Avoid Blacklisted IMEI and how to add a phone to an account?

[moalsamman]

I'm in the market for buying a used phone and would like to know if I can use self serve or buy just message a mod to add it using the IMEI to my account. I want to make sure that at the time of the transaction with the seller I can add the phone to my public mobile account so the seller doesn't report it lost and scam me and insurance company. By adding the phone I would be the owner and only I can then report it lost or stolen in the future if it does unfortuntatly get stolen. If I recall correctly Rogers does that with it's self serve because when we had a family plan we can see what devices we had registered with the IMEI number. 

[Luddite]

@moalsamman Try here for used phones warranted against being blacklisted: https://www.getorchard.com

Otherwise, you're only completely safe with family and friends who bought the phone new. Just remembered that Koodo sometimes sells refurbs; you just need to factor the cost of a 3 month plan.

[computergeek541]

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@moalsamman wrote:

Can the carrier still blacklist it if it is was sold directly from manufacturer? For example, Apple or Google phones factory unlocked.

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Yes, they can.

All it takes it for a the customer to request it.  Carriers keep track of the device IMEI numbers that connect to the network.

There is no 100% safe way to buy a used phone with no possibility of ever being blacklisted.  If you are unconortable with that risk, don't buy.  On that note, factor in that risk into the price you are willing to pay.  It is possible to get a great buy on a used device and not run into any problems.

[moalsamman]

Can the carrier still blacklist it if it is was sold directly from manufacturer? For example, Apple or Google phones factory unlocked.

[will13am]

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@Dunkman wrote:

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@moalsamman wrote:

So what your saying is when buying a used phone ensure that

1 its been fully paid off if it was on a contract

2 ensure the person selling it is the original owner

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Yes, that would help.  But, the person selling could still later claim that the phone was lost or stolen later.  Buyer beware on any Kijiji, Craiglist deals...  

You can do some more online research to try to lessen your chance of buying a blacklisted phone, but it can happen even if you are well prepared.  

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This is a risk of buying a used phone.  To the source carrier, they only have official documentation that the phone was sold to the original buyer.  If that buyer asks for the phone to be blacklisted, the carrier will do it.  I have bought a phone from Telus that my son lost.  I called Telus and told them that I want to phone placed in the blacklist due to it being lost.  They were able to confirm that I was the purchaser.  They sought no other information before taking my direction.  Imagine an unscrupoulos person having phone insurance reporting their phone lost to collect on the policy.  Things like this do happen. 

[Dunkman]

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@moalsamman wrote:

So what your saying is when buying a used phone ensure that

1 its been fully paid off if it was on a contract

2 ensure the person selling it is the original owner

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Yes, that would help.  But, the person selling could still later claim that the phone was lost or stolen later.  Buyer beware on any Kijiji, Craiglist deals...  

You can do some more online research to try to lessen your chance of buying a blacklisted phone, but it can happen even if you are well prepared.  

[moalsamman]

So what your saying is when buying a used phone ensure that

1 its been fully paid off if it was on a contract

2 ensure the person selling it is the original owner

[will13am]

@moalsamman, that's not how ownership is established.  The phone can be blacklisted because the person who took possession of the device from an issuing carrier failed to abide by the terms of the contract.  As a result, that carrier takes action by blocking the phone from being usable in North America.  You are not the owner just because you have the phone IMEI.  My suggestion is buy from reliable sources and when it's a too good to be true deal, run away.  That said, online sites like Kijiji and Craigslist are full of doubtful sellers.  My best defense against this kind of thing is to buy reasonably priced hardware so I don't have to buy second hand. 

[computergeek541]

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@moalsamman wrote:

I'm in the market for buying a used phone and would like to know if I can use self serve or buy just message a mod to add it using the IMEI to my account. I want to make sure that at the time of the transaction with the seller I can add the phone to my public mobile account so the seller doesn't report it lost and scam me and insurance company. By adding the phone I would be the owner and only I can then report it lost or stolen in the future if it does unfortuntatly get stolen. If I recall correctly Rogers does that with it's self serve because when we had a family plan we can see what devices we had registered with the IMEI number. 

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There is absolutely no way to gurantee that when you purchased a used phone, that it won't somehow get blacklisted.

The only thing checking the blacklist database does it tell you if the IMEI is on the blacklist at that very moment.

Not only do devices get added to the blacklist by mistake, carriers also often blacklist because an account holder doesn't pay a bill, which honestly, they aren't supposed to do.  The other obvious possibility would be that the phone was either found or even outright stolen. Generaly, original box with matching device IMEI is a good sign, but as a said before, there are no guarantees.

There isn't a need to add a phone to your account.  As soon as you connect to the network, Public Mobile knows the IMEI.