Help with activating my craigslist Verizon iPhone 5

[caikose]

update: I just found (with some guy's notice) that iPhone I bought was actually a sprint model! dame it... I activated it with a sprint sim card. Was cheated...

Sprint iPhone 5 is locked to AT&T and T-Mobile. But it is unlocked to international sim card. I am planning to use it abroad so not a big deal for me. Hope people be more careful when trading on craigslist. It's sad there is always some dishonest guy around..

Thanks for all guys replies. Sorry to take your time to answer my questions


Hello folks,

Today I bought a verizon iPhone5 on craigslist (because everyone apple store is oos..) The sim card is not with it. Now I cannot activate the iPhone. I tried to used an experied AT&T and T-Mobile sim card (I cut them), and a dummy verizon micro sim card from Apple store, but none of them work.

It always says

Only compatible SIM cards from a supported Carrier may be used to activate iphone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier's store to receive a replacement SIM card

My question is how I can get my iPhone activated and use it with my AT&T sim card? I learned Verizon iPhone5 was factory unlocked. But I didn't expect the difficulty of activating it... Can I open an account from Verizon and have them activate this iPhone?


I searched here and found people say Verizon can blacklist ESN of iPhone. If the seller failed to pay the contract, what would happen to my iPhone?

Thanks a lot for anyone who helps!

[m0no]

Was the phone activated? I think the phone needs to be activated first before it is unlocked. You could always call Verizon or go to a store for help.

[caikose]

Originally Posted by m0no

Was the phone activated? I think the phone needs to be activated first before it is unlocked. You could always call Verizon or go to a store for help.

I did warranty check on apple.com and it shows it is under warranty. Is there any other way I can check if it is activated?

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Originally Posted by KoukiFC3S

I also bought mine on Craigslist.

The apple store can give you a new Verizon SIM card. I would call first.

Hi KoukiFC3S, thanks for your reply.

Actually I went to apple store and they found me a verizon sim card. But it didn't work... Is your craigslist iPhone is verizon? Does it come with the original sim card?

[fr4c]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but IIRC on Verizon you need to activate the phone with the original SIM that it came with.

[einmusiker]

I would try going to verizon and opening a new account and asking them to activate it. you can then cancel the account and use it with your att sim. (if they can activate it that is)

[m0no]

Originally Posted by einmusiker

I would try going to verizon and opening a new account and asking them to activate it. you can then cancel the account and use it with your att sim. (if they can activate it that is)

This is what I would do. Get a Verizon sim so it can be activated and open an account if necessary (just month to month) then cancel.

[caikose]

Originally Posted by einmusiker

I would try going to verizon and opening a new account and asking them to activate it. you can then cancel the account and use it with your att sim. (if they can activate it that is)

Originally Posted by m0no

This is what I would do. Get a Verizon sim so it can be activated and open an account if necessary (just month to month) then cancel.

Thanks einmusiker and m0no. That is what I am going to do...
Is there some possibility that Verizon needs the original owner's authorization to "unlink" this iPhone with his account? (I cannot dial through his phone. Seems he is using a google voice to contact me.)

And if I canceled it in one month, do I need to reactivate it when I restore it or upgrade it the new iOS next time?

I remember that I could activate my iPhone4s, iPhone4 and iPhone 3GS with any working AT&T card. Just don't know how things work in Verizon...

[KoukiFC3S]

I also bought mine on Craigslist.

The apple store can give you a new Verizon SIM card. I would call first.

[mckbulldog02]

Mine has been carrier unlocked since day 1. I have used it on Net 10, Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, H20 Wireless, Straight Talk, and AT&T. I have discovered that it needs to be jailbroken if your going to make it prepaid, prepaid carriers dont support MMS or visual voicemail unless jailbroken, Running it on a postpaid account with Verizon and AT&T everything works and you dont have to mess with the APN settings like you do with the prepaid side. Also in order to get visual voicemail to work with Verizons version on AT&T you have to have tech support at AT&T provision your line with visual voicemail and also throw on a AT&T branded dummy IMEI to an iPhone 5 so the plan can read it. IMEI starting with 99000 is Verizon and a 01 is AT&T.

When I tried to get service at AT&T I would always take in my Verizon phone to start service and almost immediately they wanted to start arguing with me how Verizon iPhone 5 wont work and how its CDMA and all that bs and its different network. I would always prove them wrong, Its thier excuse to make me get thier model and sign a 2 year contract. Why sign a 2 year agreement when its perfectly capable on thier network. I dont believe I would ever get LTE on AT&T as the bands are different

[MorphineSx]

Could help me with unlocking 4s? I can not use another sim except Verizon :-/