There is a Mobile Phone Blacklist!

matelodave

I'm wondering why you feel Vodafone should feel your wrath.
You didn't buy the phone from them, they didn't block it, they gave you another sim to try and suggested that you had a faulty phone.
It wasn't up to them to sort out a problem with a phone that you didn't buy from them. Possibly all they could have done is tell you who to contact about finding out who did the unblocking assuming that they were aware that it had been blocked. Did you give them your IMEI and serial numbers? and ask them to check
What other help do you think they could have given you?


Generally if you get a cracking deal there's a catch somewhere and you should have been a bit wary of buying from an unnamed company even if it was via Amazon - why aren't you venting your anger at them.

spannerzone

Yup in this case Vodafone are completely not to blame...I'm not sure what else they can do for you, they can't un-blacklist the phone, they can't tell you why (but it's likely that it was reported stolen or such like) and they can't do a lot more. What more do you expect them to do on a phone they didn't supply or blacklist?

You got a phone that has since been blacklisted, unfortunately it's the seller that is responsible and they've scarpered (I wonder why!) - if you paid by credit card I'd take the matter up with them.

bgty

I don't think it would be a typo, I think you've been scammed. So sorry for you both.

DCFC79

spannerzone wrote: »

Yup in this case Vodafone are completely not to blame...I'm not sure what else they can do for you, they can't un-blacklist the phone, they can't tell you why (but it's likely that it was reported stolen or such like) and they can't do a lot more. What more do you expect them to do on a phone they didn't supply or blacklist?

You got a phone that has since been blacklisted, unfortunately it's the seller that is responsible and they've scarpered (I wonder why!) - if you paid by credit card I'd take the matter up with them.

The OP used a Santander Debit Card.

matelodave

Never ever use a debit card for on-line payments as it gives access to your bank account. Far better using a credit card where you've got more protection.

spannerzone

DCFC79 wrote: »

The OP used a Santander Debit Card.

Oh I missed that..... that's a pain then.

AlanMoneySavingMan

Thanks to the help provided here this issue has inched forward.

By using the service offered by Recipero we have established that the phone's IMEI was blacklisted by T-Mobile (a network we have never used - since they offer almost zero coverage in our home area). They block the phone on 20th June.

We are writing to them to ask them why. I'll update you on whatever response we get.

Thanks Again.
Alan T

d123

AlanMoneySavingMan wrote: »

We are writing to them to ask them why. I'll update you on whatever response we get.

Thanks Again.
Alan T

Don't be surprised if they refuse to supply any information as the DPA will prevent them discussing the account of the original owner of the phone with you.

The only way they may help is if you supply a copy of your invoice from the Amazon reseller showing when you bought the phone (hopefully detailing the IMEI) and asked them to confirm if they could have blacklisted the IMEI in error.

AlanMoneySavingMan

Well the phone was brand new when we got it so there is no previous owner - but I see your point. We will include the purchase receipt too, but no, that does not have the IMEI number on it.

ste_wilko

If T-Mobile are unwilling to help it may well be worth giving your local police a call (obviously on a non emergency number) or popping in to your local nick. It's likely that the phone was reported stolen for the purpose of insurance. If it was then the insurance company would have advised the original owner to obtain a crime reference number for their claim to be processed.

The person reporting it blatantly made a false report, to the insurance company and the police and it won't be taken lightly.

They have defrauded you and they have defrauded their insurance company/T-mobile.

They may also be regulars at this, so it could be a good find for the police (they won't look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to potential crime detections).

As for your question with regards to could it be a typo, well the answer is near on impossible. It would be a very, very long shot to change 1 digit of the IMEI by mistake and it go through. The reason for this is because IMEI numbers are comprised of 14 digits + 1 check digit. The check digit is created using something called Mod 10 and is created from the Mod 10 calculation of the other 14 digits of the IMEI (So is the long number on your bank and credit cards, the last digit being the check digit)