T-Mobile iPhone help

stokecity_m · 29 Oct 2011 at 20:25

just to note i did advise against purchasing said iPhone.

A friend of mine has purchased a T-Mobile iPhone off his work mate.
The phone was a contract phone that he just decided to stop paying.

He's installed a new t-mobile sim card and it doesn't work.
Has/can t-mobile block the phone due to the contract being unpaid etc?

Cheers in advance.

muon · 29 Oct 2011 at 20:27

There will be no way of getting the phone to work in the UK afaik.

The phone was subsidised by T-Mobile and that's why they can block it.

This is why you should be very careful in purchasing second hand phones.

stokecity_m · 29 Oct 2011 at 20:29

anyon said:
There will be no way of getting the phone to work in the UK afaik.

The phone was subsidised by T-Mobile and that's why they can block it.

i thought as much.

He's going to contact t-mobile to try and confirm they are blocking it.

Worst thing is, he paid £200 for it - it's only a 3gs 8gb.

muon · 29 Oct 2011 at 20:31

stokecity_m said:
i thought as much.

He's going to contact t-mobile to try and confirm they are blocking it.

Worst thing is, he paid £200 for it - it's only a 3gs 8gb.

I'm surprised we don't hear more of things like this happening. I suppose most people don't like trashing their credit record over a few hundred pounds.

stokecity_m · 29 Oct 2011 at 20:36

ok just been updated,

Apparently the iphone was refurbished and has not been used since, could t-mobile still block it?

Jimbeam3678 · 30 Oct 2011 at 00:33

I always thought the phone was the persons to do what they want with? Even if they default on monthly bills. The mobile phone provider can't lock down the phone ? Or can they ?

stokecity_m · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:26

not sure.

stokecity_m · 30 Oct 2011 at 21:13

still waiting to hear off him about t-mobile

DIABLO · 30 Oct 2011 at 21:32

Almost certain a phone is only blocked if it is reported stolen.

smyth · 30 Oct 2011 at 21:45

DIABLO said:
Almost certain a phone is only blocked if it is reported stolen.

The guy who sold it could've reported it as stolen after selling it so they could claim it on insurance.

Might be worth ringing T-mobile and seeing why they've blocked that IMEI number.

Myshra · 31 Oct 2011 at 09:05

divaboy said:
I always thought the phone was the persons to do what they want with? Even if they default on monthly bills. The mobile phone provider can't lock down the phone ? Or can they ?

Depends, it's all in the contract and they vary (even to today). OP - even if it was a refurb that changes nothing, that just means it was a refurb, nothing special.

I'm learning on the side of insurance fraud though, it's more common than you'd think.