Activation imei issues

You need to use the sim card that came with the phone.

Let's get your phone activated, Ragincajunx02 !

We'd like to gather a few more details from you to help us figure out why you're receiving an error code when attempting to activate your phone.

• Are you trying to activate a new phone you purchased from AT&T or a third party, what is the name of the third party? We're trying to figure out if the error is caused by the service or device. 
• Where did you purchase your SIM? You want to always use a compatible SIM and use the one that came with your device.
• How are you trying to activate your device? Is this for new or existing service? Make sure you're using the AT&T PREPAID portal. We may have to update the IMEI on your account.

Please return with more details as this information will be helpful to us.

Jonye, AT&T Community Specialist

I am having similar issue. I am trying to unlock my phone. I own the phone outright but system says my imei is not one associated with my account.  I have had this problem & no solution since before Xmas 2021. My LEGAL RIGHTS TO BE ABLE TO USE MY OWN PHONE ARE BEING VIOLATED by ATT.

Request it as a non customer

@vsuther7

Completely unrelated to the original post 🤦🏼‍♀️

If you're not using the phone on AT&T, then you would request the unlock as a non customer.

If the phone was replaced with warranty or Insurance, the IMEI does not match the original on your account. 

It's also possible the phone is not an AT&T phone, and therefore not locked to AT&T.

I have more or less the same issue.  I purchased a Calypso 2 ATT prepaid phone with sim installed and purchased a $45.00 plan from Family Dollar.  I purchased this phone because ATT locked my cell phone, I think because I tried too many times to get a new sim card activated with new service.

I have been without a working phone for almost a week.  Ihave two phones one on the monthly plan that includes an iPad line and internet line.  This is just the beginning of ATT destroying their reputation.  Not customer service, I couldn’t ask for better service on line or in the ATT store.  The problem obviously lies with ATT sim cards and ATT not recognizing IMEI Numbers straight off the back of the phone.  That is an ATT data entry problem as I see it.  I have been trying to get phone service, internet and data plan with ATT since Jan 3.   No one can seem to straighten out the ATT post paid or prepaid accounts.  I have had customer service reps who have spent an hour even 2.5 hours trying to fix the problem whatever it is.  I can’t call ATT, I have 2 phones and neither work, because I have an ipad and a smart phone they can’t send me a message.  I am almost to the point of cancelling ATT and finding another service provider. 

I want it understood, these problems having nothing to do with customer service, I couldn’t ask for better service, people have really tried to help.  

But if someone can provide insight I would surely appreciate it.

@Beagles_Boykins

There's an awful lot of information in your post, but I can't say it's useful as is.   Something tells me it's going to take a great deal of detangling.

Let's start here... 

purchased this phone because ATT locked my cell phone,

Explain?    What do you mean when you say they locked your cell phone? And what do you mean when you say you tried to activate it with a different SIM card and new service? 

   If you have a phone that's being financed on a different AT&T service plan you cannot use it somewhere else. Not even if it's still being paid for legitimately. This is relatively new but it's been a policy for a long time, AT&T is just now enforcing it. So for example if someone gets a free phone deal on decides to give or sell the phone to someone using a different service plan with AT&T, AT&T will prohibit activation of the phone on the other account. It's fraud prevention. 

https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1509747

The problem obviously lies with ATT sim cards and ATT not recognizing IMEI Numbers straight off the back of the phone. 

What do you mean here? 

I can’t call ATT, I have 2 phones and neither work, because I have an ipad and a smart phone they can’t send me a message

And this too?