7 replies to this topic

[colinp_uk]

Hi,

Just bought a used Compact II (unlocked) from eBay.

After inserting my Vodafone sim card, I can send/receive texts but cannot make or receive calls.

When I try to dial out, I just get a <ding> <ding> <ding> and the call is ended (duration 0:00).
Whe I try to call the phone, I just get a 'Network Error'.

Tried a Virgin Pay As You Go sim and get the same problem except when I try to call the phone, I get a 'this phone is currently not receiving calls' message.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Colin.

[fluffcat1]

A typical barred phone symptom I'm afraid - the only way to be sure is ring t-mob customer services and check the imei. Virgin is a virtual network of t-mob, so if any was going to work wothout having to mess around with settngs it would've been that one.

I'd get back onto the seller pronto.

Richard

[colinp_uk]

fluffcat1, on Mar 7 2006, 17:31, said:

A typical barred phone symptom I'm afraid - the only way to be sure is ring t-mob customer services and check the imei. Virgin is a virtual network of t-mob, so if any was going to work wothout having to mess around with settngs it would've been that one.

I'd get back onto the seller pronto.

Richard

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, that's what I thought - cheers  :cry:

[fluffcat1]

colinp_uk, on Mar 7 2006, 19:02, said:

Yeah, that's what I thought - cheers  :cry:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you paid using paypal initiate a dispute *now* - don't give them time to remove the funds to their bank account. Also, perhaps contact your card providor. Get the sellers name and address, contact t-mobile to confirm they were the original owner of the device, then contact the police as the seller is handling stolen goods.

EDIT: Keep the packaging too, as if sent recorded / special delivery it will have their return address on it to prove that they sent you the item.

Richard

Edited by fluffcat1, 07 March 2006 - 06:22 PM.

[colinp_uk]

I contacted T-Mobile who, to be quite honest, were quite helpful.
They said the IMEI is already registered and need a password to access the details.

Obviously I didn't have the password but after talking to them they did say that there is a good chance that the phone is locked.

The fact that I can still send/receive texts but not calls, is this normal on a barred phone? I would have thought texts would have been stopped to?

I have been in contact with the seller and he says he will give me a full refund.

He is adamant the phone is not barred and that he suspects the phone may have been damaged in transit.

He says he has contacted the previous owner of the phone (who had it from new) and they are going to contact T-Mobile to check if/why it is barred.

The seller has good feedback - would never buy such an expensive item from someone who has very little feedback.

I still have the original packaging with the persons return address on it.

I did pay via PayPal and Visa so I suspect I will be protected regardless as to whether the seller has transferred funds?

I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he comes back with today.

Colin.

[colinp_uk]

Further update (in case anyone is interested - may give you a laugh if nothing else!).

Contacted PayPal and raised a dispute.

Funnily enough I then had an email from the seller saying that he would never knowingly sell stolen goods although he has used the phone, he only ever texted. on it so did not realise it was barred.
If I send it back now he will give me a refund and he will contact the police etc.

Sounding a bit desperate isn't he?

I've told him that if he is prepared to credit my PayPal account with the full amount first, I will return the goods to him so he can 'contact' the police etc.

Otherwise PayPal can sort it.

Colin.

[kaf]

There is a certain logic to allowing stolen barred phones to send texts but not make calls because I beleive there are some ROM based programs availalbe that can send texts to a pre-defined number if stolen (ie the number of the SIM now in the phone)

Would be particularly good if enhanced to send location info with a phone with GPS in it

[colinp_uk]

Just to round the story off.

Returned the phone and got my money back from the seller. I think he genuinely didn't know it was stolen.

The same night, won another auction for a brand new MDA II (£40 cheaper than what I got the previous used phone for!) and am glad to say it works fine.

Thanks to everyone who replied to this topic.

Colin.