Concerned I may have purchased a stolen phone...

[imported_Tomato]

My cell broke a few weeks ago, and I recently bought a Sprint Sanyo 8100 cell phone from a private seller on craigslist.

The price was REALLY low (I only paid $40) for a phone in almost-new condition, and the seller explained he was selling the phone because it was "too girly" for him (it's purple and silver). I gave him the cash, he gave me the phone, and I took it to the Sprint store to have it activated.

The Sprint serviceperson told me that he couldn't activate the phone for me, because there was still a $125 balance due on the previous owner's account.

Does this mean the phone was stolen, or that the seller just didn't pay off his last phone bill? Won't that mess up his credit?

I won't be able to activate the phone with my number until the balance is cleared. I hope I didn't just throw $40 down the drain... *sigh*

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Not necessarily. I purchased Sprint PCS phone off eBay and when I tried to activate it, the rep said the number was still active, so I just emailed him and he took care of it. Maybe the seller has a balance that he is unaware of? Email him and tell him about the balance. Oh yea - you can activate your phone from home or by dialing a number, no need to talk to some rep in person.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Not necessarily. I purchased Sprint PCS phone off eBay and when I tried to activate it, the rep said the number was still active, so I just emailed him and he took care of it. Maybe the seller has a balance that he is unaware of? Email him and tell him about the balance. Oh yea - you can activate your phone from home or by dialing a number, no need to talk to some rep in person.

Interesting, thank you for the info. I'll e-mail him now.

 

[her209]

So does that mean you can use his minutes?

 

[Bryophyte]

Can Sprint give you info on the owner? If it's not the guy you bought it from, you should give the phone back to the owner (if it was stolen) along with the information on the guy you bought it from so he/she can contact the police.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: her209
So does that mean you can use his minutes?

Maybe. The phone turns on fine, but I don't want to use the minutes that aren't mine.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: BigDan
Can Sprint give you info on the owner? If it's not the guy you bought it from, you should give the phone back to the owner (if it was stolen) along with the information on the guy you bought it from so he/she can contact the police.

I'm not sure, but I'll ask when I go back in later today.

 

[Dragnov]

Sounds like he found it, and sold it off to you.

 

[udonoogen]

dude craigslist is hella shady. i hate that thing. nothing but a bunch of scam artists trying to rip unsuspecting people off. trust nothing but AT FS/FT. 🙂

 

[LakerGod]

Originally posted by: udonoogen
dude craigslist is hella shady. i hate that thing. nothing but a bunch of scam artists trying to rip unsuspecting people off. trust nothing but AT FS/FT. 🙂

I agree, a lot of sh!t posted on Craig's List is shady...buyer beware i guess...

 

[Bryophyte]

Update?

 

[dxkj]

si, update por favor

 

[Lonyo]

Surely you can put your SIM card in the new phone and use your old account but on the new phone?

 

[BCYL]

It's a scam....

The owner basically rack up his phone bill, cancel his account and sold the phone to you... Now if you wanna use his phone you will have to pay off his balance for him...

Scams like these happen all the time... That's why when I buy any used CDMA phone I always get the phone unique ID and call to check if it can be activated or does it has remaining balance...

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Surely you can put your SIM card in the new phone and use your old account but on the new phone?

CDMA phone, not GSM...

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Surely you can put your SIM card in the new phone and use your old account but on the new phone?

sprintpcs doesn't use SIM cards.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: BCYL
It's a scam....

The owner basically rack up his phone bill, cancel his account and sold the phone to you... Now if you wanna use his phone you will have to pay off his balance for him...

Scams like these happen all the time... That's why when I buy any used CDMA phone I always get the phone unique ID and call to check if it can be activated or does it has remaining balance...

It's also possible the phone was stolen.