iPhone 6S: Clean IMEI/Activation Ready from Swappa, but unpaid bill - safe to buy?

[timothevs]

SO, my cousin is contemplating a phone off Swappa. The guy selling said he bought it from a friend, and isn't willing to provide an IMEI till my cousin forks over the $. But sent my cousin screenshots showing that it is a IMEI whitelisted and activation ready phone.

But here's the rub, the seller doesn't know if it is unlocked, or whether the phone might have an unpaid bill.

IMO it doesn't seem like it is a safe purchase, because even though the IMEI is whitelisted now, Sprint may lock the phone or blacklist it when the bill remains unpaid...

Am I right, or am I missing something here?

 

[yankeebobo]

Personally, I'd run, not walk, away from that. It just doesn't pass the sniff test out of the gate.

 

[Loadsled]

Does the screenshot show the imei number?

 

[Olivia23]

I think if the bill is not paid Sprint used to be able to block the phone somehow I believe? Still I wouldn't trust it. If I was trying to sell I'd give info first. He's wanting money first? Sounds fishy. Maybe stolen?

 

[timothevs]

hah, Swappa seems to think so too, and voided the sale! I must admit that the Swappa Staff are on their game.

You guys are right, it felt shady, but we weren't sure if Sprint blacklists the IMEI if a contract is unpaid. Forget about ever unlocking it.
[doublepost=1474377339][/doublepost]

Does the screenshot show the imei number?

No, the guy just shared the results, not the IMEI number. I was just googling around, it turns out that even with an IMEI number you cant check the unlock status without spend $$. What a load of crock.
[doublepost=1474377455][/doublepost]

I think if the bill is not paid Sprint used to be able to block the phone somehow I believe? Still I wouldn't trust it. If I was trying to sell I'd give info first. He's wanting money first? Sounds fishy. Maybe stolen?

Yeah right? Cuz asked to clarify, and the guy would only say, it is in the description - NO Contract... but might have an unpaid bill? Reeks of five-finger discounted goods.

 

[ZombiePete]

Don't buy a phone someone else owes money on unless you're taking over their payments with the carrier (which can be done). You have no control over the phone at that point and if they stop making payments your cousin will be screwed.
[doublepost=1474377827][/doublepost]

Swappa seems to think so too, and voided the sale! I must admit that the Swappa Staff are on their game.

Swappa is great; their support for buyers and sellers is the best. I once sold a Samsung phone on there that I had flashed a custom recovery and ROM on; the listing clearly stated that it was rooted and flashed but that if the buyer wasn't comfortable with managing a custom recovery that I would set it back to factory. The buyer bought the phone, validated that it was working, and within a week flashed a bad kernel and couldn't figure out how to fix it and wanted to send it back to me. Swappa got involved and confirmed that I had done everything right and closed the sale. Never had any further issues. Love those guys.

 

[DotCom2]

That doesn't sound good to me at all!
I would stay away from that one!
There will be plenty more available very soon.

 

[noobinator]

Plenty of 6s on swappa. Don't risk stuff like this. Find a 100% clean one.

 

[timothevs]

That doesn't sound good to me at all!
I would stay away from that one!
There will be plenty more available very soon.

Plenty of 6s on swappa. Don't risk stuff like this. Find a 100% clean one.

Indeed. I think my cousin got drawn by the price. I guess the old adage applies, If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. I'll tell her to keep looking.

 

[realeric]

Indeed. I think my cousin got drawn by the price. I guess the old adage applies, If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. I'll tell her to keep looking.

This link is the answer you might want to hear. https://forums.att.com/t5/Wireless-...a-phone-on-my-AT-amp-T-NEXT-plan/td-p/4302454 According to the answer, yes you can buy it. The phone is locked to the carrier until the previous owner's installment is paid off. If the previous owner stop paying the installment, it damages the previous owner's credit history but the carrier has nothing to do with the phone other than not allowing unlocking the phone.

 

[timothevs]

This link is the answer you might want to hear. https://forums.att.com/t5/Wireless-...a-phone-on-my-AT-amp-T-NEXT-plan/td-p/4302454 According to the answer, yes you can buy it. The phone is locked to the carrier until the previous owner's installment is paid off. If the previous owner stop paying the installment, it damages the previous owner's credit history but the carrier has nothing to do with the phone other than not allowing unlocking the phone.

Kudos for digging that up, thanks. My Google-fu seems to be seriously lacking. Alas it is too late for the cuz, as Swappa cancelled the deal. But good to keep in mind, if there's a next time.