If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
ajamils said:
If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, don't. It means it is blacklisted by the carrier and all carriers until it is cleared. I read to do that is a hassle. Also, the only way to use it outside of that is to unlock it from the carrier and use it on a different network, but I think that's only doable through a Verizon Note 3. In short, don't waste your time or money.
opasha said:
Yeah, don't. It means it is blacklisted by the carrier and all carriers until it is cleared. I read to do that is a hassle. Also, the only way to use it outside of that is to unlock it from the carrier and use it on a different network, but I think that's only doable through a Verizon Note 3. In short, don't waste your time or money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
ajamils said:
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah because T-Mobile and At&t are both gsm networks. Verizon is CDMA. The article I read in order to further assist you stated that it's easier to use a CDMA blacklisted phone on a gsm carrier. Not sure how, but yeah. Avoid it regardless. It's just stupid.
ya agree with opasha, avoid it. Tmobs and ATT share the same blacklist, and it's technically a felony to flash a new imei and an additional hassle. Only way to use it is on gsm networks, not on that blacklist (which also includes pre-pay and affiliates), which means out of the country for the most part.
ajamils said:
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carriers share blacklisted IMEI's. They do it on CDMA networks as well. Your really off brand local carriers like MetroPCS may not block it though just because it's basically a mom and pop shop.
agent929 said:
Carriers share blacklisted IMEI's. They do it on CDMA networks as well. Your really off brand local carriers like MetroPCS may not block it though just because it's basically a mom and pop shop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Metro PCS is owned by T-mobile. Truthfully there aren't really any independent operators anymore.
As others have mentioned, IMEI blacklists are shared across US carriers now so you'd be better off avoiding the phone unless you plan on only using it internationally.
dawheat said:
Metro PCS is owned by T-mobile. Truthfully there aren't really any independent operators anymore.
As others have mentioned, IMEI blacklists are shared across US carriers now so you'd be better off avoiding the phone unless you plan on only using it internationally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh it was just an example. I don't know for sure what the little junk carriers are. It may be now to where it's shared with everybody. I know there's ESN checker websites out there and I'm sure these carriers have access to something even better than that.
agent929 said:
Eh it was just an example. I don't know for sure what the little junk carriers are. It may be now to where it's shared with everybody. I know there's ESN checker websites out there and I'm sure these carriers have access to something even better than that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
do you know anybody that has T-mobile because you could have them call the IMEI in to make sure
Att doesn't care if it's been black listed. I had a Friend on my account he stopped paying for the line I reported it stolen and he went the next day to get it activated. They even told him that it was reported stolen and still did it. I have heard that both t mobile and att do it all the time cuz they want the business.
infowars.com get the truth
ajamils said:
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you do check the IMEI and its good today doesn't mean it won't be blacklisted tomorrow.........
Quickvic30 said:
Even if you do check the IMEI and its good today doesn't mean it won't be blacklisted tomorrow.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what's the suggestion? Pay $700+ and buy brand new from Tmobile?
Sent from LG Optimus G Pro via Tapatalk.
ajamils said:
So what's the suggestion? Pay $700+ and buy brand new from Tmobile?
Sent from LG Optimus G Pro via Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes or you can buy used but make sure you meet the person at the T-Mobile store to confirm the phone is paid off.
Been through this whole scam ordeal already so I went and bought a new phone straight from T-Mobile.
ajamils said:
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can call tmo yourself to verify the IMEI number and if it will activate.
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
aygriffith said:
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya they do, sprint and verizon included. As to how efficient they are in updating their networks to reject imei's when the other network post a new one on the list, I don't know. Plenty of sources confirm it, here's one for example: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/3584466/att-t-mobile-stolen-cellphone-database
babyshanks said:
Ya they do, sprint and verizon included. As to how efficient they are in updating their networks to reject imei's when the other network post a new one on the list, I don't know. Plenty of sources confirm it, here's one for example: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/3584466/att-t-mobile-stolen-cellphone-database
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.ctia.org/media/press/body.cfm/prid/2220
Yeah this was announced in 2012. Now of course knowing US carriers - what they said they'd do and what they should do may be very different than what they actually do.
ajamils said:
If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it wont work within the US, so if your going to try using it, it wont work.
---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------
aygriffith said:
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it, before it used to be cool, now it doesn't work
T Mobile Note 3 on ATT
I traded a guy an S4 plus some cash for a new T-Mobile note 3...I rooted and used region lock away to Sim unlock it...The phone has worked perfectly on ATT and it is blacklisted on T-Mobile for Non pay...I'm sure its was bought on the no contract deal and then as soon as they dumped it they just didn't pay...Its not stolen as I have checked...So it is possible to use them on ATT if the phone is unlocked...Not sure if eventually it won't work on ATT but for now it does..I guess if it stops working I will sell it or see if I can settle with T-mobile ...Just be very careful when buying them brand new in box..Note 3 and IPhone 5s are the 2 big ones that are being purchased on these pay 25-30 a month then don't pay..then Bam they are blacklisted for non pay on that network..Pretty sad but that is what's going down on CL right now...
Related
Hi I want to buy this phone, unlock it and use it for ATT.
I heard you cannot buy this phone off contract and that you must have a service with them. I hear people are just signing up for the service for one day and then cancel the day after.
Can someone explain how they did it?
pham818 said:
Hi I want to buy this phone, unlock it and use it for ATT.
I heard you cannot buy this phone off contract and that you must have a service with them. I hear people are just signing up for the service for one day and then cancel the day after.
Can someone explain how they did it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pay full price for phone up front and buy the smallest package. After 40 days cancel the service. Some stores will sell it out right without a plan, but you will have to do some searching and calling. I had to go to 3 different stores before I found one that would sell it out right.
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
chong67 said:
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Results vary. Some say it works just as good
My LTE works perfect on AT&T.
My unlocked T Mobile Note 4 running on AT&T.
chong67 said:
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same thing. This is not the case with the Note 4. It was an issue with the Note 3 and previous devices in my experience.
martinezma99 said:
My unlocked T Mobile Note 4 running on AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who did you use to unlock it? im looking to pick one up and i'd rather not have to wait for tmobiles unlocking terms.
If you buy the phone out right you can unlock asap
bigmase23 said:
If you buy the phone out right you can unlock asap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's been conflicting reports about that.
I bought the phone outright. Paid $30 or so to cellunlocker to get an unlock code. Popped in AT&T sim and off I went. Still need to cancel Tmo service.
taphius said:
There's been conflicting reports about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you purchase the phone outright you now it and can unlock it.
I bought my Note 4 outright and purchased the lowest priced package I could. I unlocked it the first day I received it, inserted my sim card from Consumer Cellular and was up and running. However, I read that T-Mobile can and have blacklisted the IMEI of phones that don't comply with their terms of service. Since I didn't read the fine print when I bought the phone and service, I decided it would be prudent to go ahead and meet the 40 service requirement to get an unlock code (although the phone is already unlocked) rather than take a chance and have some T-Mobile manager with a Napoleonic complex blacklist the phone. Then I would be out of $800.00. I asked the customer care representative about blacklisting the phone if I didn't meet the 40 day requirement and she said it was possible. I wasn't willing to take that chance. I will pony up an additional $80.00 + dollars to have peace of mind.
cartertucker said:
I bought the phone outright. Paid $30 or so to cellunlocker to get an unlock code. Popped in AT&T sim and off I went. Still need to cancel Tmo service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
I preordered, got phone Monday the 13th.
I unlocked with cellunlocker.net 4 days later.
Been using it on AT&T since last friday. Called and canceled tmobile same day.
Easy as that.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
bigmase23 said:
When you purchase the phone outright you now it and can unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right but you make it sound like every T-Mobile store or reseller will sell you a phone outright with absolutely zero commitment of any kind like you walked in to buy a pack of gum or bought a nexus from google play store. There are conflicting reports about zero commitment purchases. The safer bet seems to be walking in with the understanding that you may have to agree to a month-to-month or prepaid contract that you can cancel a day or more later.
The best way i can think to explain it is as follows:
A few people have reported that they were able to buy it outright without service. Though many have been denied that option.
Some have implied that Tmobile then unlocked it.
A moderately safe assumption is that you can buy it with service, unlock it via third party service, and cancel your tmobile service the second u get your unlock code. This comes with the gray area of region locking and having to activate it on tmobile first to remove the region lock pior to unlocking. This can be a lengthy discussion, you might not care about region locking, I'll leave it at that, but read into it. I went this route, activated on tmobile for 4 days, then unlocked and cancelled. I say assumption because people are worried about blacklisting and T.O.S.
The most cautious method would be to wait out your 40 days per Tmobile T.O.S., in addition to the time it takes for them to send your unlock code, pay applicable fees, then cancel.
Hope this clears up the options a bit.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
T-Mobile has the IMEI of phone they sell you in their records. I confirmed it when I called them and they read it to me for confirmation purposes. They sold the phone to you and they know everything about it. Guaranteed. If their records show the phone being used on another carrier without it being activated with them or unlocked by them then they can blacklist the IMEI of the phone. That phone will then be an $800.00 paperweight. They have done it before and a quick Google search will prove it. I'm not saying they will since that seems to be an unknown, but they can and the owner of the phone will have no recourse. I sure don't want to wake up one day and find out that my $800.00 phone is dead. I might very well be wrong, but I am not willing to take that chance after paying $800.00 for the phone. I'll pay for the 40 days of service.
I just bought my Note 4 full price from AT&T after calling about 30 stores in my area and finding one store with one black model in stock. I ended up paying less than full price because of some computer error that rung up the phone $749.99 instead of $825.99. They charged me the difference so I only paid $825 outright, after taxes. All in all, I saved almost $50 (difference in tax from $750 to $825). I still feel like it is ridiculous though that the AT&T model is $80 more expensive than TMo. Is it worth buying a TMO Note 4 with their baseball discount ($30 off) and trying to unlock it to use it on AT&T? Sorry for my long comment/question.
Bought mine from swappa in a sealed pack. Opened the phone, went to Cellunlocker.com and within 10 min had my unlock code. Works great on ATT
Hey guys, been doing some digging and haven't found anything conclusive so I was wondering if you all could help me out. I would like to buy a Note 4 if and only if a few certain conditions are met and I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish that.
1) I'm really loving how far Samsung has come with toning down TouchWiz, but I still would want root to remove bloatware, install some xposed modules, etc. So far the AT&T variant has no root capability.
2) Having an unlocked bootloader is not a must, but it is a plus. I actually don't want to give up some of the OEM Note features.
3) I have absolutely zero T-Mobile service where I live, so AT&T or their MVNOs are really my only option for a GSM phone
4) 4G LTE is a must
so-
I was wondering if it would be possible to buy a Note 4 from T-Mobile outright (online preferably), get it carrier unlocked and bring it over to an AT&T MVNO?
I don't see anything listing the difference in bands between the AT&T and T-Mobile variant and I don't see any requirements about needed to stay on a T-Mobile plan for a certain amount of time before unlocking, just that the phone has to be completely paid for. Also I can't seem to find the full price for a T-Mobile Note 4.
Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
Edit: Sorry I posted this to the wrong forum! Trying to find a way to move/delete it!
unpocolobo said:
Hey guys, been doing some digging and haven't found anything conclusive so I was wondering if you all could help me out. I would like to buy a Note 4 if and only if a few certain conditions are met and I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish that.
1) I'm really loving how far Samsung has come with toning down TouchWiz, but I still would want root to remove bloatware, install some xposed modules, etc. So far the AT&T variant has no root capability.
2) Having an unlocked bootloader is not a must, but it is a plus. I actually don't want to give up some of the OEM Note features.
3) I have absolutely zero T-Mobile service where I live, so AT&T or their MVNOs are really my only option for a GSM phone
4) 4G LTE is a must
so-
I was wondering if it would be possible to buy a Note 4 from T-Mobile outright (online preferably), get it carrier unlocked and bring it over to an AT&T MVNO?
I don't see anything listing the difference in bands between the AT&T and T-Mobile variant and I don't see any requirements about needed to stay on a T-Mobile plan for a certain amount of time before unlocking, just that the phone has to be completely paid for. Also I can't seem to find the full price for a T-Mobile Note 4.
Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
Edit: Sorry I posted this to the wrong forum! Trying to find a way to move/delete it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the full price is $760.
T-Mobile will only provide the unlock after 2 months consecutive service, so you'll need/want to pay for an online unlock service if you want the code immediately....be sure to make a 5 minute or more call with a t-mobile sim (try to borrow a friends or co-worker) before requesting the unlock code from an online unlock service. That is necessary due to Samsung's region lock, the phone needs to "authenticate" that it is being activated in the correct market....you can google and get a clearer meaning of what I'm talking about.
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588
http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s5-region-lock-367402/
louforgiveno said:
I believe the full price is $760.
T-Mobile will only provide the unlock after 2 months consecutive service, so you'll need/want to pay for an online unlock service if you want the code immediately....be sure to make a 5 minute or more call with a t-mobile sim (try to borrow a friends or co-worker) before requesting the unlock code from an online unlock service. That is necessary due to Samsung's region lock, the phone needs to "authenticate" that it is being activated in the correct market....you can google and get a clearer meaning of what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the help!
Hmm it looks like the region "authentication" may be a bit of an issue as I know no one with a T-Mobile sim. Again, I live far away from any T-Mobile service but I am planning a trip to an area they service next month. But even if I was to find a friend with T-Mobile I know nothing about online unlock services. I'm guessing you give them your IMEI number and pay a fee and they give you an available code. Now by the look of the websites I'm seeing, this looks to be a little shady (which I could be ok with) but I don't seem to see any indications of what kind of prices I'd be looking at.
Would you happen to recommend a website in particular or know of the cost? Or is this something XDA doesn't want people posting about? Forgive me if what I'm asking is not allowed.
so get sim for $10 and buy $2 a day prepaid plan.
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Free mobile app
unpocolobo said:
Thank you for the help!
Hmm it looks like the region "authentication" may be a bit of an issue as I know no one with a T-Mobile sim. Again, I live far away from any T-Mobile service but I am planning a trip to an area they service next month. But even if I was to find a friend with T-Mobile I know nothing about online unlock services. I'm guessing you give them your IMEI number and pay a fee and they give you an available code. Now by the look of the websites I'm seeing, this looks to be a little shady (which I could be ok with) but I don't seem to see any indications of what kind of prices I'd be looking at.
Would you happen to recommend a website in particular or know of the cost? Or is this something XDA doesn't want people posting about? Forgive me if what I'm asking is not allowed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used cellunlocker.net to unlock 2 S5's, I think they state it takes up to 12 hours or something, but they had my code in about 22 minutes. I have no experience with other unlock services but there are some that sound horrible, I recommend cellunlocker personally.
I think I paid about $34.99 per device, everything worked without a hitch
louforgiveno said:
I used cellunlocker.net to unlock 2 S5's, I think they state it takes up to 12 hours or something, but they had my code in about 22 minutes. I have no experience with other unlock services but there are some that sound horrible, I recommend cellunlocker personally.
I think I paid about $34.99 per device, everything worked without a hitch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What this guy said. You don't need to do two months of service. cellunlocker.net is where you want to go.
Is there a risk of T-Mobile blacklisting your handset if you unlock via a third-party or is that FUD? I just picked up my Note 4 today, I haven't activated service yet. I haven't even popped the SIM in. What would they do if I never did? I just want to pay for it and go back to dirt-cheap prepaid.
jesstech said:
Isn't there a risk of T-Mobile blacklisting your handset if you third-party unlock? I just picked up my Note 4 today, I haven't activated service yet. I haven't even popped the SIM in. What would they do if I never did? I just want to pay for it and go back to dirt-cheap prepaid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never heard of such a thing.
@unpocolobo Im an AT&T costumer for my Note 4 on 2 year contract which came out 100$ sold it same day for $700 and got a friend to buy me T-mobile one for $750 plus tax so about $800 so personally i spent $200 on phone and then got unlock code from http://www.cellunlocker.net/ only $30 came in under 20 mins. Also i never used the T-mobile sim on my phone so im guessing there is no region lock on them
Correct me if I'm wrong, but TM uses 1700MHz whereas AT&T uses 1900MHz?
At any rate, I hope it all works out....you'll love the N4. :good:
iunlock said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but TM uses 1700MHz whereas AT&T uses 1900MHz?
At any rate, I hope it all works out....you'll love the N4. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mobile uses 1700MHz and 2100 MHz
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
charmartist said:
T-mobile uses 1700MHz and 2100 MHz
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't seem to find anything that lists the official supported bands of the N910T and whether or not it's different than the N910A (AT&T)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-att/help/using-t-mobile-version-att-t2905139
iunlock said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but TM uses 1700MHz whereas AT&T uses 1900MHz?
At any rate, I hope it all works out....you'll love the N4. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a T-mobile Note that is unlocked and I have my AT&T sim card inserted. LTE, 4G, 3G, and 2G all work fine
unpocolobo said:
I can't seem to find anything that lists the official supported bands of the N910T and whether or not it's different than the N910A (AT&T)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tmobile note 4 works fine on att and att mvnos.
unpocolobo said:
Hey guys, been doing some digging and haven't found anything conclusive so I was wondering if you all could help me out. I would like to buy a Note 4 if and only if a few certain conditions are met and I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish that.
1) I'm really loving how far Samsung has come with toning down TouchWiz, but I still would want root to remove bloatware, install some xposed modules, etc. So far the AT&T variant has no root capability.
2) Having an unlocked bootloader is not a must, but it is a plus. I actually don't want to give up some of the OEM Note features.
3) I have absolutely zero T-Mobile service where I live, so AT&T or their MVNOs are really my only option for a GSM phone
4) 4G LTE is a must
so-
I was wondering if it would be possible to buy a Note 4 from T-Mobile outright (online preferably), get it carrier unlocked and bring it over to an AT&T MVNO?
I don't see anything listing the difference in bands between the AT&T and T-Mobile variant and I don't see any requirements about needed to stay on a T-Mobile plan for a certain amount of time before unlocking, just that the phone has to be completely paid for. Also I can't seem to find the full price for a T-Mobile Note 4.
Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
Edit: Sorry I posted this to the wrong forum! Trying to find a way to move/delete it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it was 45 days before u can get unlock code. If u own it why don't u call to bike and request it. They will email u the code within 24 hrs
---------- Post added at 06:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:19 AM ----------
jesstech said:
Is there a risk of T-Mobile blacklisting your handset if you unlock via a third-party or is that FUD? I just picked up my Note 4 today, I haven't activated service yet. I haven't even popped the SIM in. What would they do if I never did? I just want to pay for it and go back to dirt-cheap prepaid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They won't blacklist it if u paid it off. They have no reason to
T-Mobile will not blacklist fully paid devices, unless it's reported stolen of course.
I have a Nexus 6 on T-Mobile, and recently, due to financial issues, I won't be able to continue paying a very large bill I have with them. One reason is because I billed my Nexus 6 to my account and cannot return it. So, I am in a pickle. Does anyone know, since this device comes unlocked from Motorola, will they block the IMEI number, and if so, would I still be able to use it on a CDMA carrier like Sprint if it has been activated before the IMEI number was blocked ? I would assume any GSM carrier is out of the question, but Sprint handles their activations differently than T-Mobiles. Can anyone tell me what could happen ?
Edit 1: I have already tried to work out a payment deal with T-Mobile.....because I don't get paid until the 23rd, I won't be able to work out an extended payment schedule with them.
If you don't pay the rest of your EIP then yes they will blacklist the device. It doesn't matter if you use it on any of the other carriers. The phone will be rendered useless when it comes to cellular data.
Not to mention, you failing to pay your payments will significantly damage your credit score.
The device was not on a EIP. My credit history has been shot for awhile. They billed the entire amount of the phone to the main account balance.
zephiK said:
If you don't pay the rest of your EIP then yes they will blacklist the device. It doesn't matter if you use it on any of the other carriers. The phone will be rendered useless when it comes to cellular data. Not to mention, you failing to pay your payments will significantly damage your credit history.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cjegan2008 said:
The device was not on a EIP. My credit history has been shot for awhile. They billed the entire amount of the phone to the main account balance.
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So have you paid off the Nexus 6 in full amount? If it wasn't paid for in full then it will be blacklisted and the phone will be useless for cell service.
If you can't pay your month-to-month bill when it comes to the Simple Choice plan then yes you can use the device with other carriers but you'll lose your T-Mobile plan (obviously).
No, I didn't pay off the full amount. They billed the full amount to the account instead of doing a EIP and they told me that they would work out a extended payment schedule of about 9 months to cover the total cost of the device. So yes it was the full amount, but the full amount hasn't been actually paid yet.
zephiK said:
So have you paid off the Nexus 6 in full amount? If it wasn't paid for in full then it will be blacklisted and the phone will be useless for cell service.
If you can't pay your month-to-month bill when it comes to the Simple Choice plan then yes you can use the device with other carriers but you'll lose your T-Mobile plan (obviously).
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cjegan2008 said:
No, I didn't pay off the full amount. They billed the full amount to the account instead of doing a EIP and they told me that they would work out a extended payment schedule of about 9 months to cover the total cost of the device. So yes it was the full amount, but the full amount hasn't been actually paid yet.
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Then the device would be blacklisted on all carriers unless you can call them and have them change it to a EIP from a full balance.
I can't because of my credit score.
zephiK said:
Then the device would be blacklisted on all carriers unless you can call them and have them change it to a EIP from a full balance.
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cjegan2008 said:
I can't because of my credit score.
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Then your phone is blacklisted because you are unable to pay for it. I'm sorry but you shouldn't have purchased the phone outright if you were unable to pay for it.
The only other options would be to talk to a family member or someone who trust you would be willing to pay for you until you can pay them back.
Just a bit of info for all of you out there saying if he doesn't pay his T-mobile bill the phone will be black listed, let me just 1st say False! Other carriers give no ****s if he pays T-mobile. 2nd what makes you guys think T-mobile have the power to call up AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, Sprint Etc.... And demand them to block this one Esn? Please speak only on what you know and stop giving out bad info.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Can I ask how ?
Trevaryn said:
Just a bit of info for all of you out there saying if he doesn't pay his T-mobile bill the phone will be black listed, let me just 1st say False! Other carriers give no ****s if he pays T-mobile. 2nd what makes you guys think T-mobile have the power to call up AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, Sprint Etc.... And demand them to block this one Esn? Please speak only on what you know and stop giving out bad info.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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The OP has a bill for his Nexus 6 that is unpaid for. Its the same thing that happens when someone is selling a financed phone that is not paid in full and has a balance. The phone becomes blacklisted and will not work on other carriers.
So unless the OP paid for the Nexus 6 in its full amount, it will be blacklisted. The whole IMEI blocking is organized with all carriers as well as international, so yes they do care.
In summary,
You ordered the phone and didn't pay the $649/$699 + taxes then your phone will be blacklisted.
If you paid for the phone in full $649/$699 but no longer want the T-Mobile Simple Choice plan, your phone is completely fine and you can use it on other carriers. You will just lose your Simple choice plan but if that was the case, its better to pay off the cycle and then cancel your service instead of just not paying the monthly plan for Simple choice (note if you have EIP and you cancel your Simple Choice plan, your EIP balance must be paid in full)
No, I didn't pay off the full amount. They billed the full amount to the account instead of doing a EIP and they told me that they would work out a extended payment schedule of about 9 months to cover the total cost of the device. So yes it was the full amount, but the full amount hasn't been actually paid yet.
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OP has not paid for it, if he does not pay the balance it will be blacklisted on all carriers. T Mobile doesn't need to tell any other carriers anything, they share a similar database. That is why if you report your phone stolen, that phone cannot be used on AT&T/Verizon/US Cellular/Sprint/etc. T Mobile is not going to call up AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, Sprint, etc to blacklist this phone because it was reported as stolen on T-Mobile. They just have to add it into the database and it'll be blacklisted on all carriers. Its as simple as that.
So until the OP has paid the phone in FULL AMOUNT the phone is not his because its still not paid off.
I'm not giving false information, I'm a RC for a reason.
Here's a link to back it up,
https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/64870?start=0&tstart=0 (it says EIP but same would be said about full balance not being paid for)
http://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/2fv5d8/selling_a_phone_while_still_on_eip/
http://www.tmonews.com/2014/06/upgr...-t-mobile-phones-due-to-network-blacklisting/
I shouldn't have to go out of my way to provide links when I've already reiterated myself multiple times in this thread.
Edit: To your logic, Verizon/AT&T/Sprint has similar financing programs for their phones. The same can be said with Verizon/AT&T/Sprint, using a phone that is still financed under another carrier and then trying the device on T-Mobile won't work. Its a win-win for the carriers assuming the device is not carrier locked but regardless it will be blacklisted if a phone is still financed on AT&T/Sprint/VZW and attempted to be used on T-Mobile network.
I'm not going to argue with you about this I have worked for all of them and they do NOT share a data base. A prime example of that was when the Nexus 6 first came out people having issues activating it on other carriers than the ones they receive them from because Verizon does not share a data base with Sprint people are having those issues inactivating their Sprint Nexus 6 on Verizon even though they come factory unlocked, now they had shared the same database there would have been no issues with people transferring over there phones from carrier to carrier. I can tell you for a fact that I have taken the Verizon blacklisted droid ultra and activated on both t-mobile and AT&T , mind you that is just one example.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 PM ----------
Also in regards to that post for the TemoNews what they are referring to is people selling t mobile phones to other people who plan on using them on t-mobile aka locked phones if you would have sell or use a unlocked tmobile phone on a different carrier it would work whether you've paid the bill with tmobile or not.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Trevaryn said:
I'm not going to argue with you about this I have worked for all of them and they do NOT share a data base. A prime example of that was when the Nexus 6 first came out people having issues activating it on other carriers than the ones they receive them from because Verizon does not share a data base with Sprint people are having those issues inactivating their Sprint Nexus 6 on Verizon even though they come factory unlocked, now they had shared the same database there would have been no issues with people transferring over there phones from carrier to carrier. I can tell you for a fact that I have taken the Verizon blacklisted droid ultra and activated on both t-mobile and AT&T , mind you that is just one example.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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We're not talking about buying a N6 from a certain place (T-Mo, AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular, Motorola, Google Play) and then activating it with another carrier. That isn't a problem with the Nexus 6.
We're talking about when ANY phone but in this case we're talking about the Nexus 6, what would happen if OP did not pay out the balance of his phone? Meaning he purchased it off-contract and is unable to pay for the full $649/699 + taxes for the device. The device will be blacklisted on other carriers because the phone was not paid for. The OP has a poor credit score and is unable to go on a installation of monthly payment plans so he had to pay for the phone upright and is unable to pay for the phone in full price and wants to use the unpaid phone on another cellular service, it will not work because it will be blacklisted.
I'm pretty sure me and you are talking about different topics. OP is talking about not paying his bills and wondering if the phone can be used with another carrier if he didn't pay his bill for the device.
Ok so let say I go to tmobile and buy a N6 on contract and pay the 26.75 a month for a few months, then let's say the months after that I cannot pay anymore and my account goes to collections and they blacklist the phone. Because it's is a Google phone it comes unlocked. So I take that unlocked blacklisted phone to let's say att, all I have to do is get a simple from them and pop it in the phone and then all I have to do is setup the phone on my account and bam workingpbone
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Trevaryn said:
Ok so let say I go to tmobile and buy a N6 on contract and pay the 26.75 a month for a few months, then let's say the months after that I cannot pay anymore and my account goes to collections and they blacklist the phone. Because it's is a Google phone it comes unlocked. So I take that unlocked blacklisted phone to let's say att, all I have to do is get a simple from them and pop it in the phone and then all I have to do is setup the phone on my account and bam workingpbone
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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It doesn't work that way because each device has its own unique IMEI number. The IMEI number is blacklisted, it's the same thing on how stolen phones are reported.
If my phone was stolen and I called up T-Mobile and report that it was stolen, that phone would be rendered useless when it comes to connecting to a cellular network because the device is blacklisted. Your phone being carrier unlocked has nothing to do with evading a phone from being blacklisted.
You can read more about it,
As devices have become more sophisticated and more expensive, they are also more attractive to thieves. Recent years have seen an increased need for the IMEI DB to be used as a tool to combat handset theft by ensuring the identities of stolen devices can be shared across networks around the world. The IMEI DB also supports what is known as a “black list”. The black list is a list of IMEIs that are associated with mobile devices that should be denied service on mobile networks because they have been reported as lost, stolen, faulty or otherwise unsuitable for use. This list is stored in the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which acts as a central system for network operators to share their individual black lists so that devices denied service (blacklisted) by one network will not work on other networks. The engagement of governments and law enforcement agencies with the network operator community continues in a number of markets where handset theft is perceived to be a problem and the GSMA strongly encourages use of the IMEI DB as a platform to exchange stolen handset data. All GSMA operator members are welcome to connect to the system free of charge. To learn more about the IMEI database, please click here.
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http://www.gsma.com/technicalprojects/fraud-security/imei-database
http://security.stackexchange.com/q...tors-blacklist-stolen-phones-using-their-imei
Trevaryn said:
Ok so let say I go to tmobile and buy a N6 on contract and pay the 26.75 a month for a few months, then let's say the months after that I cannot pay anymore and my account goes to collections and they blacklist the phone. Because it's is a Google phone it comes unlocked. So I take that unlocked blacklisted phone to let's say att, all I have to do is get a simple from them and pop it in the phone and then all I have to do is setup the phone on my account and bam workingpbone
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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So ignorant.......
An unlocked phone means your phone itself can be used on any carrier without needing an unlock code. But when your phone is network blocked, this database is shared amongst other networks in your region, so all carriers in your region will block your device from grabbing any signal as your IMEI is sent to the network. If it goes through the security check and doesn't have any IMEI blocks in place, then you're fine, but if it's blocked, your phone will not get signal.
Your phone can still register on other networks in other countries, but as for your T-mo plan, you're in a region where your IMEI is blocked. So your phone is essentially blocked from being used unless you sell it to another person in another country.
Yes you are right but your phone will only be blacklisted on tmobile! Dude I've ****ing done this before. I used to make a living flashing blacklisted phone to other carriers. I would take bad esn phone from whatever carrier and put them on a different one. Done it hundreds of times.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Trevaryn said:
Yes you are right but your phone will only be blacklisted on tmobile! Dude I've (MOD EDIT) done this before. I used to make a living flashing blacklisted phone to other carriers. I would take bad esn phone from whatever carrier and put them on a different one. Done it hundreds of times.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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No your phone will be blocked on other carriers too, read my post underlined and bolded. That talk of evading the IMEI blacklisted talk is not prohibited on XDA and is generally illegal.
Not paying a phone for $649/$699 + taxes and then trying to evade IMEI blacklist is a huge no. So stop please.
MOD EDIT: Please don't swear.
Like I said I have DONE this. OP can believe whoever he wants it makes no difference to me. BTW the phone I had b4 this N6 I got from CL and it was blacklisted on Verizon but I had it activated on both t-mobile and AT&T at different times.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Trevaryn said:
Like I said I have DONE this. OP can believe whoever he wants it makes no difference to me. BTW the phone I had b4 this N6 I got from CL and it was blacklisted on Verizon but I had it activated on both t-mobile and AT&T at different times.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1591672
One day your luck will run out. The phone goes on the stolen blacklist because the phone, in essence, is stolen. The OP agreed to purchase the phone, had it billed 100% to his next billing statement, and kept the phone without paying for it.
I'm confused. Are the N6 phones carrier locked?
I travel to Europe every other year for about two months to see family and I normally just pickup a pre-paid SIM while I'm there for my phone. Last trip I called up AT&T International and told them my plans and they got my IMEI from me and gave me the code to unlock my phone so I could pick up a pre-paid SIM. This was in there best interest as it kept me a happy customer and I renewed my contract when it was up. I've since sold that phone to help cover part of the cost of my AT&T N6.
Yesterday I contacted AT&T International again and asked for the same thing. This time I'm told they do not do that and never have and that I need to go threw some link to request it to be unlocked. Unfortunately that link very specifically says you have to finish your contract of pay the ETF or if Next, pay off the device.
This is NOT what happened last time. I was 100% for sure under contract, I was 6 months into my new contract with AT&T as a NEW customer. This time around I'm a renewed customer and they will not do this for me.
This is going to make me leave AT&T on principal. Unlocking my phone does not release me from the agreement I signed but as mentioned above does keep me a happy customer.
Googling I found this... Seems this is a new thing and others have had issues. Interesting the way they kissed his ass when they found out he writes tech reviews and said they were looking into ways to help out international travelers with this, looks like they have done nothing.
http://arstechnica.com/staff/2014/11/atts-outdated-unlock-policies-cost-it-a-loyal-customer-me/
So I happened to mention to a friend I need to look into moving to Sprint or something else that will buy out my contract so I can have a phone to take with and he said ummm I don't think N6's are carrier locked.
Now I know I could buy a cheap phone but its the point of the matter. EVERYTHING I do is on "this" phone. I don't want to take two phones, I want to take THIS phone and I don't want to pay for AT&T International service.
@kdoggy
Yes, AT&T N6 is carrier locked. You can not get the unlock code from AT&T unless your device is paid off.
But there are a number of 3rd party companies that will sell you the code for $10 to $25. Look for an older thread in this General section with a title something like "undo AT&T customization".
Or do a Google search for carrier unlock codes.
This phone wasn't carrier locked out of the box was it? I remember now when I first set it up I followed some instructions to NOT get the AT&T customizations that involved removing the SIM etc but then the second time I re-flashed the phone I forgot to do that and now I get the carrier crap. Previous to that my Google Play account KNEW it was an Nexus phone but did not know what carrier it was. It just said Unspecified Nexus 6. After that refresh without removing the SIM for the first part of the setup, it now gets the crap and Play says AT&T Nexus 6.
Sigh, OK yeah I'll pay $10~25.00 dollars. I'm not happy about this on principal though. Them unlocking my phone does not release me from my contract. Looks like I may have to evaluate in another few months when my Next is up.
@kdoggy
Yes, the AT&T version was carrier locked out of the box.
Ah OK. Yeah just read the thread you spoke of. Sounds like the SIM card thing was just for the bloat.
OK well this helped, screw AT&T, I'll just pay the money and remember this next go around. We have been on a family plan for the past few years but I'm in the middle of a divorce right now so I may just go Verizon when this contracts up. Nothing keeping me on AT&T anymore. Previously it was just because the wife and kids were on AT&T too.
I can say for a fact that the Tmobile version of the N6 comes unlocked. I got mine and was able to pop in my att sim without having to unlock it. I even got it replaced through warranty (bad battery) and was able to use my At&t sim on this one too. But as far as I know Tmobile and the international version are the only ones to come unlocked.
The Sprint and Verizon models are unlocked as well.
The US Cellular version is totally unlocked as well...for all carriers.
Hey, just bought a Tmobile tab s2 9.7 T817T off of craigslist today for $200.... good deal I think even for a wifi model.. BUT.. it's blocked/blackslisted, Tmobile says large balance owed and the guy I bought it from won't call me back.(go figure)_ So.. I'm fine with using with wifi but I've read about rooting and changing the IMEI .. Anyone have experience with this? I've got 2 Tmobile one unlimited numbers.. and they are now offering a 3rd unlimited LTE for free and this would be perfect for the tab s2.
tri0xinn said:
Hey, just bought a Tmobile tab s2 9.7 T817T off of craigslist today for $200.... good deal I think even for a wifi model.. BUT.. it's blocked/blackslisted, Tmobile says large balance owed and the guy I bought it from won't call me back.(go figure)_ So.. I'm fine with using with wifi but I've read about rooting and changing the IMEI .. Anyone have experience with this? I've got 2 Tmobile one unlimited numbers.. and they are now offering a 3rd unlimited LTE for free and this would be perfect for the tab s2.
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I believe it is against XDA policy to discuss about changing IMEI and fix blacklisted devices (for obvious reasons, of course).
I hope you can find help somewhere else....
The bad news is that T-mobile is unlikely to restore that IMEI unless someone pays the tab. You might be able to press them on the fact that you are now the owner of the device, but they are unlikely to bend. However, the blacklisting likely only impacts its use on T-mobile since it is for non-payment, not theft, so you might be able to use a pay as you go SIM card on a different LTE network to get service on it.
Worth a shot, and if it still doesn't work, you can always sell the card or use it on a difference device.
As an aside, this is why you ALWAYS check the status of an IMEI before buying, though as you said, $200 for a WiFi only Tab 2 is still a great deal.
On a related item, how would one protect oneself in this situation? I often buy older phones from craigslist and ask the seller to meet me at an ATT store where the device can be examined and I get a chip from the vendor (we are after all inside the ATT Store).
Also, when I sell a phone, I meet the buyer at an ATT Store and ask them to check or bring their own chip so ensure all is clear
Would that have worked in this case?
xdafly said:
On a related item, how would one protect oneself in this situation? I often buy older phones from craigslist and ask the seller to meet me at an ATT store where the device can be examined and I get a chip from the vendor (we are after all inside the ATT Store).
Also, when I sell a phone, I meet the buyer at an ATT Store and ask them to check or bring their own chip so ensure all is clear
Would that have worked in this case?
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The SIM card has nothing to do with it - the blacklist involves the device's IMEI. If you are in the store, you can ask the rep to check and see if the device is flagged or if the seller has an unpaid balance. However, T-Mobile has a nasty habit of not immediately blacklisting devices until months later, leaving a window during which the device will work and appear clean, even to service reps, but get kicked off later.
Doing deals at a carrier store is a good idea, though. Most carrier reps can tell you fairly quickly if a device is going to work on their network or not, and even lend you a SIM card to try it out.
There are sites that you can use to check imei including swappa :
https://swappa.com/esn?esn
How much help they really are I dunno.
xdafly said:
On a related item, how would one protect oneself in this situation? I often buy older phones from craigslist and ask the seller to meet me at an ATT store where the device can be examined and I get a chip from the vendor (we are after all inside the ATT Store).
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jhill110 said:
There are sites that you can use to check imei including swappa :
https://swappa.com/esn?esn
How much help they really are I dunno.
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Swappa's IMEI check is not completely reliable, as it checks for blacklisted devices only. It cannot check if the device has unpaid balance. T-mobile's IMEI check actually includes the information if the device have unpaid balance. So, checking the device on t-mobile site makes it safe enough. I don't know if AT&T provides the same.
https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/72842?start=0&tstart=0
---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:54 AM ----------
jshamlet said:
However, the blacklisting likely only impacts its use on T-mobile since it is for non-payment, not theft, so you might be able to use a pay as you go SIM card on a different LTE network to get service on it.
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I bought my tablet from Craigslist myself. I knew it had unpaid balance, when I checked. But I didn't care since I only wanted to use on WiFi, with some cosmetic defects paid only 150$. It has been working without issue as a WiFi only tablet. I didn't even insert any sim card, for fear that t-mobile might block it !
To protect yourself is pretty simple. With the device in hand ( IMEI) at time of purchase, call customer services using your own phone and request that you are adding another device to your line, give them the IMEI number and have the device setup on your line. Now if something goes wrong in two weeks time, its too late for the them to blacklist it now since you have already added this device to your line via correct channels. Basically from the moment the phone or devices' imei is put in your name then it cannot be reversed or blacklisted afterwards. I use this method all the time and dont need to meet seller in store etc.