Anyway to stop a phone being barred?

DoubleCheese · 23 Nov 2011 at 15:59

I'm toying with buying a used SG Note but worried if it gets barred. Is it possible to find out if its a PAYG or Contract phone from the IMEI number? Would the Networks be interested if I told them I'm buying this phone, it hasn't been stolen, please don't block it and get taken for insurance scam?

Wishful thinking?

woodpigeon4 · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:55

Afraid that's definitely wishful thinking. You can ask the seller for the IMEI and pay a company called checkmend to see if it's blocked, but if it gets blocked after you've bought it there's very little you can do.

Django x2 · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:57

Apart from sell it on abroad (if it gets blocked after you've bought it). Currently the phone bar database is only UK based.

woodpigeon4 · 23 Nov 2011 at 19:03

Lucero said:
Apart from sell it on abroad (if it gets blocked after you've bought it). Currently the phone bar database is only UK based.

I'm fairly sure that's illegal as blocked phones are classed as stolen goods

Django x2 · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:56

This is true, (or insurance scams), but if it did become blocked after he received it, and has no recourse from the seller, his options are probably limited to selling it abroad, or Mazuma!

DoubleCheese · 24 Nov 2011 at 07:18

Would a phone recycler like Mazuma still buy it If it got blocked?

go.mole · 24 Nov 2011 at 09:12

It's illegal to block a phone once you've sold it. There are lots of warnings about doing this in shops like CEX, I've sold a few phones to them.

I would presume if it was blocked after you got it you could report it to the police, don't know if they'd actually do anything for you though.

Myshra · 24 Nov 2011 at 09:13

DoubleCheese said:
Would a phone recycler like Mazuma still buy it If it got blocked?

Mazuma will check to see if it's blocked and tell you not to send, others will take the mobile and destroy / confiscate it.

matt100 · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:46

considering its such a new device is the saving suspiciously high on a brand new one?

if not, just buy new, new warranty, no issues.