Carrier Sold my Sprint Iphone 6...problems!

[kaibob]

The OP appears to understand the need to pay an ETF, or at least his post, numbered 4, in the following thread would appear to indicate that is the case:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1795213/

 

[famoussasjohn]

I preordered and received a Sprint Iphone 6 on launch day.

After a week or so of thinking about it, I finally decided that I wanted to change providers, and in this time the Iphone was never opened from its factory seal or activated in any way. When I log into sprint it still recognizes my 4s under "my devices."

Figured I would sell the phone and make a little cash to pay for the full priced T-mobile phone i'd have to buy. Sprint phones don't sell for that much, but since I paid the subsidized price, I figure a WIN WIN. Buyer gets a price lower than retail, and I make a little scratch.

But the buyer just contacted me and apparently, when he tried activating the phone sprint told him that it was associated with another account (presumably mine) and that it would have to be "released" first. I figured since it was never activated that anyone could use it since it wasn't stolen or anything like that. I tried calling sprint but they were closed by the time the buyer contacted me....

In the meantime I figure I would ask here since there are quite a few knowledgeable people here.

Anyone know if this is as simple as me calling sprint and telling them to "release" it? Sprint has a reputation for being such a hard@$$ on things (ie: unlocking policy) that I'm hoping there isn't a lot of hassle and hoopla.

When upgrading through Sprint, it is still technically linked to your account even if you don't activate it. Just call Sprint and let them know you sold the device and want it removed from your account. Though if you have an ETF (which it looks like you will of $350), you'll have to pay that first, as they may lock the phone so it cannot be activated by someone else if that is not paid.

 

[eyoungren]

I know of someone who is somewhat proud of his bad credit score. Quit Sprint for T-Mobile, found out he couldn't use it and then raised hell to come back to Sprint on his old SERO plan.

Now he wants to leave again after the first month (guy uses his phone as his ISP and Sprint "can't" provide data fast enough) and he wants to give Sprint (and his credit rating) the big middle finger by upgrading before he leaves then doing an ESN swap and selling off the new phone.

Now, in the past it was my understanding that you could do this on Sprint. One of the reasons Sprint tries to lock their phones down. But recently (as late as this year) I've heard that Sprint is now tying phone upgrades to the phone number (not necessarily the account). Which makes this not possible anymore because even if you ESN swapped and put an old phone on that number that you got the upgrade on that upgrade is still attached to the number. Thus you have to pay off the ETF before it's clear to sell.

That is now my understanding of this, which would be why the OP jammed himself here.

Can anyone on Sprint or familiar with this at all confirm what I've said here? I have never done an ESN swap, always completed my contracts and in the one case where I swapped phones with my wife it was a matter of her taking my number and me taking her's. We never did anything online or in store for that. Just physically swapped phones. So any info I have on this procedure is purely conjecture based on things I've read online or heard about.

 

[titans1127]

I know of someone who is somewhat proud of his bad credit score. Quit Sprint for T-Mobile, found out he couldn't use it and then raised hell to come back to Sprint on his old SERO plan.

Now he wants to leave again after the first month (guy uses his phone as his ISP and Sprint "can't" provide data fast enough) and he wants to give Sprint (and his credit rating) the big middle finger by upgrading before he leaves then doing an ESN swap and selling off the new phone.

Now, in the past it was my understanding that you could do this on Sprint. One of the reasons Sprint tries to lock their phones down. But recently (as late as this year) I've heard that Sprint is now tying phone upgrades to the phone number (not necessarily the account). Which makes this not possible anymore because even if you ESN swapped and put an old phone on that number that you got the upgrade on that upgrade is still attached to the number. Thus you have to pay off the ETF before it's clear to sell.

That is now my understanding of this, which would be why the OP jammed himself here.

Can anyone on Sprint or familiar with this at all confirm what I've said here? I have never done an ESN swap, always completed my contracts and in the one case where I swapped phones with my wife it was a matter of her taking my number and me taking her's. We never did anything online or in store for that. Just physically swapped phones. So any info I have on this procedure is purely conjecture based on things I've read online or heard about.

You maybe correct though I think this is normal for any phone bought with a phone number attached to it, subsidized or not. My 6 Plus was bought from Apple.com as the AT&T version. I paid full price as I don't have any kind of 2-year upgrade available. When I powered the phone on using the SIM that came with the phone it asked for my phone number and the zip code and SSN of the account holder. Same happened with the 4S I bought from an eBay seller back in 2011 shortly after launch. He had to activate the phone with the SIM it came with on his account before he could ship it out to me. Had no problems in the year I owned it afterwards.

No really sure if this is an iOS thing or something imposed by the carriers. I don't think Android phones run into this "forced activation" kind of deal

 

[dictoresno]

i bet the OP realized his derpiness and won't be back.

 

[Jschultz]

This is just one of the reasons I won't buy used phones anymore. People skipping out on EIP, plus people who have insurance and will claim 'lost or stolen' after selling to you and pocketing the money. People suck.

 

[brand]

Its always good to see people that are trying to run a scam or get something for nothing get what they deserve.

 

[CarRamRod]

LOL...so much huffiness and anger on a forum over a phone. Someone hurry up and give dictoresno a huge bong rip or something...that guy's ass is wound up way too tight for his own good.

One thing's for certain--there really *was* a lot of derp in this thread...mostly from people who absolutely don't know what they're talking about. A lot of chiming in from people making definitive statements based on conjecture rather than firsthand experience.

Hilarious that only ONE person on here recognized that yeah, obviously I understand an ETF is involved as part of the exchange for getting a subsidized phone. Duh. But guess who pays ETF fees? T-mobile does.

For those of you who are legitimately wondering what happens in this scenario, continue reading. Happy to report that the process was simple and seamless. As some of the more calm, knowledgeable folks here suggested, it was as easy as going into a Sprint store and asking them to release the phone from my account. From there, using the MEID of the phone, I was able to confirm that it had been activated and was under use by the buyer.

Sure, IF i skip out on paying the ETF there will be consequences, though I tend to doubt they would lock an Iphone that is fully attached to another account. Thankfully, the good people at T-mobile are taking care of this, and I'm currently enjoying my blazing fast LTE speeds on my unlocked 6+.

 

[AJolly]

Registered to try and figure out how to do this:

I'm currently on sprint, I want to buy 4 iphones, sell those iphones, and switch to t-mobile. T-Mobile will pay the sprint ETF ($350 per line), I just want to figure out how to do this without causing any issues to anyone who will buy those iphones.

 

[eyoungren]

Registered to try and figure out how to do this:

I'm currently on sprint, I want to buy 4 iphones, sell those iphones, and switch to t-mobile. T-Mobile will pay the sprint ETF ($350 per line), I just want to figure out how to do this without causing any issues to anyone who will buy those iphones.

Buy all four phones at full price. Then sell.

But you mentioned you want T-Mobile to pay your ETF.

Essentially, you want to pay the least you can for these phones, burn Sprint on the way out, have T-Mobile pay the ETF, make money by selling the phones and not have any issues with the people that buy the phones.

Right?

I have a bridge in New York somewhere I can sell you. Fair price!

 

[AJolly]

Sprint gets their ETF paid.

T-Mobile gets me as a customer. (which is why they agree to pay the ETF)

Whoever buys the phones from me gets phones at a fair value.

How is that a problem?

 

[eyoungren]

Sprint gets their ETF paid.

T-Mobile gets me as a customer. (which is why they agree to pay the ETF)

Whoever buys the phones from me gets phones at a fair value.

How is that a problem?

Allright…

Whomever buys the phones might be able to activate if the phone is not blacklisted. But if the phone becomes blacklisted before the ETF is paid then they won't be able to continue service or start service until he ETF is paid. Assuming, Sprint un-blacklists the phones if the ETF is paid.

 

[AJolly]

That's what I'm trying to avoid - so I guess I'll wait to sell phones until the ETF is paid / and my sprint account is closed. Thanks!

 

[gugu]

By doing this, can the phone under contract be activated with other account? is this a method to sell phones avoiding paying the ETF?

You are going to have to have the buyer ship the phone back to you so you can activate it on your line first, then you can put your 4S back and then ship the phone back to the buyer. It's not something sprint can fix afaik as the phone is tied to the phone number that it was ordered under. This is true for ATT and Verizon as well. Only time this isn't an issue is when the phone is bought as "device only"

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what does the first thing mean?

He surely could do it. As many other have before. But he forgot to factor in two important things.

1.) sell the phone, stay with sprint, keep the current phone enjoy the profits
2.) sell the phone, leave sprint, use the profits to pay off the ETF and price of the device aka WHATS THE POINT?? All, if not most, proceeds go to paying off the dumb idea and the OP is back to square one. No extra cash. No sprint plan and no new iPhone.

OP, did you really truly honestly think that sprint would send you a new iPhone, for $500 off retail price, for you to sell and then cancel your plan with no course of action? ummmm they're gonna want their phone back or you will have to pay the difference for it. You were sold that phone at the discount on the grounds you sign another contract extension with them. I mean seriously?