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Do i leave the sim card inside the iPad if I sell it?

WizardHunt

WizardHunt

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 11, 2007
1,695
38
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
I am about to sell my iPad 1 and wondering since in the past I was using the 3G part. If I leave the sim card inside the iPad when I sell it, I am worried that they have access to my credit card info or other problems. Is this true?

Should I remove my sim card before the sale?

Will they be able to get a new one from At&t?
 
You should leave it in. If you deactivate the 3G and restore the iPad, no one can access your information. You'll get a new LTE one with your new iPad.
 
Remove it. They will get another one when they sign up for an account.
 
no the sim card should be removed as it is your responsibility, the buyer needs to provide their own sim if they want to use data.

if you no longer need the sim (or need a new sim for LTE) then after you have cancelled your contract (if any) you then destroy the SIM.

either way remove it before the sale.
 
Ah, the yearly iPad update ritual has taken place at the 2801's...Pop gets the new model, Ma gets last year's, and the Office Manger is getting the 1 as a bonus....

I've noticed that if you get the new one and use the 'I am an existing iPad account holder', it takes the balance of your existing 3g account and converts the balance of it to LTE without incurring anything extra. It also gives you an option to go to 3 gigs of data for $30 a month once your current month expires. Nice.

When I go to the old iPad, it appears to give you a fresh sign up screen as well.

I'm unsure if it's possible to put the sim chip in a computer, hack it, and retrieve the cc info. I don't believe it is, but I cannot say so with certainty. I also have gotten replacement sims from AT&T in the past, and I believe I can obtain an iPad 1 sim from them, but again, I cannot say so absolutely.

Maybe Apple or AT&T has the answers your looking for, instead of my guesses and conjecture. Good luck!
 
Wow interesting answers. Both has good points. I stopped the service on my 3G before I was aware of the grandfathering of the unlimited data service so I messed that up real good on my account. However I did not really want to keep it in due to a slight possibility of the buyer to get my info or even that I get charged for their service. Sure it could be straightened out but I did not want the hassle.

I am selling my iPad 1 for $300.00 which based upon the prices Ebay is getting I think I did fairly well. However the iPad they are getting is in near flawless state. Not a single scratch, not even micro scratches that I can see. It has a Zag Military grade screen protector on it and I am giving the Apple leather case that was once sold for $49.95. So they are getting a great deal with it being Wi-Fi+3G 64GB but I think I will remove the card just to be safe and have peace of mind. Thanks to all you who commented.

They can just pay the $20 for a new Sim. I am giving them free shipping anyway. They got a great deal and I got a great deal. We both win.
 
iPad SIM cards don't contain any personal information. They only contain a data cellular number and a number that can be linked to an active 3G account for billing purposes. If the account has been deactivated, the SIM card contains nothing of value or any traceable information.
 
Intell said:
They sign up for an account via the iPad. To get a new one they have to ask AT&T and then get charged $20.
Click to expand...

We have upgraded and swapped dozens of AT&T phones, never left a SIM card in, and never been charged anything for a new one.
 
Intell said:
iPad SIM cards don't contain any personal information. They only contain a data cellular number and a number that can be linked to an active 3G account for billing purposes. If the account has been deactivated, the SIM card contains nothing of value or any traceable information.
Click to expand...

I suppose I could contact AT&T and verify this and then I would feel better if I chose to leave it in.

thewitt said:
We have upgraded and swapped dozens of AT&T phones, never left a SIM card in, and never been charged anything for a new one.
Click to expand...

On other hand, if there is no charge, which I could call AT&T to verify this as well, then it is only a small inconvenience for them to go to their nearest AT&T store and have them put in a sim card. Myself I would think AT&T would want to not charge the customer since the customer will be buying a monthly service from them. It just makes good business sense.
 
Leaving the SIM card in won't hurt anything. It doesn't have any personal information. Pre-paid accounts don't work the same way as post paid accounts (like on the iPhone).
 
thewitt said:
We have upgraded and swapped dozens of AT&T phones, never left a SIM card in, and never been charged anything for a new one.
Click to expand...

iPads have different requirements then phones. Their SIM cards contain a different set of numbers that are not linked to any singular account once the cellular service is deactivated.

xxBURT0Nxx said:
ATT reps must be dicks in your area because I have never once been charged for a sim card....
Click to expand...

AT&T policy is to charge for replacement SIM cards. This change occurred in 2009/2010.
 
ok for a update, I called AT&T and talked with a AT&T Rep and She told me to remove the sim card to be safe as it is linked to your credit card even though I cancelled the service a while back. I did not ask if they charge the new customer or not for a replacement. I suppose it depends on your level of service with them. Maybe your relationship with them and so on.

Anyway I called back and spoke to another AT&T Rep and he told me basically the same thing. I need to remove my sim card. So I will be removing my sim card from my iPad before shipping it to the new buyer.
If they have a good relationship with AT&T I am willing to bet they can get the sim card charge if any wavered.

Anyway this is the information I got straight from AT&T and I will go by that. I am posting this information so others will know.

Thanks for all your postings.
 
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