Note 3 blocked by T-Mobile, need advice

[Techngro]

Hey guys, i've got a problem and I need some advice/options.

Long story short, as some of you may know, I bought my T-Mobile branded Note 3 on Swappa in November. Of course, Swappa says that they check IMEIs and the seller assured me that the phone was fully paid for, but a few days ago my Note 3 IMEI was blocked/blacklisted (whatever you call it) by T-Mobile for non-payment of EIP.

I have tried to resolve the issue through communicating with the seller and Swappa, but there's really nothing to be done. The seller won't refund my money, Swappa is powerless, and Paypal says the transaction is past their 45 day dispute period. The phone isn't even unlocked, so I can't even try and use it on another carrier right now.

So at this point i'm trying to minimize my losses. I am open to any suggestions as to how I can either:

1. find a way to get the phone unlocked and use it on another carrier (I know that when a T-Mobile IMEI is blocked or blacklisted, they share that info now with AT&T, but i'm hoping I can use it on Simple Mobile or Straight Talk or Walmart's service)

or

2. sell the phone internationally (with full disclosure of the fact that the phone is blocked on T-Mobile/AT&T of course, but it shouldn't matter if someone wants to use it outside of the US, right?)

or

3. sell the phone as a 'dev' device (at a substantial loss i'm sure), but I have no idea how to do this or even whether a dev would want a phone that is blocked (don't they need to test network stuff?).


I'm trying to find a way to make the best of a bad situation. Any one who reads this post and wants to give me some decent advice is welcome. But if you just want to start trolling PLEASE JUST GO AWAY. I have enough problems as it is right now.

In any case, i've learned my lesson. No more Craigslist, no more Negri, no more Swappa. I'm just gonna pony up the money and get my phones directly from T-Mobile. The money I thought I was saving doesn't look like such a deal anymore.

 

[krelvinaz]

Never used them, but I thought they provided protection. Looking at the faq however, http://swappa.com/faq/buy/imei_blacklist_future apparently not. that's pretty weak.

I would think you might have some legal recourse if the seller is in the same state, they are committing fraud. You perhaps may have some even if they are out of state??

As for you options... Not really good choices.

Not a big BBB fan as I think they are skewed towards companies that are "Accredited" (ie paid lots of money), but Swapp doesn't look very good http://www.bbb.org/kansas-city/busi...-services/swappa-in-kansas-city-mo-1000002683

 

[BACARDILIMON]

You have no options unless the guy called T-Mobile in front of you and u asked them. Sorry bro

TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

 

[chuko303]

I think it can be unlocked still and be used on another network that doesn't rely on tmos spectrum

Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app

 

[BACARDILIMON]

I think it can be unlocked still and be used on another network that doesn't rely on tmos spectrum

Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app

Unless they share blacklist. I feel for the guy.

TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

 

[RMXO]

pay to get the phone unlocked and try pre-service before deciding to sell internationally. Or go to Play Store and buy regionLock Away, that might unlock the phone or it might not but worth a shot. I would try regionlock away first since that is the cheapest before buying an unlock code.

 

[Dattack]

Same thing happened to me a year ago. Had to get it unlocked to work on aTt. It's cheaper to get it unlock on a online site and see how it goes.

 

[Techngro]

Never used them, but I thought they provided protection. Looking at the faq however, http://swappa.com/faq/buy/imei_blacklist_future apparently not. that's pretty weak.

I would think you might have some legal recourse if the seller is in the same state, they are committing fraud. You perhaps may have some even if they are out of state??

As for you options... Not really good choices.

Not a big BBB fan as I think they are skewed towards companies that are "Accredited" (ie paid lots of money), but Swapp doesn't look very good http://www.bbb.org/kansas-city/busi...-services/swappa-in-kansas-city-mo-1000002683

No, we're not in the same state, unfortunately.

Unless they share blacklist. I feel for the guy.

TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

Yeah, but the problem is knowing who shares what. I've been searching all over, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus on who shares and who doesn't. Some say a blocked T-Mobile phone will work on AT&T, some say definitely not. And many of the GSM MVNOs use T-Mobile networks, so i'm not sure if that would automatically mean it would also be blocked on their networks too. I guess i'll have to try them one by one, which will be more money out of my pocket.

pay to get the phone unlocked and try pre-service before deciding to sell internationally. Or go to Play Store and buy regionLock Away, that might unlock the phone or it might not but worth a shot. I would try regionlock away first since that is the cheapest before buying an unlock code.

What do you mean when you say 'pre-servicing'? Never heard that term before.
I think I will try region unlock first. There's a thread that I saw today that looked promising, but some had success and some didn't.

Same thing happened to me a year ago. Had to get it unlocked to work on aTt. It's cheaper to get it unlock on a online site and see how it goes.

So your phone still works on AT&T a year later? That's good news. One of the worst things about this is that I will lose my $30 5GB T-Mobile plan. I was planning on using that plan until I had kids, then putting each of them on the plan too.

 

[Dattack]

No, we're not in the same state, unfortunately.



Yeah, but the problem is knowing who shares what. I've been searching all over, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus on who shares and who doesn't. Some say a blocked T-Mobile phone will work on AT&T, some say definitely not. And many of the GSM MVNOs use T-Mobile networks, so i'm not sure if that would automatically mean it would also be blocked on their networks too. I guess i'll have to try them one by one, which will be more money out of my pocket.




What do you mean when you say 'pre-servicing'? Never heard that term before.
I think I will try region unlock first. There's a thread that I saw today that looked promising, but some had success and some didn't.



So your phone still works on AT&T a year later? That's good news. One of the worst things about this is that I will lose my $30 5GB T-Mobile plan. I was planning on using that plan until I had kids, then putting each of them on the plan too.

I bought it from a used S3 on craiglists beginnng of last year. I pleaded to Tmobile that I would pay the remainder of the balance if the guy didn't pay his payments but they said I am crap out of luck. Used it for about 6 months and sold it. They said they share IEMIs but AT&T seems to me they don't care. They just want customers. If I spent $700 on a note, maybe an extra $20 to get it unlocked isn't so bad. Luckily my friend uses ATT for me to test out.
But they might be more aggressive now, considering Tmobile andATT sell same high end phones now like iphone and note 3.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471742

I think it will only cost you $3 to get it unlocked.

 

[Techngro]

I bought it from a used S3 on craiglists beginnng of last year. I pleaded to Tmobile that I would pay the remainder of the balance if the guy didn't pay his payments but they said I am crap out of luck. Used it for about 6 months and sold it. They said they share IEMIs but AT&T seems to me they don't care. They just want customers. If I spent $700 on a note, maybe an extra $20 to get it unlocked isn't so bad. Luckily my friend uses ATT for me to test out.
But they might be more aggressive now, considering Tmobile andATT sell same high end phones now like iphone and note 3.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471742

I think it will only cost you $3 to get it unlocked.

Yes, I just found that thread too. Tomorrow I will find out, but I need to get an AT&T or Straight Talk sim card first. I'll do that first thing.

 

[Techngro]

Another option?

I really don't want to lose my $30 5GB plan. I've been looking on Amazon and saw that they have some cheap T-Mobile 4G phones like this Nokia Lumia 521: http://goo.gl/KgvOgR

My thought is, I can purchase that, tether my Note 3 to it and keep using it. 90% of what I do on my Note 3 is data/browsing, gaming, etc. So if I can tether to the Lumia, I guess it would work.

Any thoughts?

 

[MattMJB0188]

I really don't want to lose my $30 5GB plan. I've been looking on Amazon and saw that they have some cheap T-Mobile 4G phones like this Nokia Lumia 521: http://goo.gl/KgvOgR

My thought is, I can purchase that, tether my Note 3 to it and keep using it. 90% of what I do on my Note 3 is data/browsing, gaming, etc. So if I can tether to the Lumia, I guess it would work.

Any thoughts?

Couldn't you try calling T-Mobile and have them un-block it or explain the situation to retentions? I just sold a phone on Swappa and they were pretty strict about a clean IMEI. I would reach out more to them.

People financing T-Mobile phones should NOT be allowed to sell them unless they're entirely paid off. PERIOD.

 

[Techngro]

Couldn't you try calling T-Mobile and have them un-block it or explain the situation to retentions? I just sold a phone on Swappa and they were pretty strict about a clean IMEI. I would reach out more to them.

People financing T-Mobile phones should NOT be allowed to sell them unless they're entirely paid off. PERIOD.

I've already spoken to T-Mobile. Their position is, it isn't their problem. In their system, I'm not the original owner, so that's that. Until the original owner pays the money, the phone will remain blocked.

As for Swappa, I'm pretty disappointed in them. Their sales pitch is that they check IMEIs, which is great, but that doesn't really mean anything. My situation is proof of that. I thought using PayPal would give me protection, but after 45 days, they won't even let you open a dispute.

I have been communicating with Swappa (and the seller). They act like they are going to help you (for example, they said they considered what the seller did to be 'fraud'), but at the end of the day, they can't actually do anything about it.



Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[Riswthefalln]

pm sent about my own situation. maybe some hope.

 

[NMonster69]

Generally they only share data with other carriers when it (the device) is stolen. Blocked usually only applies to the original network. Just go use it on AT&T or equiv.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Tapatalk

 

[mrej201]

the same happen to my boss he bought a note 3 on swappa for 630 now its block

b4 i waas able to chanhe the emei on the note 2 but i cant doit on the note 3 because of 4.3

 

[krelvinaz]

I thought using PayPal would give me protection, but after 45 days, they won't even let you open a dispute.

PayPal is less protection than using a credit card. Just about any credit card you could report this and they would reverse the charge. PayPal's 45 days is a ridiculously short period of time for disputes.

Swappa would have a hard time getting a reversal reversed due to the fraud involved.

 

[MattMJB0188]

I've already spoken to T-Mobile. Their position is, it isn't their problem. In their system, I'm not the original owner, so that's that. Until the original owner pays the money, the phone will remain blocked.

As for Swappa, I'm pretty disappointed in them. Their sales pitch is that they check IMEIs, which is great, but that doesn't really mean anything. My situation is proof of that. I thought using PayPal would give me protection, but after 45 days, they won't even let you open a dispute.

I have been communicating with Swappa (and the seller). They act like they are going to help you (for example, they said they considered what the seller did to be 'fraud'), but at the end of the day, they can't actually do anything about it.



Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

What's the seller saying? I am curious. See this is why I'd always just buy outright directly from the carrier. :/

 

[BACARDILIMON]

What's the seller saying? I am curious. See this is why I'd always just buy outright directly from the carrier. :/

I have bought from swappa and sold. Never had this issue.

TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

 

[Techngro]

the same happen to my boss he bought a note 3 on swappa for 630 now its block

b4 i waas able to chanhe the emei on the note 2 but i cant doit on the note 3 because of 4.3

Yeah, Note 3 seems to be locked down tight now. Oh well, them's the breaks.

I have bought from swappa and sold. Never had this issue.

TWEAKED 1.0 NOTE 3

This is the messed up part. I did a lot of research before I bought my phone from Swappa. I Googled over and over searching for any mention of phones bought on Swappa being blocked or blacklisted, or buyers being scammed. Nothing came up, so I felt pretty confident about using them.

What's the seller saying? I am curious. See this is why I'd always just buy outright directly from the carrier. :/

Yes, I have learned my lesson very thoroughly. Note 4 will be direct from T-Mobile.

When I was talking to the seller before the purchase, I asked if the phone was fully paid. He said it was. In addition, his listing said the phone was only 2 weeks old, so I assumed he was the original owner. After I contacted him about the block, he said that he wasn't the original owner and that T-Mobile told him the phone was not on EIP and was fully paid when he bought it from some guy. He says he doesn't have the money to refund, and can't find the person who sold him the phone. (What a shock!)