will be receiving a new phone, should I ask them for an unlocked phone?
I'm not sure if it perhaps looks a little suspicious...
Should I even send it off??? If I go in person will it increase my chances? Could i walk away with a repaired/new phone in the same visit?
Please give me some answers quickly. If I'm sending it off I want to do it later today.
Many thanks.
98 views and no replies?
Please, I need some advice. If I send my phone later today and then find out on this thread that it was a bad idea, that's gonna really piss me off.
ask for a unlocked one
ajay8055, I'm trusting you... Because you're the only person who replied.
Let's see what happens.
Off to the post office now.
hedgehog90 said:
ajay8055, I'm trusting you... Because you're the only person who replied.
Let's see what happens.
Off to the post office now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's always fuzzy to have carrier locked phones they end up with problems more often.... And dude before flashing a firmware ask someone of your carrier to see if it works or not.... Preventing is better than cure
So I've now sent it back.
But there was a slight problem, or seemingly so.
In the email, it said this:
You can send the handset off for repair by using one of the below address options:
‘FREEPOST SAMANREP’ (This is a freepost option)
(On the front of the envelope)’
OR
‘A NOVO COMMUNICATION HOUSE (This is a standard delivery option and will be chargeable)
SAMSUNG
VULCAN ROAD NORTH
NORWICH
NR6 6AQ’
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I did the above option, I just put FREEPOST SAMANREP on the envelope. This seemed strange to me at the time. When I took it to the post office, the lady behind the window looked at it and gave me a puzzled/concerned look, and I explained to her the reason behind it.
I sent it anyway.
Won't be too surprised though if it's sent to the return address in a couple days...
What's weirder is googling FREEPOST SAMANREP returns absolutely zero results. Try it yourself if you don't believe me.
What do you think? Weird?
Also, I'd like some reassurance about my return. I'm quite anxious that I'm gonna get in trouble.
I've just done the same thing - sent my phone back to "FREEEPOST SAMANREP" for repair, as instructed by Samsung and printed on their address label. I got alot of resistance from staff at the Post Office, who were convinced that it wasn't a valid address.
Was there a happy ending to your story?
Hello folks.
I bought my SG3 via buy and sell forum. It was brand new in the box.
It seemed a little suspicious to me that the seller dropped the price by 200$ explaining his motive by saying that he wanted a quick sale.
I fell for his trap. Bought the phone. First few days it was working fine and i was able to make calls and messages, then one morning it showed a "No service" message on the home screen and since then i wasn't able to use it as a phone. I started looking for solution to my problem, then i was advised by a friend to check the imei of my phone to see if it was reported as stolen. When i checked, it turned out that this phone was reported as lost. And im guessing that the scumbag who sold me the phone , reported it as lost to his insurance company, who reacted to this by blocking my phone. I have no way of contacting this seller anymore to sort out this issue as i am in different country, but i was wondering if it is possible to do something about the "No service" issue. Is there any way i could make my phone function as a proper phone again and not just a multimedia device ?
msgbpx said:
Hello folks.
I bought my SG3 via buy and sell forum. It was brand new in the box.
It seemed a little suspicious to me that the seller dropped the price by 200$ explaining his motive by saying that he wanted a quick sale.
I fell for his trap. Bought the phone. First few days it was working fine and i was able to make calls and messages, then one morning it showed a "No service" message on the home screen and since then i wasn't able to use it as a phone. I started looking for solution to my problem, then i was advised by a friend to check the imei of my phone to see if it was reported as stolen. When i checked, it turned out that this phone was reported as lost. And im guessing that the scumbag who sold me the phone , reported it as lost to his insurance company, who reacted to this by blocking my phone. I have no way of contacting this seller anymore to sort out this issue as i am in different country, but i was wondering if it is possible to do something about the "No service" issue. Is there any way i could make my phone function as a proper phone again and not just a multimedia device ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you will have to put this down to a learning curve, or you could simply sell it overseas, chances are you can sell it to someone in another country for the same price, imei's aren't blocked globally,
Or you could do the right thing and contact the police and have it returned, if the person has reported it stolen and you can prove by any means that you bought it then maybe they can prosecute him / her for selling it to you and then reporting it stolen, i believe that is fraud.
Going down that route will mean that you miss out on all angles, besides getting the satisfaction of knowing that that person will be getting a very suspect phone call from the plod.
unlucky buddy. I would agree with the above post and report it to the police
And installing a new Rom won't help ? Like there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it ?
msgbpx said:
And installing a new Rom won't help ? Like there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what carrier do you have? check your IMEI...is it a generic IMEI starting with 00? if so...just repair your EFS and it should work fine
What country are you in?
I know changing the imei number is possible in certain cases but in the UK it is a criminal offence if I'm not mistaken.
-JOSH-
-josh- said:
What country are you in?
I know changing the imei number is possible in certain cases but in the UK it is a criminal offence if I'm not mistaken.
-JOSH-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Illegal pal
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Report a fraud. With some luck you can have it extended to Interpol and thus have an international search warrant against him (it's not as uncommon as it sounds)
Should the seller be got hold of, you might (or rather should) be able to get your money back.
Selling stolen goods is illegal, additionally noone would buy it if you told them it was stolen.
I don't no how but there is a way to fix this....
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
I don't no how but there is a way to fix this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue is NOT that the efs folder is corrupt but that the device has been reported stolen.
So no there is no fix.
The phone was bought from Ireland. I am located in Norway right now . Phone's imei starts from 353 which is an irish mobile phone calling code.
I contacted few friends in Ireland to see if they can do something about it for me. They went to the police but police said the couldn't do anything about it without actual proof of sale.
Imei isn't blocked globally, you should be able to use the phone in Norway.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
kofiaa said:
Imei isn't blocked globally, you should be able to use the phone in Norway.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is. When i insert a sim card , it works for about 24 hours fine but then the next day it gives me NO SERVICE , i tried with 3 sim cards and same thing happened but then again i was using sim cards of the same network.
Afaik it's just random chance that your IMEI starts with the prefix code for the country it was bought in.
Does it work again for a short time when removing hhe battery for a few minutes or changing the Sim to one you already tried? If no, then it simply takes some time for hhe carrier to actually recognize you're on the bad-people list.
Countries often work closely together to block stolen goods so you're more or less out of luck if that's true.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
In EU all the countries are working together and the database is general. How you bought the phone ? On internet ? If so, don't you have any receipt ? If you bought directly from that idiot, why don't you made a hand made proof with scanned ID and signed, so you could had something.
If you have nothing, try to check the databases who reported it as lost or stolen. A shop could help you. Try to check who reported the phone as stolen or lost and who added the phone on the blacklist. This way you can find the idiot or, better, the insurance company and report the fraud. Keeping the phone can attract you problems. Don't forget, Google is keeping all the IMEI when you add a phone, they can track you, Samsung Dive can find you...and some day you can have the police at your door. In Spain, for example, stealing something over 500 euros is considered criminal act and your chance to share a room with others for the next 3 years increases a lot.
Via XDA Portal .
IMEI code
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1857054
The first two numbers is RBI (Reporting Body Identifier)
next four numbers is TAC (Type Allocation Code)
So its not a location code at the beginning .
jje
demlasjr said:
In EU all the countries are working together and the database is general. How you bought the phone ? On internet ? If so, don't you have any receipt ? If you bought directly from that idiot, why don't you made a hand made proof with scanned ID and signed, so you could had something.
If you have nothing, try to check the databases who reported it as lost or stolen. A shop could help you. Try to check who reported the phone as stolen or lost and who added the phone on the blacklist. This way you can find the idiot or, better, the insurance company and report the fraud. Keeping the phone can attract you problems. Don't forget, Google is keeping all the IMEI when you add a phone, they can track you, Samsung Dive can find you...and some day you can have the police at your door. In Spain, for example, stealing something over 500 euros is considered criminal act and your chance to share a room with others for the next 3 years increases a lot.
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Click to collapse
Exactly, it's better you report the incident or you remove your Gmail and use the phone as a media player.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
kofiaa said:
Exactly, it's better you report the incident or you remove your Gmail and use the phone as a media player.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
report it,,,, and assume the lesson it wont work again at least in a legal manner
firomero said:
report it,,,, and assume the lesson it wont work again at least in a legal manner
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, if you act first is always better than being the last. In this case everybody, including the police and mobile providers will know your intentions and that somebody phished you. Being silent and searching for ways "to hide" the phone only will give you problems, unless you want to use the phone as an ipod. Trust me, an police and providers can help you. Phishing is a crime too, so that idiot can be caught before doing the same thing to others.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
i just bought a ultra off craigslist ....
it was fine for 2 days ... now the phone is blocked .. cant call out ...no service...
i checked on the imei canada website .. it says this phone is stolen ... wtf .....
cant get hold of the guy who sold me the phone ... not sure that was him report it stolen or not ...
dont think i call Bell and they will do anything about it ....
i read online about changin imei ... and that should work .... in theory
any idea how do i do that?? i dont want to weast my 500$$$$
or any other suggestion ....
madsatan said:
i just bought a ultra off craigslist ....
it was fine for 2 days ... now the phone is blocked .. cant call out ...no service...
i checked on the imei canada website .. it says this phone is stolen ... wtf .....
cant get hold of the guy who sold me the phone ... not sure that was him report it stolen or not ...
dont think i call Bell and they will do anything about it ....
i read online about changin imei ... and that should work .... in theory
any idea how do i do that?? i dont want to weast my 500$$$$
or any other suggestion ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an easy way to chnge the IMEI, just downgrade from .290 to any older firmware :laugh:
Wont solve the outgoing acll problem as the IMEI will be all 0's, but it will have changed.
Other than that file a Police report for the fraud, return the phone to the person who had it stolen and clame the $500 back with creditcard protection?
so change imei wont work ??
return the phone to the person who had it stolen.... ya right ... thats mean i lose out 500$$ just like that ....
what does it do for me when i go file a police report... they gonna take the phone away .. i still lose 500
if there no way to fix this problem
i might as well just keep it and use it as a very expensive tablet ...
damn it ....
blueether said:
There is an easy way to chnge the IMEI, just downgrade from .290 to any older firmware :laugh:
Wont solve the outgoing acll problem as the IMEI will be all 0's, but it will have changed.
Other than that file a Police report for the fraud, return the phone to the person who had it stolen and clame the $500 back with creditcard protection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
madsatan said:
so change imei wont work ??
return the phone to the person who had it stolen.... ya right ... thats mean i lose out 500$$ just like that ....
what does it do for me when i go file a police report... they gonna take the phone away .. i still lose 500
if there no way to fix this problem
i might as well just keep it and use it as a very expensive tablet ...
damn it ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was it a direct credit?
If so then the bank will require police authorisation to contact the other bank for a reverse transaction. This is very difficult to do as police will probably deferred it to the digital fraud squad. and they are always busy.
If it was credit card you have 20 days to contact them to reverse it. After that you'll need to contact them saying you have been defauded. Credit card companies are insured against this. and you will get your money back.
Paypal. Easiest option. You will always win with proof i.e. photos / video of the device not working.
hamdogg said:
Paypal. Easiest option. You will always win with proof i.e. photos / video of the device not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was a craigslist transaction
Just a heads up, it's not allowed to discuss IMEI changing/manipulation on XDA. I would edit that part out of the OP so the thread doesn't get locked. We can discuss what you can do to solve this whole debacle though.
Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk
how can i change the title of this thread??
LordManhattan said:
Just a heads up, it's not allowed to discuss IMEI changing/manipulation on XDA. I would edit that part out of the OP so the thread doesn't get locked. We can discuss what you can do to solve this whole debacle though.
Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
madsatan said:
how can i change the title of this thread??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the advanced editor. Click edit on the first post and then advanced.
Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk
As said previously imei changes are illegal and definitely not discussed on xda.
Personally I would call Bell immediately and let them know so it's on record, then I'd contact the police. Police are pretty good when someone's doing the right thing.
Show them the Craigslist transaction and leave the rest up to the powers that be.
The only way you'll definitely get your money back is by selling it on and leading some other poor unsuspecting person down the same path which let's face it would be a crappy thing to do.
Sent from my C6833 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
SpyderTracks said:
As said previously imei changes are illegal and definitely not discussed on xda.
Personally I would call Bell immediately and let them know so it's on record, then I'd contact the police. Police are pretty good when someone's doing the right thing.
Show them the Craigslist transaction and leave the rest up to the powers that be.
The only way you'll definitely get your money back is by selling it on and leading some other poor unsuspecting person down the same path which let's face it would be a crappy thing to do.
Sent from my C6833 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember reading a post where someone had a similar experience and called Bell to find out whether or not their phone was on a blacklist - the representative apparently admitted to the guy that it was indeed on a blacklist and then asked him if he'd like it removed from the list.
The user claimed that after that conversation his phone started working perfectly.
I think I also recall him saying he'd called in around noon - and that it may have been his second call to them - his claim was that they don't get a lot of calls around the time he called in and so it was an inexperience rep who was able to remove the hold on the handset.
I don't know where I read this - but you could try searching the forum with keywords like Bell, Stolen, IMEI, Change, Rep - etc.
Good luck - that sucks balls.
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
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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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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.