Develop Bugs

IMEI and contracts

I have an O2 orbit.
I paid through the nose for it (on ebaY) and I'm getting a lot of hassle (its certainly stolen or contract blocked).
Is there any way to change the IMEI number so that I can use it again, using a different network sim? Or an unblock facility?
Also I dont know about this but as its a multi-use phone, could you still use the phone as a non-cell PDA once its blocked from the network? I know that some phones are completely dead once barred but then their only use is for a phone anyway. Is it the same for PDA phones? Like having it on flight mode? Or does it brick up as well?
Thanks.
edit: BTW Is there any way to check an IMEI number remotely to see if its blacklisted before buying on ebay?

deaddavey1 said:
Is there any way to change the IMEI number so that when I report the phone lost (Its insured of course), I can still use that phone as a backup later using a different network sim? Or an unblock facility?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you trying to cheat the insurance? If the phone is to be 'broken', how do you reckon it will work on a different network sim?
Anyway, changing IMEI is possible but illegal, and theoritically, it can be traced if not done carefully. Search for the IMEI il-legal statement by VJ in this forum.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=276851&highlight=IMEI
Anyway, the PDA feature will still work as long as you don't stick in a SIM.

DeadDavy, whilst I realise your frustration what you are talking about is both insurance fraud and it is illegal to change the IMEI.
This is an open forum and not for that kind of talk. Please don't post anything more on the subject as it could bring this forum into disrepute.

i read that post and understand its illegal. But so is selling dodgy phones. I only want to change it to one of my old buggered phones imei's.
I alternatively could claim it lost soon on my insurance. Thats illegal as well. But with my first choice no one loses out. I just paid a lot of money for a paperweight.

ok thanks. no more posts on subject.

deaddavey1 said:
ok thanks. no more posts on subject.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume you have exhausted all the "normal "channels to get your money back, e.g raised a dispute with eBay? Or did the scally close their account?
Edit:- just found this
http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/A-database-of-stolen-mobile-phones-CheckMEND_W0QQugidZ10000000004188075
Dunno how effective it is though.

[Q] Need advice about buying HTC One X

Hello,
I have found various ads on ebay.co.uk with users selling htcs that are not functional to UK (It's shows no service when inserting a sim card in UK) but are functional to the rest of the world, or so they claim. How can this be true? Anybody knows anything about this? Please follow these links and have a look if you wanna help. Should I bid on them in order to use them in europe (not uk)? Can they be stolen or ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HTC-One-X-3...=487860465136872654&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&
and
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140793541131&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

I strongly recommend that you do not buy one of these. They are likely to be phones that have been lost or reported stolen and the IMEI has been blocked by the network operator. Network operators share the block between all carriers here in the UK and most of Europe I believe. I would steer well clear personally.

Those phones are either stolen or written off by an insurance company.
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Stay away.
Sent from my HTC One X

Thank you for the replies. I will stay away.
For the record this is the reply I got "as i have stated on the listening i had bought this for me to use, and is open to all network, some how the network has been locked in for uk use, but it dose work other part of the world with any Sim card you put in.
many thanks"

tzic said:
Thank you for the replies. I will stay away.
For the record this is the reply I got "as i have stated on the listening i had bought this for me to use, and is open to all network, some how the network has been locked in for uk use, but it dose work other part of the world with any Sim card you put in.
many thanks"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone with half a brain that had had their phone locked for no reason would be straight on the phone to their network operator and going berserk! I would never just accept that "Oh, my network's barred my phone, oh well guess I'll just sell it then". Yeah right, pull the other one!

Parva4 said:
Anyone with half a brain that had had their phone locked for no reason would be straight on the phone to their network operator and going berserk! I would never just accept that "Oh, my network's barred my phone, oh well guess I'll just sell it then". Yeah right, pull the other one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed... stay away from it OP...sure you can find a deal which does not mean you get ripped off.

As a general consensus, if a phone is barred in the UK it will work abroad, if a phone is barred in Turkey it'll work in the UK.
All barred phones emit a signal and when you enter a UK sim it checks it against the database and it will know it's barred.
2 main reasons why a phone could be barred, 1) It's stolen 2) It's been insurance scammed. Either way if you are the legit holder of a barred phone the only way it would have been barred is if you insurance scammed it yourself, or you bought the phone privately and it was stolen/scammed and it got barred whilst in your possession without realising it was either.
This happened to my sister, the SGS2 she bought privately was listed due to an insurance scam, although it wasn't blocked the IMEI had been listed which was odd!
Stay away, these days phones are smuggled out of the country for illegal purposes.

STAY AWAY. It will do you more harm than good.

it will be better to not buy HTC!!! totally crap!! used my NEW HTC ONE X for only 10 days. it its bricked itself. lcd quolity is poore!!

real77055 said:
it will be better to not buy HTC!!! totally crap!! used my NEW HTC ONE X for only 10 days. it its bricked itself. lcd quolity is poore!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And this is the whole reason threads like this one should not be opened. Attracts all kinda idiots. If you have an expensive toy do bit research first before start messing with it. Cause most of the times users like to be spoonfed with info on how to do things. Basically if you do not know what your doing get an iPhone instead and troll away from here
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Goku80 said:
And this is the whole reason threads like this one should not be opened. Attracts all kinda idiots. If you have an expensive toy do bit research first before start messing with it. Cause most of the times users like to be spoonfed with info on how to do things. Basically if you do not know what your doing get an iPhone instead and troll away from here
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe your idiot but not me!!!!!\i know what to do with my phone !!im using android phone mor than 2 years! i'm very well experienced!!! and you can confirm that yellow dots in lcd is my foult???? the phone bricked by itsself. also my friend phone bricked(it was stock htc nothing changed!!) totally crap not a phone!! and be a little bit quite with your words!!

Guys please stop flaming, I got my answer!

real77055 said:
maybe your idiot but not me!!!!!\i know what to do with my phone !!im using android phone mor than 2 years! i'm very well experienced!!! and you can confirm that yellow dots in lcd is my foult???? the phone bricked by itsself. also my friend phone bricked(it was stock htc nothing changed!!) totally crap not a phone!! and be a little bit quite with your words!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
of course mate you know what you are doing with your phone..just with the way you come out with your answers says what kinda person you are. regarding the OP i am sorry for the rant was not mean't for you..just saying with opening threads like this one you attract all kinda trolls...Like i said no way a phone can get bricked by itself as it is always down to a user fault. yellow spots on lcd then fine but just return it back instead of moaning...
anyways said what i said...

T-MOBILE Samsung Galaxy Note 3 BAD IMEI

Hi, I recently bought a new samsung galaxy note 3 t-mobile on craigslist. everything worked perfectly fine and a few days later, my sim card didn't not work anymore, i couldn't make any calls or connect with my data plan. i asked t-mobile and basically the person who sold the phone to me called in t-mobile and reported it as stolen and not my phone is blocked from ever making calls and now it has a blocked imei.
I read on a lot of articles, is there a possible possible way to clean the imei or replace the imei or repair it? Please help. I'm really sad and I'm so lost. I want to be able to use my samsung galaxy note 3 t-mobile with my own simcard however, it's imei block. can someone be kind enough and helped me? I tried everything even the 1) Insert the desired SIM card you want to use unlocked into your device, and restart the phone.
2) Enter the code *#197328640# into the keypad and press send. 3) Go to Main Menu -> [1] UMTS -> [1] Debug Screen -> [8] Phone Control -> [6] Network Lock -> Options [3] Perso SHA256 OFF (after choosing this option, wait for at least 30 seconds)
overall nothing works? is there a place or show that can unblock my imei or someone repair it so i can use it on t-mobile. please help. thanks so much again.

Get your money back from the seller.
Other than using the phone on a different carrier than T-Mobile, there is no legal way to fix your problem.

elisecohenn1 said:
Hi, I recently bought a new samsung galaxy note 3 t-mobile on craigslist. everything worked perfectly fine and a few days later, my sim card didn't not work anymore, i couldn't make any calls or connect with my data plan. i asked t-mobile and basically the person who sold the phone to me called in t-mobile and reported it as stolen and not my phone is blocked from ever making calls and now it has a blocked imei.
I read on a lot of articles, is there a possible possible way to clean the imei or replace the imei or repair it? Please help. I'm really sad and I'm so lost. I want to be able to use my samsung galaxy note 3 t-mobile with my own simcard however, it's imei block. can someone be kind enough and helped me? I tried everything even the 1) Insert the desired SIM card you want to use unlocked into your device, and restart the phone.
2) Enter the code *#197328640# into the keypad and press send. 3) Go to Main Menu -> [1] UMTS -> [1] Debug Screen -> [8] Phone Control -> [6] Network Lock -> Options [3] Perso SHA256 OFF (after choosing this option, wait for at least 30 seconds)
overall nothing works? is there a place or show that can unblock my imei or someone repair it so i can use it on t-mobile. please help. thanks so much again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never ever go on Craigslist for a phone.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

Like someone said, theres no legal way to unblock that phone but PM me for my solution to when I had the same problem as you. Yours actually should be easier to fix lol
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app

krelvinaz said:
Get your money back from the seller.
Other than using the phone on a different carrier than T-Mobile, there is no legal way to fix your problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"I can't get my money back from the seller. I tried emailing them and calling them yet they refuse to pick up. I have never done any harm or done anything to inflict pain or evil upon the seller. I have done my part of the bargain by giving them the money, a fair exchange, yet in the end, these types of individuals use deceit and trickery.

BACARDILIMON said:
Never ever go on Craigslist for a phone.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Thanks, now I know. I went to T-MOBILE and the only solution is through the other person's end. The owner would have to call T-MOBILE up and tell them that it's not stolen in order to make the "block imei" to "unblock." I wish there was a solution because there are so many incidences of these occurring to innocent individuals who just wants a simple and happy life with their newly bought phone. Sigh, I wish T-MOBILE had a way where they can offer ways for those in these sticky situations ? ):

Aaaaaaand do not mention anything regarding changing imei around here. Its very illegal and devs will mad and take actions
Sent from my hot tub time machine

elisecohenn1 said:
"Thanks, now I know. I went to T-MOBILE and the only solution is through the other person's end. The owner would have to call T-MOBILE up and tell them that it's not stolen in order to make the "block imei" to "unblock." I wish there was a solution similar to jailbreak or something because there are so many incidences of these occurring to innocent individuals who just wants a simple and happy life with their newly bought phone. Sigh, I wish T-MOBILE had a way where they can offer ways to unblock the imei. Or there was a special application for the google play store or something to issue us a new imei ? ):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well u can go to cops with emails that you bought it off this guy and then he reported it stolen. U will have legal action and win.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

Yea I tried the whole cops ordeal on multiple occasions and it goes nowhere. Out of everything going on in life, I think cell phone theft will be at the bottom of their IDGAF files next to eating steaks for breakfast and cereal for dinner
Sent from my hot tub time machine

Keep googling their number and searching craigslist for stuff they sell. They might pop up some time. Then I'd thump them.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Should have met dude @ tmobile store and make sure everything was legit before paying for the phone, i bought mine off craigslist this way and have no problems. This is how you can tell if your dealing with a shady person or not is when there not willing to meet you in store,huge red flag right there!
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda premium

elisecohenn1 said:
Hi, I recently bought a new samsung galaxy note 3 t-mobile on craigslist...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are SOL, my friend. Never buy from Craigslist. Resell on eBay for parts. That's all you can do.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Or switch to att network
---------- Post added at 06:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:33 AM ----------
Dattack said:
Or switch to att network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said you have his number? Do a reverse ID check and sometimess you can get the full name for free

You can't switch to any network anymore. One it's black flagged on one network, the rest are SOl too.
Sent from my your mom's bedroom. Knock before you enter

BACARDILIMON said:
Never ever go on Craigslist for a phone.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I normally agree with most of what you say but not with the above comment. So long as the buyer calls the network and gives them the IMEI number and has it associated with your existing account then on "their" system the phone is now yours regardless of what the seller does at a later date. The network will not block it.

Limeybastard said:
I normally agree with most of what you say but not with the above comment. So long as the buyer calls the network and gives them the IMEI number and has it associated with your existing account then on "their" system the phone is now yours regardless of what the seller does at a later date. The network will not block it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you think about it though. Why pay some guy let's say 300. And then have T-Mobile charge me for the phone so they can get they money. It not gonna happen. I say about 70% of the phones on Craigslist are stolen or a smuck is trying to make some money and scam you then report it stolen so he get fast cash. It is a dirty thing to do but it does happen unfortunately. The seller would have to satisfy TMOBILE first.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

BACARDILIMON said:
If you think about it though. Why pay some guy let's say 300. And then have T-Mobile charge me for the phone so they can get they money. It not gonna happen. I say about 70% of the phones on Craigslist are stolen or a smuck is trying to make some money and scam you then report it stolen so he get fast cash. It is a dirty thing to do but it does happen unfortunately. The seller would have to satisfy TMOBILE first.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I sold my S4 on CL, the potential buyer called ATT and gave them the IMEI number and requested that this be put on his account prior to giving me the cash. He the buyer informed me that this way once the phone is registered to him then there will be no negative repercussions at a later date.

Limeybastard said:
When I sold my S4 on CL, the potential buyer called ATT and gave them the IMEI number and requested that this be put on his account prior to giving me the cash. He the buyer informed me that this way once the phone is registered to him then there will be no negative repercussions at a later date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but with jump program it no money down. TMOBILE will not transfer to a different owner. So it be like him getting the phone himself from them.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

BACARDILIMON said:
Yes but with jump program it no money down. TMOBILE will not transfer to a different owner. So it be like him getting the phone himself from them.
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, this was ATT so Jump was not in the equation. I am thinking if Jump was in the equation then T mobile would not allow the phone to be transferred until outstanding balance is paid off.

Limeybastard said:
Agreed, this was ATT so Jump was not in the equation. I am thinking if Jump was in the equation then T mobile would not allow the phone to be transferred until outstanding balance is paid off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all about money. It sucks but hey they love the money and we hate to give it to them lol
TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

purchased locked phone.

So my girlfriend just purchased an S6 (sprint) and when she took it to the store to have it activated they couldn't do it because it was "locked"...some kind of carrier lock I'm assuming.. Like they owed sprint money or something? Obviously if it was a normal security lock than we could just do a factory reset but apparently that won't work.
So.. Anyone know anything about this and a way around it? I'm a Verizon user and have never heard of this kind of problem. Thanks for any help in advance.

topshot17 said:
So my girlfriend just purchased an S6 (sprint) and when she took it to the store to have it activated they couldn't do it because it was "locked"...some kind of carrier lock I'm assuming.. Like they owed sprint money or something? Obviously if it was a normal security lock than we could just do a factory reset but apparently that won't work.
So.. Anyone know anything about this and a way around it? I'm a Verizon user and have never heard of this kind of problem. Thanks for any help in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All carriers, including Verizon, have a carrier BLOCK not lock. A carrier lock means the device is locked to that carrier. What exactly did Sprint say? If the phone is blacklisted, which you can check on any ESN checker online, then it will never work on Sprint.
Where did she buy the phone at?

elesbb said:
All carriers, including Verizon, have a carrier BLOCK not lock. A carrier lock means the device is locked to that carrier. What exactly did Sprint say? If the phone is blacklisted, which you can check on any ESN checker online, then it will never work on Sprint.
Where did she buy the phone at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm unsure what they told her exactly, besides that they can't activate it. Now what is the point of a carrier block? She got the phone off Craigslist.

topshot17 said:
I'm unsure what they told her exactly, besides that they can't activate it. Now what is the point of a carrier block? She got the phone off Craigslist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. Its definitely carrier blocked. NEVER buy cell phones from Craigslist without first checking the ESN from Sprint directly. You are better off selling the device on eBay FOR PARTS.
The point of a carrier block is so people who steal, or fail to pay off their device, can not use it anymore, and thus rip off good people on craigslist and eBay.

elesbb said:
Yup. Its definitely carrier blocked. NEVER buy cell phones from Craigslist without first checking the ESN from Sprint directly. You are better off selling the device on eBay FOR PARTS.
The point of a carrier block is so people who steal, or fail to pay off their device, can not use it anymore, and thus rip off good people on craigslist and eBay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Joy. Problem with this phone is that it has a none removal back.. Can't look under the battery.. Can't get into the phone to check the ESN either without the previous owners Gmail account information.

topshot17 said:
Joy. Problem with this phone is that it has a none removal back.. Can't look under the battery.. Can't get into the phone to check the ESN either without the previous owners Gmail account information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That I believe is an FRP lock.. Totally different from a carrier block. But if you go into download mode, you can press the home key to view IMEI. But FRP lock, which is what you just described, can be bypassed.
Check out this video and follow it to a T. You may need to improvise do to different android versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ8_qbj1DPQ
Hope it helps! If its just FRP locked, and not carrier blocked, then you should be okay to get it activated.

elesbb said:
That I believe is an FRP lock.. Totally different from a carrier block. But if you go into download mode, you can press the home key to view IMEI. But FRP lock, which is what you just described, can be bypassed.
Check out this video and follow it to a T. You may need to improvise do to different android versions.
Hope it helps! If its just FRP locked, and not carrier blocked, then you should be okay to get it activated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I'll check into it.

Saafir said:
The numbers for the device is located on the back panel, at the bottom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh it is.. So the phone did have an FRP lock on it but that was an easy fix.. But unfortunately it also has a carrier block due to an unpaid balance. Thanks for everyone's help.

topshot17 said:
Ahh it is.. So the phone did have an FRP lock on it but that was an easy fix.. But unfortunately it also has a carrier block due to an unpaid balance. Thanks for everyone's help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't you contact the person who sold it to you? threatening to bring the police in might scare them into giving you a refund. If the phone had a FRP lock and its flagged, then im pretty sure the phone was stolen.

The Android Attorney said:
can't you contact the person who sold it to you? threatening to bring the police in might scare them into giving you a refund. If the phone had a FRP lock and its flagged, then im pretty sure the phone was stolen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah It more than likely was. It's pretty much a dead end.. My gf payed for it but her brother met the person somewhere for pickup.. Only contact information is an email address which they haven't responded too after the sale. Apparently the phone was dead when he picked it up. I personally would have put it on my car charger and powered it on before paying for it.. And got more information.. But oh well.. Now she knows to be more cautious and I'll probably handle any future used phone purchases for her.

Saafir said:
Shady stuff man. I hope you have better luck with Craigslist in the future. I try to steer clear of them, sort of like Ebay. You could always inquire on what the remaining balance is. If it's something stupid like $48, I would just pay it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha yeah somehow I doubt it'll be anything under a few hundred.. Think I'll call and check just got kicks though.

topshot17 said:
Yeah It more than likely was. It's pretty much a dead end.. My gf payed for it but her brother met the person somewhere for pickup.. Only contact information is an email address which they haven't responded too after the sale. Apparently the phone was dead when he picked it up. I personally would have put it on my car charger and powered it on before paying for it.. And got more information.. But oh well.. Now she knows to be more cautious and I'll probably handle any future used phone purchases for her.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who buys a used cellphone without even physically checking it ?? I mean seriously ?...next time when buying atleast have a number of the seller and complete info of what u are buying atleast
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Need help with Verizon Galaxy Note 10+ temporary lock.

Hi everyone,
I've got smashed Galaxy Note 10+ from eBay, fixed it and found out that it has a kind of carrier change temporary lock. IMEI is clean, not blacklisted or anything. Technically the phone is unlocked and it fully works with my non-US carrier SIM card for around 5 min or so. But after that a ridiculous nonsense message about carrier change pops up and the phone becomes blocked. It looks like the phone is connecting by itself with Verizon servers, they detect other carrier SIM card and block GSM functionality. I flashed international U1 firmware already but it didn't help. Verizon tells some 60 day activation cap - the phone will be unlocked automatically after 60 days since Verizon account activation. Is there any way to fix it / block the phone from communicating with Verizon? I have no idea how long should I wait since the phone was wiped before sale.
Thanks in advance.

Sounds like the seller might have received an insurance replacement due to the damage. Maybe the phone is blocked by Verizon because it should have been disposed of and/or should no longer be used in their network. Just a guess.
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

burrzoo said:
Sounds like the seller might have received an insurance replacement due to the damage. Maybe the phone is blocked by Verizon because it should have been disposed of and/or should no longer be used in their network. Just a guess.
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is not going to be used in the USA. Again, it works for few minutes. It's not blocked straightaway.

WarVic said:
The phone is not going to be used in the USA. Again, it works for few minutes. It's not blocked straightaway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just the way the network lock works.....you'll need to wait the 60 days...(probably closer to 30 now...but no way to know)
If you can't wait there are paid solutions that you can use... cell unlocking services.
No amount of firmware changing etc will have an effect on the network lock.....sorry.
Also i disagree with the other poster....sounds like you confirmed its not blacklisted....what you're experiencing is the typical network lock behavior.....pay or wait it out.
Btw any before and after pics?
What did you pay for smashed device? How much spent repairing?
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

louforgiveno said:
That's just the way the network lock works.....you'll need to wait the 60 days...(probably closer to 30 now...but no way to know)
If you can't wait there are paid solutions that you can use... cell unlocking services.
No amount of firmware changing etc will have an effect on the network lock.....sorry.
Also i disagree with the other poster....sounds like you confirmed its not blacklisted....what you're experiencing is the typical network lock behavior.....pay or wait it out.
Btw any before and after pics?
What did you pay for smashed device? How much spent repairing?
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid US$230 for smashed device, $320 for screen assembly with housing, $15 for back glass cover (haven't receive it yet), $40 for S-pen. Screen assembly is original despite being bought from AliExpress. It looks like brand new now. Just waiting for back cover and unlock.

Yikes! That thing got brutalized
Not a bad deal....too bad the damn screen assemblies cost so much!
Thanks for the info.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

louforgiveno said:
Yikes! That thing got brutalized
Not a bad deal....too bad the damn screen assemblies cost so much!
Thanks for the info.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I like and dislike Samsung Galaxy flagships. Screen is always damn expensive but the possibility to fix completely smashed device is very high. Actually I repaired few Galaxies in much worse condition than that. At the same time, recently I had an iPhone XS Max with relatively light screen damage and was unable to repair it due to face ID failure (logic board fault). Cheers!

WarVic said:
This is why I like and dislike Samsung Galaxy flagships. Screen is always damn expensive but the possibility to fix completely smashed device is very high. Actually I repaired few Galaxies in much worse condition than that. At the same time, recently I had an iPhone XS Max with relatively light screen damage and was unable to repair it due to face ID failure (logic board fault). Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not bad for such an amazing screen

WarVic said:
Hi everyone,
I've got smashed Galaxy Note 10+ from eBay, fixed it and found out that it has a kind of carrier change temporary lock. IMEI is clean, not blacklisted or anything. Technically the phone is unlocked and it fully works with my non-US carrier SIM card for around 5 min or so. But after that a ridiculous nonsense message about carrier change pops up and the phone becomes blocked. It looks like the phone is connecting by itself with Verizon servers, they detect other carrier SIM card and block GSM functionality. I flashed international U1 firmware already but it didn't help. Verizon tells some 60 day activation cap - the phone will be unlocked automatically after 60 days since Verizon account activation. Is there any way to fix it / block the phone from communicating with Verizon? I have no idea how long should I wait since the phone was wiped before sale.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you call Verizon? Give them IMEI and they should be able to tell you what's up

oneandroidnut said:
Did you call Verizon? Give them IMEI and they should be able to tell you what's up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live 13000km away from USA so the call to Verizon could be not cheap. I had an online chat with them via Messenger and they asked me my Verizon account details to answer my question. Obviously I don't have them. From now I'm looking for not crazy expensive unlock service.

oneandroidnut said:
Did you call Verizon? Give them IMEI and they should be able to tell you what's up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just had one more conversation with Verizon. It seems that they're bloody dickheads! They claim the Verizon does not lock phones which is pure lie. And their temporary carrier lock system is a bloody mess. They're unable to manage it at all!!! Just look at my conversation history with Verizon support:
"We greatly appreciate this (IMEI) information, Victor. After further review, we do show that this IMEI is not currently showing a carrier lock to our network....
I know this is confusing and that you just want to get full use out of that phone. While we don't lock any locks on the phone, it is true that takes 60 days from sale of the phone for a phone to be unlocked. We would suggest that you get in contact with the seller of this phone and instruct them to get in contact with Verizon or alternately, reach out to the selling platform you used and your local carrier. Keep in mind also that Verizon sold phones are not guaranteed to work with other carriers. We would not be able to provide any further support beyond this. I hope this helps clarify and if you have any additional concerns, we are happy to help out. "

WarVic said:
Just had one more conversation with Verizon. It seems that they're bloody dickheads! They claim the Verizon does not lock phones which is pure lie. And their temporary carrier lock system is a bloody mess. They're unable to manage it at all!!! Just look at my conversation history with Verizon support:
"We greatly appreciate this (IMEI) information, Victor. After further review, we do show that this IMEI is not currently showing a carrier lock to our network....
I know this is confusing and that you just want to get full use out of that phone. While we don't lock any locks on the phone, it is true that takes 60 days from sale of the phone for a phone to be unlocked. We would suggest that you get in contact with the seller of this phone and instruct them to get in contact with Verizon or alternately, reach out to the selling platform you used and your local carrier. Keep in mind also that Verizon sold phones are not guaranteed to work with other carriers. We would not be able to provide any further support beyond this. I hope this helps clarify and if you have any additional concerns, we are happy to help out. "
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Is the phone a verizon branded one? what is the model #?

oneandroidnut said:
Is the phone a verizon branded one? what is the model #?
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No, it's just a standard SM-N975U, not a Verizon branded one. Actually I was able to easily flash it into unlocked N975U1 version. But still that damn Carrier change message pops up and blocks GSM capability.

WarVic said:
No, it's just a standard SM-N975U, not a Verizon branded one. Actually I was able to easily flash it into unlocked N975U1 version. But still that damn Carrier change message pops up and blocks GSM capability.
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because its a carrier variant and is sim locked

elliwigy said:
because its a carrier variant and is sim locked
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As I sad earlier, I had a chat with Verizon twice regarding this phone. They checked it by IMEI and told me that it is NOT SIM locked. This is the only useful piece of info I've got from them. Despite of that, they were unable to help me with that Carrier Change issue sending me to original owner / Verizon account holder of this phone. So it's not a carrier variant and not sim locked.

WarVic said:
As I sad earlier, I had a chat with Verizon twice regarding this phone. They checked it by IMEI and told me that it is NOT SIM locked. This is the only useful piece of info I've got from them. Despite of that, they were unable to help me with that Carrier Change issue sending me to original owner / Verizon account holder of this phone. So it's not a carrier variant and not sim locked.
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i think ur confused lol... if it was originally sold by verizon then it is a Verizon Variant..
and clearly you are sim locked as thats the exact message ypu get when its sim locked as well as you dont get service with the other carrier..
based on what u posted whoever you talked to has no idea what theyre talking about especially if theyre telling you they dont lock phones which meansthey also didnt even bother to look up their own policy for it and instead just made stuff up off the top of their head..
but hey, dont take my word for it.. it wont work as u need tho until vzw unlocks it or u pay for a service to unlock it.
Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

elliwigy said:
i think ur confused lol... if it was originally sold by verizon then it is a Verizon Variant..
and clearly you are sim locked as thats the exact message ypu get when its sim locked as well as you dont get service with the other carrier..
based on what u posted whoever you talked to has no idea what theyre talking about especially if theyre telling you they dont lock phones which meansthey also didnt even bother to look up their own policy for it and instead just made stuff up off the top of their head..
but hey, dont take my word for it.. it wont work as u need tho until vzw unlocks it our u pay for a service to unlock it.
Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk
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Yes, I'm confused indeed. Confused by Verizon which says one thing but does other. They clearly said that "we don't lock our phones" but apparently they do it! Bloody bastards!

Did you manage to unlock the device?

WarVic said:
Yes, I'm confused indeed. Confused by Verizon which says one thing but does other. They clearly said that "we don't lock our phones" but apparently they do it! Bloody bastards!
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Did you manage to unlock it?

Tarar said:
Did you manage to unlock it?
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No, I sold it. As I can see there is no unlocking solution right now. No hope that it will be available any time soon.