galaxyS2 bought off Ebay 4 months ago and does not work now

Sgt_Pepper_2

Can you take it somewhere to be unlocked?

It would however mean you are handing stolen goods so you should sort it properly.

northernsoul

I think this is different to the normal unlocking of networks. The actual phone is locked and i would guess it would be locked using any provider and be on a central database for all to see. Otherwise ,any scum who stole a phone could get it unlocked.
Thanks for everyones suggestions. Will try and phone Virgin and ask why it was possible to reactivate it the first time and why not now. Will go to police if neccesary

Sgt_Pepper_2

northernsoul wrote: »

I think this is different to the normal unlocking of networks. The actual phone is locked and i would guess it would be locked using any provider and be on a central database for all to see. Otherwise ,any scum who stole a phone could get it unlocked.
Thanks for everyones suggestions. Will try and phone Virgin and ask why it was possible to reactivate it the first time and why not now. Will go to police if neccesary

I would phone the police and report it. Get a log number and then go back when you get nowhere with the service provider. Before they come knocking on your door.

kwikbreaks

scottishblondie wrote: »

Unfortunately I believe (and if I'm wrong, please correct me) that because you went via PayPal, the introduction of the 3rd party means that the card provider won't be interested.

Mine was and I got a CC refund for return postage when I had a problem getting it back on a faulty item I'd bought from a US seller. It maybe depends on just how good your CC company customer service is of course. The CC company gets the money back from PayPal. How they get it back from their customer is up to them.

BigRonW

Sounds to me (who used to work for Orange) that what's happened is that the seller had a Pay Monthly contract with Virgin, renewed it, got a "free upgrade" phone, which he/she put on Ebay, while continuing to use the previous phone... and then for some reason stopped paying the monthly bill. This WOULD result in Virgin blocking the phone until such time as the outstanding bill is paid. Making a token payment to Virgin would result in it being unblocked... until the seller failed to pay the bill again.

I put MY "old" phones on Ebay whenever I get a free upgrade, and I always make a point of mentioning that the phone I'm selling is now OUT OF CONTRACT - and that therefore, even if I stop paying the bill, the "old" phone that I'm selling won't be affected. Buying a NEW phone from a private individual that's locked to a particular network (i.e. has been sourced from that network, probably as an "upgrade") is - quite clearly - frought with danger. What becomes "your" phone becomes a hostage to the contract holder paying their bill!

northernsoul

BigRonW Your explanation sounds pretty good to me. Would best explain why it was unblocked.
Not sure where to go now, if this is the case, but will attempt to get more info from Virginmobile, especially if it is on contract.
Thanks to everybody for their help and suggestions. Will post what, if anything, happens

Trillionaire

And MAKE A CLAIM VIA YOUR CREDIT CARD! I mean, what can it hurt? You're already expecting a 'NO' so if you get a 'YES' that'll be a bonus. Surely it's worth a try?

kwikbreaks

Trillionaire wrote: »

And MAKE A CLAIM VIA YOUR CREDIT CARD! I mean, what can it hurt? You're already expecting a 'NO' so if you get a 'YES' that'll be a bonus. Surely it's worth a try?

Spot on....

northernsoul

Trillionare You are right, of course. No harm in trying.

ellie14

This happened to my D/D,we trailed all over trying to get it fixed ,we had the sellers name and address, had put it in the sat nav,we were told the phone stolen fraud etc but we did not think this to be right,we went to the same shop the phone had come from with a print out from Ebay to say we had bought it from the seller as an upgraded phone .
Phones 4 u faxed our details through to the fraud dept ,yes they do have one took weeks to find that out, and within the hour the phone was unlocked .
Said there were so many reasons a phone could become locked its a nightmare.