Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Blocked iPhone

A

AliFun3

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 20, 2008
41
0
Hey guys I work in a Supermarket and I found an iPhone 4 left on a shelf, I left it in customer services months ago. I've checked whenever I'm in there to see if it had been claimed and it hadn't so I have taken it home to see if I could do anything with it on my computer to try and track down the owner. But unfortunately it's blocked so I can't do anything to get any contact details from it. Only thing I know is its on Orange. Anyone have any idea how I can track down the owner so that I can return it.

Thanks in advance.
 
I guess calling Orange is the only option, I don't particularly want to just leave it with Orange though. I'd quite like to be able to return it myself so I know it gets back to them.
 
You stated that the phone has been in customer service for a while, so there is a good chance that the owner has already replaced their phone. If you can somehow track the owner and get it back to them without giving the phone away to Orange for them to deal with, do it. Always be honest first, but if for some reason you can't get it back to the owner, then wait for the unlock for the newer basebands and pocket some cash.
 
AliFun3 said:
I guess calling Orange is the only option, I don't particularly want to just leave it with Orange though. I'd quite like to be able to return it myself so I know it gets back to them.
Click to expand...

You wont be able to get the owners info and track them down to hand it back.
Why dont you give it back to Orange? The phones IMEI is blacklisted anyway so the only person than can activate that phone and enable and use it again is the owner by verifying his identity and account details.
 
Applejuiced said:
You wont be able to get the owners info and track them down to hand it back.
Why dont you give it back to Orange? The phones IMEI is blacklisted anyway so the only person than can activate that phone and enable and use it again is the owner by verifying his identity and account details.
Click to expand...

I failed to notice that the phone was blacklisted. Although can't you still restore/hactivate/unlock when the appropriate software comes out to do so and then sell it to another country other than the UK?
 
awadeee said:
Although can't you still restore/hactivate/unlock when the appropriate software comes out to do so and then sell it to another country other than the UK?
Click to expand...

If you are completely morally bankrupt then yes. It's not the OPs property to sell (although to his/her credit nothing suggests they want to do that).
 
Applejuiced said:
You wont be able to get the owners info and track them down to hand it back.
Why dont you give it back to Orange? The phones IMEI is blacklisted anyway so the only person than can activate that phone and enable and use it again is the owner by verifying his identity and account details.
Click to expand...

wow, they blacklist imei's? AT&T won't do that. too much legal liability
 
alent1234 said:
wow, they blacklist imei's? AT&T won't do that. too much legal liability
Click to expand...

Yes, in many places thruout the world they do.
I guess AT&T and other US carriers dont want to bother with the hassle of it.

awadeee said:
I failed to notice that the phone was blacklisted. Although can't you still restore/hactivate/unlock when the appropriate software comes out to do so and then sell it to another country other than the UK?
Click to expand...

Yes, on another country that doesnt share and use the same lost/stolen phone database.
 
robbieduncan said:
If you are completely morally bankrupt then yes. It's not the OPs property to sell (although to his/her credit nothing suggests they want to do that).
Click to expand...

It's not mine to sell, I know if I lost my iPhone then I'd want it returned so I am just doing what I'd hope someone would do for me. Looks like i'll be phoning Orange in the morning. Was kinda hoping I'd get the satisfaction of returning it personally but looking fairly unlikely.
 
AliFun3 said:
It's not mine to sell, I know if I lost my iPhone then I'd want it returned so I am just doing what I'd hope someone would do for me. Looks like i'll be phoning Orange in the morning. Was kinda hoping I'd get the satisfaction of returning it personally but looking fairly unlikely.
Click to expand...

Its just a phone bro, you're not returning back their lost child:D
But its still very nice of you going thru all this to return the phone to its owner.
Wish there were more people like you around.
 
haha I know its just a phone but I work 5 days a week as a supervisor at a supermarket so more often than not I'm on the receiving end of rudeness and such so it's nice to occasionally get a thank you for doing something for someone else.
 
AliFun3 said:
haha I know its just a phone but I work 5 days a week as a supervisor at a supermarket so more often than not I'm on the receiving end of rudeness and such so it's nice to occasionally get a thank you for doing something for someone else.
Click to expand...

We all thank you for returning it!:D
 
robbieduncan said:
If you are completely morally bankrupt then yes. It's not the OPs property to sell (although to his/her credit nothing suggests they want to do that).
Click to expand...

Yeah. That's why two posts above you'll see me saying that I'd be honest first.

Hopefully if OP gives it to the original carrier, they'll give it to the owner and not just put it in some storage room somewhere or something equally careless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back