Can't register iPhone 5.

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

I bought a iPhone 5 off someone off Craigslist and it was brand new in the box and had the plastic and everything. He activated it for me with his SIM card to show me everything worked properly. Now that I need to get my phone activated I went to AT&T and picked up a brand new SIM card and they told me to call in order to activate the SIM card. When I called they asked me for the IMEI of the iPhone and I gave it to them. When they tried to link the iPhone under my account they said that someone already has that iPhone under there account and they can't do anything until they call to remove it. So then I called the guy I bought the phone off of and explained the situation and he said that they had told him that he had to wait 10 days before he could remove the device from his account. How can I get the SIM card working on my iPhone 5? I've been through 3days without a phone and I need to activate it already

youngjm · ‎05-02-2003

Victor607835 wrote:
I bought a iPhone 5 off someone off Craigslist and it was brand new in the box and had the plastic and everything. He activated it for me with his SIM card to show me everything worked properly. Now that I need to get my phone activated I went to AT&T and picked up a brand new SIM card and they told me to call in order to activate the SIM card. When I called they asked me for the IMEI of the iPhone and I gave it to them. When they tried to link the iPhone under my account they said that someone already has that iPhone under there account and they can't do anything until they call to remove it. So then I called the guy I bought the phone off of and explained the situation and he said that they had told him that he had to wait 10 days before he could remove the device from his account. How can I get the SIM card working on my iPhone 5? I've been through 3days without a phone and I need to activate it already

Sounds like you need to wait for the 10 days to be up and have the seller remove the device then.

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Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

I guess your right. But why does it take 10 days to be able to remove the device?

youngjm · ‎05-02-2003

Victor607835 wrote:
I guess your right. But why does it take 10 days to be able to remove the device?

I was not aware of the wait but it may be to slow down the churn of folks buying iPhones then selling them online. ATT would probably prefer that you get your phone from them. They know what you are are getting and it reduces the chances of a scam? These folks just make those who order from them wait longer to get an iPhone when they are only doing this to make a few extra bucks.

Had you bought your iPHone from ATT or Apple, you would have probably had a contract but you also would be using a phone now vs waiting 10 days......

_____________________

For service or support questions including existing order status, call:
Customer Support: 1-800-331-0500

Information on iPhone unlocking can be found here by copying this link into your browser:
http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U3260825

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

I do have a contract. I needed to get a new SIM card though since it uses the nano sim. But I was going to get it from AT&T but I am not elligable for the upgrade yet since I got my contract last year with the iPhone 4S. I was wondering if I can activate the SIM card I got with the info of a older phone like a iPhone 3GS and just put the sim in my iPhone 5. Would It work?

cousintim · ‎05-24-2005

So buying it from a stranger on Craigslist was cheaper than the early upgrade price?

Facci · ‎11-30-2005

iPhone 5 uses a nano sim unlike the iPhone 4 & 4S which use a micro sim which unlike all the previous iPhones that use a regular aim. So it won't work.

sandblaster · ‎08-15-2006

Facci wrote:
iPhone 5 uses a nano sim unlike the iPhone 4 & 4S which use a micro sim which unlike all the previous iPhones that use a regular aim. So it won't work.

With a sim adapter a nano sim should work fine in a 4 or 4s.

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

Yeah but I mean just telling them that I'm going to use another iPhone just to get service on the SIM card. And then putting the SIM card on my iPhone 5. Will that work? Because I have a old 3GS that no one uses anymore and I could try activating the SIM card with that IMEI and use it on the iPhone 5?

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

Yeah I payed $600 for the iPhone. And to get the phone from AT&T I would of had to pay $700+

jane697 · ‎09-18-2012

cousintim wrote:
So buying it from a stranger on Craigslist was cheaper than the early upgrade price?

Apparently so, given OP's response...

Facci · ‎11-30-2005

But the OP can't stick a regular SIM card into an iPhone 5. He would have to cut his SIM card.

iFrosty · ‎07-20-2009

And honestly thats not worth it considering the 5 has LTE. They would need a compatible LTE SIM card as well

cousintim · ‎05-24-2005

jane697 wrote:
cousintim wrote:
So buying it from a stranger on Craigslist was cheaper than the early upgrade price?
Apparently so, given OP's response...

If these are the early upgrade (6+ months into plan) prices, the math is a bit dubious:

iPhone 5 16GB – $449
iPhone 5 32GB – $549
iPhone 5 64GB – $649

iFrosty · ‎07-20-2009

I think the underlying issue is that they didnt want to sign another 2 yr?

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

Yes thats true. But I mean I already got the Nano Sim for the iPhone 5. And I was wondering if I can call in and activate the nano sim with the info of my old 3GS info and just put the nano sim in my iPhone 5 and be able to use the service?

Facci · ‎11-30-2005

According to your original post, it doesn't sound like the SIM card was ever activated. I'm wondering why they just didn't do all this in the store?

cousintim · ‎05-24-2005

Facci wrote:
According to your original post, it doesn't sound like the SIM card was ever activated. I'm wondering why they just didn't do all this in the store?

Because some people make their own problems.

Victor607835 · ‎11-27-2012

They told me to call AT&T and get it activated. And I was able to activate the nano sim with the 3GS info and everything is working properly on my iPhone 5, except for the LTE.

MR_SMiT · ‎04-23-2011

Do you have a iPhone LTE 4G data plan added to your wireless account, this sounds obvious, but in settings turn LTE on?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

MR_SMiT wrote:

Do you have a iPhone LTE 4G data plan added to your wireless account, this sounds obvious, but in settings turn LTE on?

mpre importantly are they in a area that has LTE coverage

MR_SMiT · ‎04-23-2011

wingrider01 wrote:
MR_SMiT wrote:
Do you have a iPhone LTE 4G data plan added to your wireless account, this sounds obvious, but in settings turn LTE on?
mpre importantly are they in a area that has LTE coverage

I'm being sarcastic. To the OP, if you are not in LTE coverage, will you pay ETF and switch to Verizon because they have more LTE service? Apple designed on CDMA iPhone 5 LTE, nobody can do call and do data at the same time. I do not have AT&T LTE coverage where I live, but no problem. Internet is fast then previous smartphones I had!