New Phone Purchase

[pcglobal]

Hi, needed some help on a two new iphones I purchased and please let me apologize ahead of time for my lack of knowledge.

I purchased two new locked iphone X phones on Ebay. I received both phones brand new and sealed in the box.

1. The first Ebay seller listed their phone as a 64GB Silver for the AT&T network.

The phone I received is 64GB & silver, however the part number is MQAR2LL/A, and when I check that part number online it says that the phone is for the T-Mobile network.

I contacted the seller and am waiting for a response, but wanted to post this information to get some advice. Will I be able to use this phone with my AT&T SIM card even though it is a T-Mobile phone? Or will an AT&T SIM work in a T-Mobile phone since they are both GSM?



2. The second Ebay seller also listed their phone as a 64GB Silver for the AT&T network.

The phone I received is 64GB & silver with model number MQAK2LL/A and this part number is for an AT&T phone. However I went to the AT&T Unlock portal to check the status of the IMEI number for the phone and received the following message:

"Looks like you haven't paid off your device yet. Follow these steps to pay off your installment plan. Then, wait 48 hours before you submit a new request."

Does that mean the original owner never paid off the phone? Or does that just mean that the phone is locked to AT&T and can't be unlocked at this time. Will I be able to use my AT&T SIM in the phone?


Lastly, is there any way to find out if an iphone is unlocked without opening the package?


I have not opened the phones because the sellers do not accept returns if the items are opened.


Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[ftaok]

The phone I received is 64GB & silver, however the part number is MQAR2LL/A, and when I check that part number online it says that the phone is for the T-Mobile network.

If the phone is unlocked, it'll work on the AT&T network with no problems. They're the same phones otherwise.

2. The second Ebay seller also listed their phone as a 64GB Silver for the AT&T network.

The phone I received is 64GB & silver with model number MQAK2LL/A and this part number is for an AT&T phone. However I went to the AT&T Unlock portal to check the status of the IMEI number for the phone and received the following message:

"Looks like you haven't paid off your device yet. Follow these steps to pay off your installment plan. Then, wait 48 hours before you submit a new request."

Does that mean the original owner never paid off the phone? Or does that just mean that the phone is locked to AT&T and can't be unlocked at this time. Will I be able to use my AT&T SIM in the phone?

This could mean a lot of things. Best case scenario is that the phone is fully paid for, but the AT&T site is incorrect/not updated.

Also, it could mean that the phone is locked and as long as the seller pays it off, you won't have any issues.

I think it could also mean the owner will skip out on the bill and maybe AT&T will put that phone on the blacklist and you'll end up with a brick.

Let's hope it's the first.

 

[mcdj]

What was the feedback rating of the 2nd seller? Please don’t say 0.

 

[EDH667]

There is no reliable way (that I know of) to find out if the phone is unlocked without taking it out of the package and trying a different provider SIM card. More than likely phone number 2 is locked to AT&T. You can check phone number 1 IMEI number with T-mobile https://www.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx and if you get a reply that there is still a balance owed, it is not unlocked.

 

[Mad4clay]

What was the feedback rating of the 2nd seller? Please don’t say 0.

Yeah that!

 

[Givmeabrek]

Contact the seller of the second phone and tell him to pay off the phone or you will return it. Otherwise he can stop paying at any time and your phone will be useless.

 

[bmac4]

If the phone is unlocked, it'll work on the AT&T network with no problems. They're the same phones otherwise.
This could mean a lot of things. Best case scenario is that the phone is fully paid for, but the AT&T site is incorrect/not updated.

Also, it could mean that the phone is locked and as long as the seller pays it off, you won't have any issues.

I think it could also mean the owner will skip out on the bill and maybe AT&T will put that phone on the blacklist and you'll end up with a brick.

Let's hope it's the first.

I don’t think that if the phone is not paid off the buyer (OP) in this case gets a bricked Phone. The remaining balance gets put on the sellers bill the next month, and if they don’t pay that, they get sent to collections. The buyer still keeps the phone as normal.

 

[pcglobal]

Thanks for all of the replies, both sellers have over 100+ positive feedback. That is what is confusing, if the original owner doesn't pay off their phone, does it affect their account or mine?

 

[ZipZap]

I don’t think that if the phone is not paid off the buyer (OP) in this case gets a bricked Phone. The remaining balance gets put on the sellers bill the next month, and if they don’t pay that, they get sent to collections. The buyer still keeps the phone as normal.

The phone belongs to ATT until its paid off.

 

[mcdj]

I don’t think that if the phone is not paid off the buyer (OP) in this case gets a bricked Phone. The remaining balance gets put on the sellers bill the next month, and if they don’t pay that, they get sent to collections. The buyer still keeps the phone as normal.

Seems like you’re just guessing. Why would AT$T allow an account in arrears (or anyone else) to activate yet another phone and start accruing even more fees? Keeping phones bricked until the account is settled is their first line of defense against non payment.

 

[bmac4]

The phone belongs to ATT until its paid off.

It doesn’t matter. It gets put on the bill of the seller. I still have my iPhone 7 that was not fully paid off, and I gave it to my brother after I got the X. It still works completely fine, but my up coming bill will have the $370 on it. If I don’t pay that, I will get sent to collections, but the iPhone will still work.

This is like saying someone bought new furniture on a credit card and did not pay it off. The furniture does not get taken, but the person that didn’t pay goes to collections. It’s part of lending credit to people. If they don’t pay, they still keep the product.

 

[akash.nu]

I’ll never ever deal with private sellers off eBay while buying expensive products. Such issues are always around and it’s just plain headaches if not more.

 

[bmac4]

Seems like you’re just guessing. Why would AT$T allow an account in arrears (or anyone else) to activate yet another phone and start accruing even more fees? Keeping phones bricked until the account is settled is their first line of defense against non payment.

That is not true, and no I am not guessing. I have given my old iPhones to others when I get the new one, and Phone works fine without me having paid it off. I have never not paid for it, but if I did they would send me to collections. I have asked AT&T about this before. Credit card companies can’t brick a phone or take back what you purchased if you don’t pay. They send you to collections and hope they get their money. It’s the same thing here.


This is from the AT&T site.

“We strongly recommend you have Mobile Insurance on your smartphones to protect from damage and loss. Remember, you're still responsible for the remaining unpaid balance of the lost or damaged AT&T Next smartphone and you won't be able to upgrade after 24, 18, or 12 installments if you've lost or damaged your AT&T Next smartphone. Your existing installment agreement will continue to be billed monthly, and you will have to continue to pay for a wireless service plan or you may pay off the remaining balance. After the installment agreement is paid in full, you may then purchase a new smartphone with an AT&T Next installment agreement, at full price or with a two-year agreement where available.
Other users can use the smartphone; however, you're still responsible for the monthly installment payments and the condition of the smartphone if you choose to trade it in.”

It says nothing about bricking the Phone. Simply that you have to pay it off. It’s the same as a credit lender.

 

[ftaok]

This is like saying someone bought new furniture on a credit card and did not pay it off. The furniture does not get taken, but the person that didn’t pay goes to collections. It’s part of lending credit to people. If they don’t pay, they still keep the product.

While I can't say for sure what AT&T does with phones payments that are in default, but lots of folks get their stuff taken away when they don't make payments.

Cars get repossessed all the time when payments are missed. Heck, people get evicted from houses when they don't pay the mortgage. And yes, furniture can get taken away too.

There is a cost to doing that, so lenders will try to work with you to get as much money back. Repo is usually the last defense ... and they're only doing it to cut their losses.

 

[bmac4]

While I can't say for sure what AT&T does with phones payments that are in default, but lots of folks get their stuff taken away when they don't make payments.

Cars get repossessed all the time when payments are missed. Heck, people get evicted from houses when they don't pay the mortgage. And yes, furniture can get taken away too.

There is a cost to doing that, so lenders will try to work with you to get as much money back. Repo is usually the last defense ... and they're only doing it to cut their losses.

Oh I don’t disagree at all. Repossession happens all the time, but things like credit card debt go to collection. They are not taking away your MacBook you couldn’t afford. Again I have talked with AT&T about this before. They don’t collect or brick the phone. They simply put the person that owes them into collections.

 

[pcglobal]

That's good to know, I thought that if a phone wasn't paid off that AT&T could blacklist the IMEI number causing the phone not to work.

But what you are saying makes sense, they will go after the original owner since that is who the contract is through and give this to a collection agency to collect.

The only reason I bought on Ebay was Apple was showing the X at six weeks, and I needed them for Christmas. Lesson learned. Then again, these two Ebay sellers may be legit, just not sure at this time.

 

[bmac4]

That's good to know, I thought that if a phone wasn't paid off that AT&T could blacklist the IMEI number causing the phone not to work.

But what you are saying makes sense, they will go after the original owner since that is who the contract is through and give this to a collection agency to collect.

The only reason I bought on Ebay was Apple was showing the X at six weeks, and I needed them for Christmas. Lesson learned. Then again, these two Ebay sellers may be legit, just not sure at this time.

You can call AT&T and Check, but from my experience with them, that is how things work. They will lock the phone down to AT&T until it’s paid, but they aren’t bricking the phone. Actually I am not even sure if that is possible. If you report your phone as stolen, they can’t even brick those from my understanding. If it shows up on their network, sure they can block it, but that’s a huge if.

My suggestion would be call AT&T and make sure everything is good, and the. Enjoy the phones. I think you should be fine.