Hi,
Awhile ago, I lost my XDA and claimed it lost. Through insurance I received a new one. Funny thing is that few days ago I ended up finding my old XDA but I had already locked the sim and the phone.
I called o2 regarding the phone to be "unbarded" but they refused as they said I have already made a claim.
I know its cheeky but does anyone know how to unblock the phone? Im not too bothered about the sim as i'll be using the o2 sim anyways.
Please if anyone can help.
Your title is slightly misleading. Usually when people talk about "unbranding" here they refer to removing cell co. customization.
In your case, since you reported the phone lost, its IMEI (an ID number unique to the phone) was blocked by the company. The lock is not actually on your phone, it is just black-listed.
Since in most countries cell companies share IMEI black lists there is no way to use your phone in your country without risking a prison sentence.
If you look in "Upgrading, modifying, unlocking" section for IMEI change tools you will find what you need, but you must read this first.
and i am wondering a few things..
i have heard of some shady craigslist people selling IMEI banned phones. If i get one by chance..is it possible to change IMEI? or am i screwed with a paperweight. I have seen some RIFF-box tools claim to be able to do it, but this is a pretty new phone so I am not sure if its supported.
Will T-Mobile work with a customer that accidentally came up on a banned phone? Does t-mobile actually ENFORCE the ban on the IMEI? I know of some people that had a supposed banned IMEI and it worked just fine.
Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Rather than potentially go through all of that, try calling T-Mobile when you meet the seller and verify with them if the phone is able to used without issue and hasn't been banned.
Also, talk of hacking and changing ESN/IMEIs are not allowed in the forums.
ricky05 said:
and i am wondering a few things..
i have heard of some shady craigslist people selling IMEI banned phones. If i get one by chance..is it possible to change IMEI? or am i screwed with a paperweight. I have seen some RIFF-box tools claim to be able to do it, but this is a pretty new phone so I am not sure if its supported.
Will T-Mobile work with a customer that accidentally came up on a banned phone? Does t-mobile actually ENFORCE the ban on the IMEI? I know of some people that had a supposed banned IMEI and it worked just fine.
Any information will be greatly appreciated!
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Click to collapse
bring your sim card with you and slap it in before you hand over the cash. When I sold my Droid on Craigs List I actually met the guy at the verizon store to make sure he didn't have an issue getting it activated. Its not much to ask..
i completely understand about imei changing not allowed..
i was mostly asking if it was POSSIBLE..not how to do it really..but ok
and thanks for the reply about meeting the guy there..thats probably what I will do.
I've worked for tmobile for a long time, they do not block imei's.......that is sprint and verizon which block esn's. Your safe to buy the phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk
You'll be fine with any GSM Carrier... Imei doesn't mean anything.
Just be sure your getting a Legitimate phone.
SmartHat said:
You'll be fine with any GSM Carrier... Imei doesn't mean anything.
Just be sure your getting a Legitimate phone.
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Unless it is on their blacklist an a stolen phone.
I bought a Motorola Cliq from CraigsList about a year ago... Turns out the guy I bought it from was a T-Mobile employee who had stolen the phone. I got a phone call from someone at T-Mobile asking me about the phone. I gave them all the information I had on the guy and then asked what it all meant to me.
I was told that because I had purchased the phone legitimately and had done nothing wrong that I could keep the phone and that T-Mobile had no interest in punishing a customer for someone else being dishonest.
As someone else said, pop your SIM card in the phone when you meet and see if it works.
Make sure you check that speaker phone works. I bought mine from a guy on craigslist for 275 and the speaker didn't work. I could hear out of the phone speaker (the one in front) but not out of the one in the back (above and to the right if the HTC logo behind the phone). So just check that the phone rings, that you can hear speakerphone, and that you can hear music.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
ricky05 said:
i completely understand about imei changing not allowed..
i was mostly asking if it was POSSIBLE..not how to do it really..but ok
and thanks for the reply about meeting the guy there..thats probably what I will do.
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Click to collapse
If u change the imei then u will have one of someone else phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Can't the guy just report it stolen after you put your sim in to see if it works? This is the main thing stopping me from getting a G2 or Nexus on Craigslist. Will everything be perfect if it works when you put in your sim?
I would ask the seller to email the IMEI to me, and verify it with TMo. If all is good, double check it when you meet with the dude and you should be OK.
djsinco said:
I would ask the seller to email the IMEI to me, and verify it with TMo. If all is good, double check it when you meet with the dude and you should be OK.
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Thanks for the response!
but even after checking the imei with tmobile, couldn't he just write down the imei number and report it stolen after I check it with the sim and buy it?
The concern to me is that the seller stole it. you could have TMo document the IMEI search in your notes, that and a printout of the CL post would cover you.
Youll be ok. I've never hear TMo blacklist any phones...even ones that were reported lost/stolen.
You bought it...just keep records of all your interactions with the seller.
Posted from my HTC Vision via XDA App
I have purchased and sold numerous phones over Craigslist.
I would recommend that you meet in an area that is well-lit and very PUBLIC. I typically try to meet at a coffee shop or something. I have heard of horror stories in my area about people setting up robberies through CL so be careful and aware of your surroundings.
Spend a few minutes using the phone... I.E. make a test phone call, send a text message, test sound output, etc. If the seller is not okay waiting a few minutes while you do these things, hand them the phone back and find a different seller. If there is nothing to hide, this process is reasonable.
Thanks for all the responses guys but my main concern is with the imei number. What is a sure way to know that it will not be blocked later on by a person?
Bbe1367 said:
I've worked for tmobile for a long time, they do not block imei's.......that is sprint and verizon which block esn's. Your safe to buy the phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
There is nothing you can do to prevent a seller from calling customer service and giving them the IMEI saying that its stolen, BUT that doesn't have any impact on you.
ESN's are used on CDMA phones and those can be blocked to prevent service reaching a device. IMEI's do not work the same way. Regardless of whether or not the phone is reported as stolen, it would continue to work.
Just keep a record of your communication with the seller in case he tries to scam you down the road saying you stole it from him, but that is highly unlikely. Just be sure to check the device and make sure everything is working.
I take a gun with me when I go pay/pick up my item.
johnnyham89 said:
Thanks for all the responses guys but my main concern is with the imei number. What is a sure way to know that it will not be blocked later on by a person?
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Click to collapse
T-mobile DOES NOT block IMEI numbers AT ALL,
Sprint and Verizon use CDMA networks, hence you have to give them your ESN number.... which they CAN block.
Since you are with T-Mobile... this scenario DOES NOT, I repeat DOES NOT apply to you.
just be careful about the phone itself, Making sure EVERYTHING works fine, scratches, dings.
Like somenone said... if there is nothing to hide than he WILL wait for you to test out the phone until you are satisfied. Meeting in a coffee shop or a public spot will do you good!
Hi, i bought a Samgung Galaxy Tab P1000L 7"
but it comes with IMEI blocked, can anyone helps me to unlock ?
Thank
Hugo.
Was it locked the first time you turned it on?If it was yhen take it back to the shop where you got it and explain the problem and if they can't fix it than request a new one.IMEI locks are specific for carriers and are used to lock a stolen device.So if it is locked that means the carrier activated the lock and only they can deactivate it.
Sent from my LG-P350 using XDA premium
http://www.danasoft.com/ sig/****yeah287168.jpg
i bought it from another guy, and he dont says to me it was locked, he find it and i think the people who loses block it...
Well there you have it.Who knows where did he find it.If it was in your country perhaps you can go to your carriers and see if they know who is the real owner.(You might get a prize ) Otherwise the tablet is as good as dead flashing a custom ROM wont help as it is impossible to change your IMEI.And if you dont want that then ask the guy for a refound.For all you know he might have stolen it.Sorry but those are your options.Too bad its a good tablet.
with IMEI blocked, you can still use it as a wifi only tablet.
Changing the IMEI, is illegal in most European countries.
If you believe it to be wrongly blacklisted/blocked contact your carrier and the police.
In the UK, if you report a handset stolen and it has been registered by your carrier it will be blocked. You might want to get your money back from this "other guy".
Thread Closed.
Hey guys random question. There is an S5 G900F on ebay uk for sale with a blocked imei for o2 uk. I believe that that model is international and can take any sim as ive got one myself. I was thinking of buying it for my sister for christmas, If i did that is it possible to have a new imei on it so she can put here o2 sim in and have the phone running and making calls as normal? any software or whatever. I see alot of options online but. Would like some info if anyone has any. Thanks alot.
cmcg86 said:
Hey guys random question. There is an S5 G900F on ebay uk for sale with a blocked imei for o2 uk. I believe that that model is international and can take any sim as ive got one myself. I was thinking of buying it for my sister for christmas, If i did that is it possible to have a new imei on it so she can put here o2 sim in and have the phone running and making calls as normal? any software or whatever. I see alot of options online but. Would like some info if anyone has any. Thanks alot.
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the reason it has a block IMEI is cause its stolen. and IMEI changing in illegal, you wont recive help here
-PiLoT- said:
the reason it has a block IMEI is cause its stolen. and IMEI changing in illegal, you wont recive help here
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I figured it was illegal after reading some posts and looking at the item on ebay more. Thanks alot for the reply. Cheers
You can get prison for that. It's illegal for a reason, otherwise every thief who nicks a phone would just go to a phone shop somewhere and get a new IMEI.
Hello, I'll get straight to the point, I have a galaxy S5 that was reported stolen so I couldn't use it, so I changed the IMEI (At least that's what it says) and I was wondering if I can call my service provider and give he them the new IMEI, will that work?
P.s. I didn't know it was reported stolen when I bought it & I have service bars just not 4G LTE.
Sorry mate....nobody on XDA is going to help you achieve this as changing imei is illegal....
A stolen phone is a stolen phone whether you purchased it in good faith or not, so if I were you, I'd have to consider cutting my losses and handing the phone along with the seller's details over to the police and moving on.....
Thread closed.
XDA does not allow discussion of illegal activity.