What has someone done with this device I bought used? - Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers

I bought a sprint device used after putting in my cricket SIM and it worked fine. After buying it I noticed that it didn't pass the financial eligibility check. Device works well except for the securitylogagent prompts to restart and it won't except updates to firmware.
I've tried flashing unlocked firmware with Odin and it fails. I also can't get the phone to work with cricket visual voicemail.
I don't know what someone has done with this phone. It doesn't appear rooted, but how does one get it unlocked for other sim cards if there's a financial obligation with Sprint....and how can I "fix" the firmware?

It sounds like they sold you a phone that they didn't pay off. I would try to contact the person that sold you the phone and try and get your money back, or have them pay the phone off. It just sounds like a headache to try and resolve.

Probably they bought it with hire purchase and stopped payment, if they dont help you, you can ask for police or any authorized service because it is scamming. You cant sell a phone nor an item which has financial restrictions, at least it is like that in here

If this were a GSM phone, one could pay to have it unlocked.
Just curious how someone was able to hack into a sprint device to get other carriers to work. I didn't think that was possible. Heck, I've bought an HTC sprint phone before that I didn't call and check it was basically a brick. Ended up selling it for someone to game on. Lesson Learned, just feel like there's gotta be a way to salvage it.

Related

T-Mobile Device Unlock App Says Not Recognized by Service Provider

I had to send my phone into LG for repair. I am a Prepaid T-Mobile customer. Since I got the phone back, whenever I try to open the app to check on Permanent Unlock (as I have done temp in the past), the app get this error when Connecting to NetworkL:
Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care.
Well, I tried using chat service on their website and all that resulted in was the person thinking they should send in an unlock request for me. I knew this was wrong. Next day I get an email from the unlock dept telling me to use the app
Since I figure people here tend to be smarter than a telco tech support person, I would ask here before pursuing this further with Tmo.
This is in fact the same phone I sent in...I checked the IMEI, etc. Using the same tmo sim card.
Any ideas?
Thanks
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
thevmax said:
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
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Hmm. I am sadly aware of tmo's FU to prepaid customers needing service, as I have experienced it as well.
But, before I sent it in this app did recognize my phone and would allow me to temp unlock. It is only since it came back from LG repair that it stopped working. This was a period of maybe 10 days.
One item I question, but imagine it is nothing is that under the battery next to the original label with IMEI, model, seriel, etc , they place another label that has a barcode with the imei numbers next to that LB (Leather Back). Above that is shows HB811LB, but then after that BT01 EU.
No idea what that was about but EU made me think Europe.
I am interested to know if and/or how you got this resolved. I am suffering the exact same issue with a T-Mobile LG V10 after sending it in for repair.
Same thing with me, i was able to get the prompt to temp or perm unlock before i sent my g4 off to LG. Phone came back same IMEI on sticker and on device after dialing *#06# I get the stupid message device not recognized by your service provider. Please contact customer care. I tried reinstalling the firmware, same firmware that was in there, didn't want to brick the phone again.... still nothing.
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
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Hmm nice to know, the only problem is i bought this phone from someone and I'm in Canada.
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
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Maybe I should call them again. Last time I tried they basically said FU to me. They repaired it and that was that. Frankly, the only thing keeping me with these TMO arses is that I have a super cheap prepaid plan they no longer offer.
Of course my concern with them replacing the phone is that the replacement could have any of the other various issues that this LG quality control clusterF*** has.
Thinking along the lines of it being my last LG product instead. Maybe even sell it now before the flood and use my little LG Leon backup phone I bought when I initially sent this one in for service.And Maybe tell TMO FOOO too.
Whatever LG is doing when they are flashing phones back to stock after them being bricked, is really messing up the phones. I sent out another one and the IMEI is clear fully paid off and the device unlock app is pulling the same ****. I'm not impressed. T-mobile won't unlock the phone either because i'm not the original owner. There is no block what so ever on the phone. PURE B.S on T-mobile and LG's part.
On the phone with LG now. So far getting the same run-around. He is actually calling TMO support because he simply won't believe they can't fix it.
If I don't get a replacement, I may be selling this phone, done with LG for good and ordering a Moto X Pure or something
I don't mind a screw up by a company, but you best stand behind your product properly or foo you and your company, IMO.
Results of call.....Total Failure. The LG person pawns me off on a TMO person who asks for my number so they can call back. Instead, they just transferred me to a TMO support idiot who had no idea whatsoever about what was going on. Really sick of both these company's Bull****. Pretty sure this is my last LG product ever.
Decided to try again using Chat.
So annoyed with LG and TMO right now I may sell the phone and buy a Nexus 6p and Foo to all LG products in the future.
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
Masaker514 said:
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
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Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it.
All I can say is that after the quality control debacle of the G4, you'd have to be a fool to buy a G5. I know I won't
Barsky said:
Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it
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The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
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It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
Barsky said:
It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
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I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
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Hah. Well, I am just trying to have it work being totally legit. It has nothing to do with rooting and romming, that much know as the problem existed right out of the box from them. Also, before the repair, the app work 100% rooted or not.
duplicate. my bad.
I always wonder why that button says Edit/Delete, but you can never delete them. :laugh:
Well, I just ordered a Nexus 6p with Project Fi. If I like it I will port my tmo number to it and be done with LG....since fi uses tmo, I will simply be done dealing with them directly.
Not sure I see any downsides to this
Hah, decided to make one last attempt with LG tech support, this time via email. Besides explaining to them why their initial reply was wrong, I also told them I have pretty much given up on future LG purchases and that I have a nexus 6p on the way to replace this phone. Just got another reply and supposedly he is kicking it up to his manager. We will see what happens, but I am not raising my expectations. Nothing says I can't cancel the nexus 6p.

I bought a phone that has been blacklisted

Hey hows everyone? I bought a phone about 2 months ago, it was working fine last night. When i woked up it dndt had service I called t mobile from my mothers phone and they said that the phone has been blocked or blacklisted. I think if im not wrong there is a way to fix this. Anyone please?
Well if the phone had been blacklisted BY T-MOBILE I could only assume you can't get service on that phone assuming it's something they've done on their end... I may be wrong but if a carrier is blacklisting your device and thus you are no longer getting service it is something being done on their end to block your service.
Same thing happened to me. Bought a second hand Nexus 4, used it for 3 months, then it stops. It was on a delinquent T-Mobile plan. I called them up & they said all I could due was contact the original owner. Sorry for your luck. That is what I hate about t-mobile.
I'm pretty sure you can use the phone on AT&T, but this why it's important to check the imei with the carrier before buying a used phone. You bought a stolen phone, either stolen from T-Mobile or a person and all the carriers respond to that by blacklisting the device. There's nothing to be done though beyond appealing to the original owner, even if you offer to pay what the other person owes.
Unfortunately, checking the imei isn't enough. The Nexus I had had a clean imei. The original owner quit paying on the phone 3 months later. It is a problem with T-Mobiles device payment plan. All other carriers require a phone to be fully payed off before removing from your account, except T-Mobile.
If you are technically inclined you could "swap" an imei from another phone but this practice can be illegal in many many ways, there are legal ways to do it but you have to be careful. Otherwise the blacklist is now a collaboration between the major cell carriers in the US aka the big 4, so it is not likely your phone will work on any carrier in the states. Probably the best you can hope hope for is to flip it to someone at a discount who wants it as a wifi only device or to someone who can use it for parts, or you could lie like the other guy did and not tell someone its blacklisted, although this too is immoral and possibly illegal.
just go on ebay, there's a few people you can pay on there to remove the blacklist.
http://www.androidrooter.com/
he has mail in service as well as remote service.
i have used him in the past with great success.
he is located in northern new jersey
That sucks.
@dannygoround

How to unlock SIM?

I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
pete4k said:
I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat as you
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
pete4k said:
I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the same situation. From my understanding of past and present TMo devices, the account has to be in good standing (EIP/equipment paid off) AND your device needs to have 40 or 45 days (someone correct me) of continuous usage on TMo network before you can request the Device App unlock = carrier unlock.
So just wait until then
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
As I suspected, I called Samsung to unlock my phone, they told me to call T-mo, called T-mo, they told me to call Samsung, wasted already 1 hour on this.
escabar said:
I am in the same situation. From my understanding of past and present TMo devices, the account has to be in good standing (EIP/equipment paid off) AND your device needs to have 40 or 45 days (someone correct me) of continuous usage on TMo network before you can request the Device App unlock = carrier unlock.
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Click to collapse
It's 40 days, that is I was told by CS. After that you use "Device unlock" app on your phone and choose permanent unlock.
Same techniques for S6 and S7 and it worked for me.
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
pete4k said:
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
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That is T-Mobile branded phone, and that is their rules, sorry for that. What you can do, before going on the trip, on that app/ choose Temporary unlock, it's good for 30 days and you can have it up to 5 times in a year.
pete4k said:
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
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You can call T-Mobile and let them know that you are travelling out of the country on ___ date and ask for an unlock code for a long time customer. It has worked for me in the past if you get the right rep.
mrbear01 said:
You can call T-Mobile and let them know that you are travelling out of the country on ___ date and ask for an unlock code for a long time customer. It has worked for me in the past if you get the right rep.
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Click to collapse
I have the same problem, I bought the phone from Samsung.com and there was no option to purchase an unlocked phone. I am traveling in two days for a few weeks and I called Tmobile several times trying to at least get a temporary unlock and even that cannot be done. They said it has to be on their network for 40 days. I even called Samsung and they said all the unlock codes are sent to Tmobile and only they can unlock it due to the stupid Device Unlock app. You cannot unlock it even if you have the code, only the app can unlock it. If I didn't like the S8 so much I would have switched to the iPhone 7. Absolutely ridiculous!!!
I still don't understand how T-mo will know the phone you purchased direct from Samsung is paid for and should not have SIM locked to begin with.
I have the same problem with my S8. Bough it directly from Samsung. I contacted Samsung and they told me that I need contact tmobile; contact tmobile and they told me that my phone does not show in their system as a tmobile phone because I did not buy it from them. I need my phone unlock so when I travel overseas I can use a local sime card. I don't want to wait until 40-45 days go able to unlock my phone and then not be able to return it to Samsung. There some unlock services charging $50.00 plus to unlock it. I don't want to expend more money, since this phone is already very expensive.
kindongo said:
I have the same problem with my S8. Bough it directly from Samsung. I contacted Samsung and they told me that I need contact tmobile; contact tmobile and they told me that my phone does not show in their system as a tmobile phone because I did not buy it from them. I need my phone unlock so when I travel overseas I can use a local sime card. I don't want to wait until 40-45 days go able to unlock my phone and then not be able to return it to Samsung. There some unlock services charging $50.00 plus to unlock it. I don't want to expend more money, since this phone is already very expensive.
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Click to collapse
It's not even about money, this should be illegal. This whole business of locking the SIM card is left over from contract subsidized phones and I could perfectly understand that phone belonged to phone company and you just leased it until end of contract. Now I praise T-mo for getting rid of this practice and changing whole industry, so now at least you know what are you paying for and how much. But now SIM locking shouldn't even happen anymore: if phone is stolen/unpaid for, blacklist IMEI and also you can unlock SIM for the fee, even if it is stolen, so what purpose this SIM locking serves? Canada gets unlock code with the phone.
Anybody had any luck getting the phone unlock.?I waited too long to return the phone, now I'm stuck with it.
http://www.cellunlocker.net/t-mobile-device-unlock-app.php
the service is expensive $130 dls for the unlock
kindongo said:
Anybody had any luck getting the phone unlock.?I waited too long to return the phone, now I'm stuck with it.
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I was in the same boat as you. Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. Your IMEI number needs to be added to their "device distribution inventory system" and needs to be submitted to their highest level tech support, this allows the Device Unlock app think your phone came from T-mobile's inventory and will let the app unlock your phone.
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
"I am right there with you. It definitely makes things harder on both sides since the phone isn't technically bought from us, even though it is branded a T-Mobile phone and our system rejects any IMEI that didn't come from our inventory. None the less, we're all about giving you full access to what is yours. Teams are currently working on a process update that'll make things a lot more seamless, but in the meantime we've got this work around! I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!"
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and was greeted with "Unlock Approved: Mobile Device is permanently unlocked"
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.
INGHUGO said:
http://www.cellunlocker.net/t-mobile-device-unlock-app.php
the service is expensive $130 dls for the unlock
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Click to collapse
Did this work for you and were you able to successfully unlock ?
no,unfortunately it couldn't be unlocked because cellunlock no longer have access to their server ,I had to have a contract and wait the 40 days that are the requirement so I can release it
I dont think anybody has now. nearly all the sites i checked unlocking tmobile does not seems to be available.
fragg3d said:
I was in the same boat as you. Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. Your IMEI number needs to be added to their "device distribution inventory system" and needs to be submitted to their highest level tech support, this allows the Device Unlock app think your phone came from T-mobile's inventory and will let the app unlock your phone.
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
"I am right there with you. It definitely makes things harder on both sides since the phone isn't technically bought from us, even though it is branded a T-Mobile phone and our system rejects any IMEI that didn't come from our inventory. None the less, we're all about giving you full access to what is yours. Teams are currently working on a process update that'll make things a lot more seamless, but in the meantime we've got this work around! I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!"
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and was greeted with "Unlock Approved: Mobile Device is permanently unlocked"
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.
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Thanks, I will try that

my G4 was reported stolen been using it for more then a year

bought this phone on april of 2016 off craiglist it was unlocked. brother sent it to me to mexico used telcel and then movistar..
and on this past 19th my phone didnt want to make calls only emergency.. i live a place where theres alot of killings as they fight for control of the towns. drug lords are in a battle since feb.. so i heard that when the marines or military are in cities or towns they cut all cell phone comunications. not sure if its true.. so i tought it was that as theres been alot of military on the town and 3 helicopters.. so next day samething but my moms phone was working fine... so i asked my niece for a telcel sim card. i inserted the sim and i got service and called my moms phone.. so i assumed i had a bad sim. but then i tried other movistar sim my mothers and samething happened no service. but not on telcel.. so i tought movistar blocked me. my mom lost her phone a cheap phone and i reported from my phone for stolen.. but its was confusing.. so a might have enter mine.. day after it was locked.. partially as i could use telcel..
so i call movistar and they said that my sim card was inactive cause it was reported lost . i gave my info and customer service activated my sim card again... supposely never tried it in another phone.. then i waited but no service i only get emergency calll only.. so i used telcel for 2 days and then samething it now tells me emergency calls only on telcel too.... called tmobile and they said that the imei was not on their records....tmobile website that checks imeis status and i tried it and it says that it was reported stolen.. after more then a year.??
was it really reported stolen..?? or did movistar locked it.? can they read imei with sim card inserted.? cause ive never gave them my imei.. ??
am very pissed stress anxiuos.. and hurt.:crying::crying:. i hate people that take advantage of others. they deserve to die.. yes die.. we donst need those people... sorry am very frrustrated.. and mad.. i dont like beign lied to.
i happen to have anxiety attacks.. so i gather this money with alot of sacrifice... i cant hold a job besides jobs in mexico are a joke..
I bought a G4 on craigslist and it turned out being blocked. It was blocked because there was an unpaid balance with Tmobile. I bought it very cheap for at the time I got it so i was a little suspicious to begin with but I got it so cheap it was not worth my time and gas money to return it to the guy I bought it from. I got his name and had his phone number and picture i took of him with the phone when i got him to write me a receipt. He gave me some story about he let his room mate put it in his name and and the room mate didn't make the payments and so on. He was willing to give me my money back but i just decided to keep it and use it as a Wifi phone.
I called Tmobile and they couldn't really tell me anything because the account was in someone else's name and they also did not seem to care about getting the phone back and told me they would be glad to sign me up for service and sell me a new phone.
I had planned to use it on Ting and it was blocked...not locked. From what I understand the phone sends out a code ever time it logs onto the network. I am not sure if it is just imei number but there is some unique identifier for every phone. And once the blocked process is done the phone can not connect to the network. I found out companies in the US share these blacklist numbers now and if you are on it there is not much you can do besides changing out the chipset for one with a clean imei. I did not know they were now sharing these numbers with Mexico but it makes sense as i read that a lot of stolen phones go either there or to Europe where the info was not yet being shared.
I really enjoy my G4, even though it is just for wifi use, I use it with google voice. I really hate i can't connect it to a mobile network though, so much in fact that I am considering buying another G4 off ebay or somewhere (an unlocked, unblocked one). If the G4 was waterproof and had a fingerprint reader I would have already bought one. Oh and another thing that is holding me back now is the locked bootloaders. I have been reading and trying to figure out which ones can be unlocked and rooted now. From what i can gather is that 811 and 815 models can still be rooted...and 811s only if they are not updated to a certain point.
Now I am debating Moto G's and a few other phones that are unlocked and will work on all US carriers. I still feel the G4 is a nicer phone for the money than a lot of them, even with all the issues there have been with the G4s. Sorry to hear about your phone, not sure if you have google voice in Mexico but if so you might want to check it out. There may also be some other apps that let you use it as a wifi phone as well.
fuzzy_ said:
I bought a G4 on craigslist and it turned out being blocked. It was blocked because there was an unpaid balance with Tmobile. I bought it very cheap for at the time I got it so i was a little suspicious to begin with but I got it so cheap it was not worth my time and gas money to return it to the guy I bought it from. I got his name and had his phone number and picture i took of him with the phone when i got him to write me a receipt. He gave me some story about he let his room mate put it in his name and and the room mate didn't make the payments and so on. He was willing to give me my money back but i just decided to keep it and use it as a Wifi phone.
I called Tmobile and they couldn't really tell me anything because the account was in someone else's name and they also did not seem to care about getting the phone back and told me they would be glad to sign me up for service and sell me a new phone.
I had planned to use it on Ting and it was blocked...not locked. From what I understand the phone sends out a code ever time it logs onto the network. I am not sure if it is just imei number but there is some unique identifier for every phone. And once the blocked process is done the phone can not connect to the network. I found out companies in the US share these blacklist numbers now and if you are on it there is not much you can do besides changing out the chipset for one with a clean imei. I did not know they were now sharing these numbers with Mexico but it makes sense as i read that a lot of stolen phones go either there or to Europe where the info was not yet being shared.
I really enjoy my G4, even though it is just for wifi use, I use it with google voice. I really hate i can't connect it to a mobile network though, so much in fact that I am considering buying another G4 off ebay or somewhere (an unlocked, unblocked one). If the G4 was waterproof and had a fingerprint reader I would have already bought one. Oh and another thing that is holding me back now is the locked bootloaders. I have been reading and trying to figure out which ones can be unlocked and rooted now. From what i can gather is that 811 and 815 models can still be rooted...and 811s only if they are not updated to a certain point.
Now I am debating Moto G's and a few other phones that are unlocked and will work on all US carriers. I still feel the G4 is a nicer phone for the money than a lot of them, even with all the issues there have been with the G4s. Sorry to hear about your phone, not sure if you have google voice in Mexico but if so you might want to check it out. There may also be some other apps that let you use it as a wifi phone as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
h811 can be unlcoked but only in MM from version 20i upwards upto latest 20v.
I had planned to use it on Ting and it was blocked...not locked. whats the difference.?
well i have called tmobile and i have heard this morning that its is not blocked from their side.. but last night anotherone said it was.. i had this phone for more then a year.. i hope maybe it isnt blocked by tmobile but from movistar .. as i accidentally placed my sim card number its so confusing.. talked to movistar but they want me to show proof of purchase.. wich i dont have.. at the time i got mine they were around 450$ am really depressed..
Blocked is blacklisted, once it goes on it doesn't come off the blacklist unless the original account owner pays off what is owed, at least in the case of my phone it is like that. Tmobile has an IMEI online checker https://es.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx when i enter mine i get a message:
Your device is locked and will not work on the T-Mobile network. If you think this is a mistake, call Customer Service.
Another IMEI checker I use says that: The device has been BLOCKED by T-Mobile carrier.
I guess if i were you and the person at Tmobile told me it wasn't blocked by them, I would have said send me a sim card. And then got their name.
I have read about a lot of people getting scammed with the G4, person finances the phone, sells the phone then files an insurance claim. The person that buys the phone can use it for a while, sometimes months, not sure about years. The process finally catches up, the phone gets blacklisted and the person that bought it second hand and thought things were fine is left with a phone that can't be put on a network. I don't know if that is what happened with your phone or not, just saying it could be. I would check several imei checker websites if I were in your position.
I have other phones but none as nice as my G4, I like the phone and would really like to have it as my main carry phone but now I have seen them for 139 USD new on ebay, a good used one under 100. I may go for one or I may try to get something that is unlocked and works on all US carriers.
I hope you get things worked out with yours. I never even got mine hooked up with a carrier but I have enjoyed rooting it and using it as a wifi home phone and using the IR blaster. I have got moneys worth out of it just doing things like that. I now run Lineage on it and have Hangouts, Google assistant, Atmos and Nova launcher among other things so I am happy. I am pretty sure i don't want one that is not rooted though.
Edit: Locked means it can only be used on a certain network. If a phone is network locked say it is a Tmobile phone, it can only be used on Tmobile.
fuzzy_ said:
Blocked is blacklisted, once it goes on it doesn't come off the blacklist unless the original account owner pays off what is owed, at least in the case of my phone it is like that. Tmobile has an IMEI online checker https://es.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx when i enter mine i get a message:
Your device is locked and will not work on the T-Mobile network. If you think this is a mistake, call Customer Service.
Another IMEI checker I use says that: The device has been BLOCKED by T-Mobile carrier.
I guess if i were you and the person at Tmobile told me it wasn't blocked by them, I would have said send me a sim card. And then got their name.
I have read about a lot of people getting scammed with the G4, person finances the phone, sells the phone then files an insurance claim. The person that buys the phone can use it for a while, sometimes months, not sure about years. The process finally catches up, the phone gets blacklisted and the person that bought it second hand and thought things were fine is left with a phone that can't be put on a network. I don't know if that is what happened with your phone or not, just saying it could be. I would check several imei checker websites if I were in your position.
I have other phones but none as nice as my G4, I like the phone and would really like to have it as my main carry phone but now I have seen them for 139 USD new on ebay, a good used one under 100. I may go for one or I may try to get something that is unlocked and works on all US carriers.
I hope you get things worked out with yours. I never even got mine hooked up with a carrier but I have enjoyed rooting it and using it as a wifi home phone and using the IR blaster. I have got moneys worth out of it just doing things like that. I now run Lineage on it and have Hangouts, Google assistant, Atmos and Nova launcher among other things so I am happy. I am pretty sure i don't want one that is not rooted though.
Edit: Locked means it can only be used on a certain network. If a phone is network locked say it is a Tmobile phone, it can only be used on Tmobile.
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Click to collapse
i had so many things going thru my mind i didnt pay attention to ir. you right and i get it.. well thanks for your wishes...
in the morning i called and a guy told me that my phone isnt locked or blocked. that its fine theres no report of it. for beign stolen.. so not so sure i gave them another call later today and this time a nice lady talked to me and kindly check and told me samething that it isnt blocked or locked from them. no reports. that i should ask the carrier am on to unlock it..
thing is they want proof of purchase my carrier already told them that it was a used phone... they still want proof so ill see how that goes.. at lest it isnt blocked. :good:
update
took it to customer service and the block has been removed.. yay.
raptorddd said:
update
took it to customer service and the block has been removed.. yay.
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Click to collapse
:good:

Carrier Locked? Sim Locked? UICC Locked? What state is my phone in?

I bought an SM-N960U used off of letgo about a month ago now and I have been trying to get it to work for me but I am still having a few issues.
The guy I bought it from, who himself bought it used, was using it on T-Mobile and I am able to make and receive calls okay and get internet okay with Verizon. The phone was originally a Sprint phone. It continuously gave me "Activation was Unsuccessful" fullscreen messages repeatedly until I used adb to disable com.sec.omadmspr and com.sprint.ms.smf.services.
When swapping SIMS from different carriers the phone DOES NOT ask for an UNLOCK code.
When I first got the phone I tried to call Sprint and ask if the phone was Carrier locked thinking that if there was a small amount owed or something perhaps I could pay it and UN-Carrier Lock the phone... Well, that didn't go well. Since I wasn't on the account and couldn't provide the name or phone number of the old owner they wouldn't tell me if there was OR wasn't a carrier lock on the phone. Eventually I got them to take the IMEI but they still told me nothing.
So, I've been using the phone daily for about a month now, but because of it's problems (the app that won't run) I still have to carry my old phone as well. This phone is always on Roam. One time when trying to fix it I dialed the *228 PRL update number. That was a mistake. It broke my internet to the point where NO ONE was able to fix it. I went to a Verizon stone. No help. I called customer service. No help. They transferred me to Tech Support.... finally they had me swap in one of my older SIM cards and they programmed that one to work.
TLDR; The phone works with VZW voice and data, but is always on roaming, some apps refuse to work properly, under UICC Unlock the phone says it is locked to Sprint Sims and sometimes the data connection drops and it says it doesn't work because of "Data Roaming" being disabled.
What version of locked is my phone? Is it safe to start flashing it?
ref: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...h-firmware-t3958791/post80093967#post80093967
you probably has nothing to do with your problem but it may be of some help if you contact the guy mentioned in this thread for the LG V20, it's a guy that works for sprint and you can contact him on the Sprint Users forums ..
He may be able to help you with the sim unlocking of your phone, there's nothing to lose I think!
give it a shot ... look at this thread and then register for an account on the Sprint Forums and look for the guy..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/help/lg-v20-ls997-successfully-unlocked-oreo-t3835061
You need to contact the person who sold you the device and ask them for assistance. As they may need to contact Sprint to activate the device and unlock it for you.
kbrn said:
you probably has nothing to do with your problem but it may be of some help if you contact the guy mentioned in this thread for the LG V20, it's a guy that works for sprint and you can contact him on the Sprint Users forums ..
He may be able to help you with the sim unlocking of your phone, there's nothing to lose I think!
give it a shot ... look at this thread and then register for an account on the Sprint Forums and look for the guy..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/help/lg-v20-ls997-successfully-unlocked-oreo-t3835061
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks! I looked at this link and think maybe this guy can help. I sent him a message!
Hoping for the best!
iceepyon said:
You need to contact the person who sold you the device and ask them for assistance. As they may need to contact Sprint to activate the device and unlock it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but the guy I bought it from bought it used, so he wont have any Sprint account info, so then I'd have to try to track down the person he bought it from... and on and on and I dont know how long or fruitful the search would be... and again... I'm on the phone right now, on Verizon with a Verizon SIM. I dont think its carrier locked... but then I dont know what's going on.
towdy said:
Thanks, but the guy I bought it from bought it used, so he wont have any Sprint account info, so then I'd have to try to track down the person he bought it from... and on and on and I dont know how long or fruitful the search would be... and again... I'm on the phone right now, on Verizon with a Verizon SIM. I dont think its carrier locked... but then I dont know what's going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They don't want to make it easy for people to re-purpose stolen phones. There are things a legitimate owner can do in order to make a phone ready for re-sale, and it sounds like these things didn't happen for the phone you bought. It all sounds a bit fishy, doesn't it?
gruuvin said:
They don't want to make it easy for people to re-purpose stolen phones. There are things a legitimate owner can do in order to make a phone ready for re-sale, and it sounds like these things didn't happen for the phone you bought. It all sounds a bit fishy, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but if I thought "it sounds a bit fishy" I probably wouldn't have bought the used phone in the first place... and I certainly wouldn't have called Sprint and given them the IMEI and asked them; the people that could render my phone a useless brick, with one tiny bit of information, for help. Each smart phone I've bought in the last few years has been used because frankly to me it seems to be the best way to buy them financially. $1000 the day they come out or $200 - $300 6 - 12 months later used.
towdy said:
Thanks, but if I thought "it sounds a bit fishy" I probably wouldn't have bought the used phone in the first place... and I certainly wouldn't have called Sprint and given them the IMEI and asked them; the people that could render my phone a useless brick, with one tiny bit of information, for help. Each smart phone I've bought in the last few years has been used because frankly to me it seems to be the best way to buy them financially. $1000 the day they come out or $200 - $300 6 - 12 months later used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point is, when someone is about to buy a used phone from a stranger, make sure it is factory reset and then immediately call the carrier and confirm the IMEI is clean and that it has been carrier unlocked, else, don't buy it. Obviously it's not advice for you, since you already did it the wrong way. This is a good lesson for posterity.

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