AT&T sold me a stolen phone?! - Purchased refurbished Iphone 5 Issues

jalee916 · ‎01-03-2013

I purchased a refurbished iphone 5 from the premier store during Black Friday. I've been using it for 3 weeks now and all of a sudden my network was blocked by at&t because it has been reported stolen!

I called at&t and they said there was some issue that didn't deactivated the previous user to mines and would need to resolve this for 5 days to clear the IMEI for me to use.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Basically AT&T sold me a stolen phone which they may have gotten from some kiosk box in the mall where people can sell and drop off phones in a box!

What makes this very infuriating is the fact that I gave a call back to a "Cara/Kara" and told her that I cannot wait that long without using a phone and she said she cannot help me. I AM PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT I CANNOT USE. Continuously as a provider you try to your best to provide a workable solution for the customer. SHE DID NOT EVEN TRIED. She could have offer me to go into a at&t store to use a phone in the meantime but she didn't. I AM OUT OF USING A PHONE FOR 5 DAYS AND PAYING FOR DATA AND PHONE DURING THIS TIME. I asked if I can talk to another person and she left me on hold instead of transferring me.

I hope AT&T read this and do something promptly for a customer like myself and train their customer service representatives!!!!!

Anyone else has this issue with their new refurbished phone purchased from black friday?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

jalee916 wrote:

I purchased a refurbished iphone 5 from the premier store during Black Friday. I've been using it for 3 weeks now and all of a sudden my network was blocked by at&t because it has been reported stolen!

I called at&t and they said there was some issue that didn't deactivated the previous user to mines and would need to resolve this for 5 days to clear the IMEI for me to use.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Basically AT&T sold me a stolen phone which they may have gotten from some kiosk box in the mall where people can sell and drop off phones in a box!

What makes this very infuriating is the fact that I gave a call back to a "Cara/Kara" and told her that I cannot wait that long without using a phone and she said she cannot help me. I AM PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT I CANNOT USE. Continuously as a provider you try to your best to provide a workable solution for the customer. SHE DID NOT EVEN TRIED. She could have offer me to go into a at&t store to use a phone in the meantime but she didn't. I AM OUT OF USING A PHONE FOR 5 DAYS AND PAYING FOR DATA AND PHONE DURING THIS TIME. I asked if I can talk to another person and she left me on hold instead of transferring me.

I hope AT&T read this and do something promptly for a customer like myself and train their customer service representatives!!!!!

Anyone else has this issue with their new refurbished phone purchased from black friday?

"I called at&t and they said there was some issue that didn't deactivated the previous user to mines and would need to resolve this for 5 days to clear the IMEI for me to use."

that does not seem to indicate that the phone was stolen, just that an issue with the previous owner when it was deactivated.

In any respect I would recommend that you send a Private Message to ATTCustomerCare is part of the AT&T customer service team, They may be able to resolve your Issue. You can expect a reply via return PM between the hours of 7am-10pm CST.

This is a peer to peer forum and the above way is the best method of getting support for an issue

jalee916 · ‎01-03-2013

But why would it suspend my use? In order for it to be suspended the previous user have to call in to suspend it.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

jalee916 wrote:

But why would it suspend my use? In order for it to be suspended the previous user have to call in to suspend it.

no idea, the new blacklist policy just came into affect not to long ago - if the phone was on a family plan consisting of "friends" and there was a dispute, the primary holder may have called it in, if on a family plan that th priamry went through a messy seperation anyone authorized on the account could have called it in. In both case the person that called it in may not have been aware that the phone was no longer in the original owners hands.

They would not have to call in to suspend, they would just have to call it to report it stolen, the imei number is the primary item needed and that is on the box

jalee916 · ‎01-03-2013

I am on a family plan and the primary holder never called in to report it stolen. I've reactivated it online, but then 30 minutes later it was deactivated again. I'm not sure if I'm understanding your reason. Are you talking about the previous owner? Anywho, I think this is a waste of time. I still have not received a called back from at&t. I JUST WANT A WORKING PHONE NOW. THE EASIEST SOLUTION IS TO JUST PROVIDE A NEW/REFURB IPHONE SO I DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS PARTICULAR MATTER TO BE RESOLVED. IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, BUT AT&T'S.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

jalee916 wrote:

I am on a family plan and the primary holder never called in to report it stolen. I've reactivated it online, but then 30 minutes later it was deactivated again. I'm not sure if I'm understanding your reason. Are you talking about the previous owner? Anywho, I think this is a waste of time. I still have not received a called back from at&t. I JUST WANT A WORKING PHONE NOW. THE EASIEST SOLUTION IS TO JUST PROVIDE A NEW/REFURB IPHONE SO I DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS PARTICULAR MATTER TO BE RESOLVED. IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, BUT AT&T'S.

Unfortuantely they will probbly not do that. I am not talking wbout your service plan, the phone was a refurb from a previous customer -

Us the PM link that I gave you