I'm looking for a used Verizon iPhone on ebay. Almost everything I've looked at has "BAD ESN". Are people just buying phones and not paying the bills or what?!
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Curious- BAD ESN's
- Thread starter dingster1
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h1r0ll3r
macrumors 68040
Bad ESN's usually mean;
1. They haven't paid their bills (collections)
2. They broke their contract and/or terminated early
3. It's stolen
You might run into an issue with these specifically since you'll only be able to reactivate them if the back balance is paid off. I'm sure you can speak with a VZ rep and let them know the deal but this issue has come up before with phones with bad ESN's.
1. They haven't paid their bills (collections)
2. They broke their contract and/or terminated early
3. It's stolen
You might run into an issue with these specifically since you'll only be able to reactivate them if the back balance is paid off. I'm sure you can speak with a VZ rep and let them know the deal but this issue has come up before with phones with bad ESN's.
Do not under any circumstances purchase a phone with a bad ESN. There is too much risk associated with a Bad ESN.
Applejuiced
macrumors Westmere
I agree.
Unless you want to use it as an ipod touch and not a phone.
Verizon will not activate it for you so you'd be stuck with it.
wordoflife
macrumors 604
What the heck? They'll turn your phone into a brick if you terminate the contract?
I assume you mean terminate the contract by paying the ETF.
Oh yes I know. I buy used phones from 3 dealers only on ebay. I was just surprised by all the bad esn postings.
roflc0pter
macrumors 6502
rjohnstone
macrumors 68040
Yes, Verizon can and will turn your phone into a brick if it was reported as lost or stolen and replaced under insurance.
Terminating your contract early will not get your ESN "blacklisted" provided you paid the termination fee.
Yes, I have a "protection plan" on my iPhone provided by Verizon. Whether I crack the screen, lose it, or it explodes, I get a new one (the exact same model) for only $99. However, if I lie, and the phone is actually working fine, I believe it would have a bad ESN even though I didn't steal it or didn't refuse to pay my bills.