IMEI BAR

katy_bee

Hi I purchased a phone from tesco via my upgrade - it's an iphone 13 - but it has a bar on it.  Tesco are saying its a 3rd party bar and apple said tesco put it on.  Can anyone help?  I have spent hours on the phone trying to sort this out

flaneurs_lobster

If Tesco have sold you a phone that won't work, regardless of the reason, then return it for a refund/replacement.

katy_bee

Yeah i have asked them, they wont let me do that either, I'm not sure what to do now.  My Bills are up to date, no arrears on my account either.  

Jon_01

You need to find out why the bar is there.

If it's a unpaid bill then you need to chase the Tesco billing team to find out why and get them to lift it if you're paid up.
If it's a lost/stolen bar then then you need find why and if someone at Tesco has entered the wrong IMEI at some point. You'll need a team leader or above to resolve that.
If it's a fraud dept bar then it's not going to be lifted until they have completed their investigation (for whatever reasons they're running it). Fraud are none customer facing, so you have little chance of talking to them.

The front line agents should be able to tell you the reason for the bar. Go from there. 

flaneurs_lobster

I've heard of bars being placed on new phones when the terms of trade-ins were not met (the traded-in phone wasn't returned or didn't match the description given). Other than that, the new phone has either been reported stolen or there is some outstanding monies somewhere in the deal and the finance company have pulled the plug.

Or, of course, it could all be a mistake/!!!!!!-up/typo. 

katy_bee

Thank you all.