Looks like the anti-"used"-phones initiative is taking effect on StraightTalk

[soccerballtux]

"were sorry but this device has been blocked from network use"
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...this-device-has-been-blocked-from-network-use

I hope the FCC will step in on this one. This is going to completely kill the used phone market thanks to the stolen phones being sold as "used". I'm personally of the opinion that the major effect of this is going to be the death of the used phone market.
At least we'll still have Google selling phones directly with the Nexus lineup.

 

[basslover1]

If you read the thread you would see that it's more than likely AT&T blocking a lost/stolen/delinquent phone from accessing its network, the OP even states it only started after he started using an iPhone 4S he bought off CL. That's not really something anyone wasn't already aware of.

 

[kaerflog]

This will be very bad for the used phone market.

 

[jpiniero]

This will be very bad for the used phone market.

Banning stolen phones? I could see it. The percentage of fenced goods on CL/eBay is probably higher than either would want to admit, heh.

 

[ImDonly1]

Yes, so in the end people buying used phones will be screwed over. Thieves will just lie on CL and say it's good to be activated. Non-techie person buys it, takes it home, finds out its banned, loses money. Lots of people won't bother calling ATT to check if its OK to be activated and I bet lots are not aware ATT started doing this. They don't even have a searchable database.

 

[jpeyton]

I can do ESN checks for Verizon phones easily.

Does AT&T offer IMEI checks?

 

[WelshBloke]

Yes, so in the end people buying used phones will be screwed over. Thieves will just lie on CL and say it's good to be activated. Non-techie person buys it, takes it home, finds out its banned, loses money. Lots of people won't bother calling ATT to check if its OK to be activated and I bet lots are not aware ATT started doing this. They don't even have a searchable database.

Thats pretty much like it works for everything else in life. Buy something stolen and you don't own it.

 

[Chocu1a]

It is part of an initiative to help ward off stolen phones, especially iphones, since those are the most stolen. I saw a report on this a while back. AT&T & T-Mobile made a pledge to start banning reported imeid's. The theory is if the phones cannot be used, it might cut down on theft. Verizon & Sprint have blocked stolen phones for ever. I am glad it is now in full effect. I see a lot of suspicious listings on craigslist all the time.

 

[Skurge]

If you buy a used phone and don't get a proof of purchase or the original packaging, then you can't blame anyone but yourself if the phone gets banned. Stolen or Not. I had my Galaxy S stolen. Asked my carrier to blacklist the IMEI. Don't know if they actually do it, I hope they do and whoever the buys it from the bastard who stole it deserves to lose their money.

 

[soccerballtux]

If you buy a used phone and don't get a proof of purchase or the original packaging, then you can't blame anyone but yourself if the phone gets banned. Stolen or Not. I had my Galaxy S stolen. Asked my carrier to blacklist the IMEI. Don't know if they actually do it, I hope they do and whoever the buys it from the bastard who stole it deserves to lose their money.

I can do ESN checks for Verizon phones easily.

Does AT&T offer IMEI checks?

yes, but that does nothing for you when the owner claims it's "stolen" a month after selling it.
1. take sim card out put in some other cheapo phone
2. sell expensive phone on craigslist
3. wait a week or two claim stolen, phone blocked/deactivated on AT&T+T-Mobile
4. receive free phone from At&T/T-mobile phone insurance!
5. craigslist buyer out to dry

enough people do this/will do this that even if nobody were stealing phones they were just doing this, it would still kill the market.
Having the original packaging isn't going to matter, what you're going to MMS AT&T a picture of it? Or the receipt...
They are quite happy to kill the used phone market now that dual core phones are the norm. Nobody needs to upgrade from that but you have to maintain the growth somehow so just lock down the market!

 

[soccerballtux]

It is part of an initiative to help ward off stolen phones, especially iphones, since those are the most stolen. I saw a report on this a while back. AT&T & T-Mobile made a pledge to start banning reported imeid's. The theory is if the phones cannot be used, it might cut down on theft. Verizon & Sprint have blocked stolen phones for ever. I am glad it is now in full effect. I see a lot of suspicious listings on craigslist all the time.

you are quite a "tool" if you believe they are doing it for your own personal benefit. That's the definition of a tool, getting used by the system and liking it.
They are trying to kill the used phone market (of which there is definitely a legitimate section) so that you have to come to them to buy the phone for full price.

 

[Dulanic]

If you buy a used phone and don't get a proof of purchase or the original packaging, then you can't blame anyone but yourself if the phone gets banned. Stolen or Not. I had my Galaxy S stolen. Asked my carrier to blacklist the IMEI. Don't know if they actually do it, I hope they do and whoever the buys it from the bastard who stole it deserves to lose their money.

While I agree with part your statement, the carrier's aren't making it easy to identify stolen phones either. They could VERY easily make a database to check but they don't. If I go to ebay and buy a used phone, I have no way to really know.

Sure I can ask for proof of purchase. But they could have also purchased it, then reported it lost for a insurance claim and I'd still be out my money.

Blame the theifs and the carriers, not the purchaser of the used phone (unless they knew).

 

[basslover1]

http://www.checkesnfree.com/index.html

That'll let you check CDMA devices, don't know if a GSM version of that site exists though.

I would think if you are buying from an honest seller with a good phone, they wouldn't have a problem giving up the IMEI for a AT&T/T-Mobile device so you can call and check whether or not it can be activated.

 

[Bman123]

I don't think it makes a difference as long as you already have a sim card right?

 

[Nothinman]

Yes, so in the end people buying used phones will be screwed over. Thieves will just lie on CL and say it's good to be activated. Non-techie person buys it, takes it home, finds out its banned, loses money. Lots of people won't bother calling ATT to check if its OK to be activated and I bet lots are not aware ATT started doing this. They don't even have a searchable database.

Caveat emptor.

 

[Mopetar]

yes, but that does nothing for you when the owner claims it's "stolen" a month after selling it.
1. take sim card out put in some other cheapo phone
2. sell expensive phone on craigslist
3. wait a week or two claim stolen, phone blocked/deactivated on AT&T+T-Mobile
4. receive free phone from At&T/T-mobile phone insurance!
5. craigslist buyer out to dry

Get the receipt with it. Then you can prove it probably wasn't stolen and the asshat that said it was will probably get in massive amounts of trouble. Or buy it off eBay. Easier to trace the seller. Or when you buy it from the guy on CL, get a license plate if possible.

 

[Bman123]

I didn't have to give up any phone info when I started straight talk with my infuse 4g, you buy a sim card and activate the sim card not the phone. I'm sure you can use a stolen phone with straight talk

 

[soccerballtux]

http://www.checkesnfree.com/index.html

That'll let you check CDMA devices, don't know if a GSM version of that site exists though.

I would think if you are buying from an honest seller with a good phone, they wouldn't have a problem giving up the IMEI for a AT&T/T-Mobile device so you can call and check whether or not it can be activated.

doesn't stop them from claiming stolen/lost after the purchase for insurance

 

[Bman123]

You guys really blow this out of proportion. If you buy a cdma phone you can't activate it unless its off the original line and not in use. So you activate the phone before you hand over the cash, its pretty simple.

If your worried about buying used just meet them at the damn carrier store and do it all inside at the register.

 

[Chocu1a]

you are quite a "tool" if you believe they are doing it for your own personal benefit. That's the definition of a tool, getting used by the system and liking it.
They are trying to kill the used phone market (of which there is definitely a legitimate section) so that you have to come to them to buy the phone for full price.

Used phones with clean imeid's can still be used. Saw this on Dateline. In fact, AT&T really didn't want to . More work on their end keeping up with all the imeid's #.
Again, this is not trying to stop second hand phone sales. Any clean used phone is unaffected. Only reported stolen phones are being blocked from their network.

 

[Dulanic]

http://www.checkesnfree.com/index.html

That'll let you check CDMA devices, don't know if a GSM version of that site exists though.

I would think if you are buying from an honest seller with a good phone, they wouldn't have a problem giving up the IMEI for a AT&T/T-Mobile device so you can call and check whether or not it can be activated.

I don't trust that site. It says my IMEI is not clean... that's bullshit considering I am using it now and I bought it new.

 

[WelshBloke]

doesn't stop them from claiming stolen/lost after the purchase for insurance

Get a signed receipt?

 

[QueBert]

I don't trust that site. It says my IMEI is not clean... that's bullshit considering I am using it now and I bought it new.

Will say that if the phones currently activated, all that site's doing is checking if the phone is clear to be activated.

 

[Dulanic]

Will say that if the phones currently activated, all that site's doing is checking if the phone is clear to be activated.

Hm, good to know.

 

[ImDonly1]

I didn't have to give up any phone info when I started straight talk with my infuse 4g, you buy a sim card and activate the sim card not the phone. I'm sure you can use a stolen phone with straight talk

You don't have to give up phone info, you put the sim card in and the carrier can tell what phone it's in.

And no you can't use stolen phones on ST anymore. Did you not read any of the first post or the title? The whole first post was about ST blocking a stolen phone.