Do retailers/networks know/care if you sell the phone?

Anon

This may have been covered previously, but out of interest, if you take out a contract or upgrade and sell the new phone (because you are happy with your existing phone), is there a way for retailers to find out? Or indeed if you simply decide to use the sim in another phone?

Clearly some offers/upgrades are good deals with cashback or other incentives, but I have seen in some T&Cs the mention that you have to be on the same tariff, with the same phone, or you invalidate your cashback/incentive - do networks and retailers share this information? Has anyone been caught out by this? When would it be safe to sell (or do you wait until your contract has run through)?

Many thanks

Anon

Jon_01

The networks don't care what you do with the phone, with the one proviso that if you have insurance its only valid if the sim is used in the phone it was issued with.

esuhl

I have heard anecdotal evidence (on web forums) from a few people who have had problems. The networks can detect the IMEI (serial) number of the phone. They do this primarily to block phones that have been reported stolen.

However, I've done this a couple of times and not had any problems personally.

Read the terms & conditions - if nothing is mentioned, I think you would have a good case against them if they later tried to enforce such a restriction.

movilogo

When networks sell phones, they know the IMEI + SIM combination.

Now if you sell the phone (but keep the SIM to you), then report your SIM as lost/stolen, then the corresponding IMEI is also blacklisted.

Suddenly your phone's buyer will find they can no longer use his/her phone

drbesty

The phone doesn't form part of your mobile contract, you can do whatever you like with it, sell it, set fire to it, it doesnt matter what you do with it it's yours. Your network is only responsible for providing you with a working SIM

Anon

Thank you for your replies - I thought as much. I'm sure that I have read it somewhere else as well, but Mobiles.co.uk state that one of the reasons for non-payment of cashback is if, "You do not remain on the original tariff with the original handset and number (or ported)", therefore, it seems a strange term - could they tell as you wouldn't want to invalidate your cashback?

Anon