Lock somebody elses handset?

Road_Hog

Nope, it doesn't work like that.

I very much doubt that the handset is blocked, just the sim card.

You have to be able to show some proof of ownership to have a handset blocked, such as it being on contract.

Otherwise people could go around reporting anybody's handset stolen that they didn't like.

As for changing the IMEI, whilst it is relatively easy to do with the right equipment (of which I have for pretty much all makes) not many people will do it for two reasons.

One it is illegal.

Secondly whilst there are people who are happy to break the law, their motive is usually profit and someone who has stolen a secondhand phone isn't usually the sort of person who wants to pay decent money to a phoneshop/market stall to have this service done.

scope

Road_Hog wrote: »

You have to be able to show some proof of ownership to have a handset blocked, such as it being on contract.

Otherwise people could go around reporting anybody's handset stolen that they didn't like.

Well, its not quite that easy.. The sim was already registered in my name, I could answer the security questions.. The phone was used on MY sim,hence there was some sort of connection..Its not often somebody else is using your sim..But I take your point.

scope

Update: I just had an email from the buyer and it seems his girlfriends handset has been locked.. They took it to a T-mobile store who told them it had been closed due to stolen sim.

Apperently a bit of a mixup on the buyers behalf (yeah, right)..Anyway, we now know it does work, you really can block a phone even though its not yours, as long as the sim is registered to you..

I have already refunded the money to the buyer, but I expect him to make the payment again to pay for the sim.

Sid_Harper

Oh come on, are you really suggesting that the guy thought he'd just pretend he hadn't got it, and get the money back off you, but use the thing up anyway?

(I'm being sarcastic - people have tried to claim non-receipt from me before when I've sold stuff).

ianonline

Sid_Harper wrote: »

Oh come on, are you really suggesting that the guy thought he'd just pretend he hadn't got it, and get the money back off you, but use the thing up anyway?

(I'm being sarcastic - people have tried to claim non-receipt from me before when I've sold stuff).

A lesson learnt here - I must admit, I always send my eBay stuff recorded delivery for the EXACT reason outlined above. OK so it adds 70p to the postage cost and I know a lot of people say it's pointless because the are no additional guarantees or insurance, but if it prevents a person from denying that they ever received the goods, it's 70p well spent.

Ian :cool:

Sid_Harper

Yup - I do the same - learnt pretty quickly!

scope

I was offering free postage, and for the £5 he paid for the card it wasnt really worth it..

Anyway, it was not about the money, but the fact that somebody STOLE the card from me.. I do think I though him a lesson.

He paid me the outstanding money yesterday and begged me to phone T-mobile to unblock the phone - apperently he couldnt get it done himself.

So a quick phonecall to T-mobile this morning and his handset was unblocked once again.

james-73

scope wrote: »

I was offering free postage, and for the £5 he paid for the card it wasnt really worth it..

Anyway, it was not about the money, but the fact that somebody STOLE the card from me.. I do think I though him a lesson.

He paid me the outstanding money yesterday and begged me to phone T-mobile to unblock the phone - apperently he couldnt get it done himself.

So a quick phonecall to T-mobile this morning and his handset was unblocked once again.

HI,

Your too kind, i would of left it barred and lost the sim card value/sale.

We have paypal chargebacks all the time after we have unlocked/repaired phones but they get a nasty shock when there phone all of a sudden stops working. Anyone can get a phone blocked if they have the imei number, i shall not go into details but its not hard.

Not very nice i know but i'm afraid thats the only thing these sort of people understand.

Br

Sid_Harper

I'd have foud out what phone it was and charged 50% of it's eBay value for a service to provide the code to get it legally unblocked :rotfl: