[FallOutBoy]

I'm a huge fan of mobile phones and gadgets and love browsing the mobile phone classifieds on here, but am always worried about buying a used contract phone and then having the phone become blocked (due to the original user not paying their bill or claiming on their insurance). Is this a genuine concern and is there anything you can do about it if it happens?!

If I buy an iPhone that later becomes blocked what can I actually do with it/about it? And what would happen to the seller if I had their name and address and reported them to the police or something for making a false claim on their insurance?

I would buy more phones if I weren't so worried about contracts and blocking! Any info would be much appreciated, thanks

[RobM]

It's a risk, but less of a risk if you obtain the sellers personal details and you buy from a sensible place. It's why I'd never buy from eBay, but would happily buy from AVForums.

To get a phone blocked they would have had to claim it was lost or stolen and claim under their insurance. Should this happen, you could contact the network who supplied it (who are the only people who could block it) and explain that you bought it fairly and provide them their details. It will be investigated and hopefully, the block will be removed.

But there are no certainties in any of this.

If you are careful in your purchase I'm sure you'll be fine. Get as many details as possible and buy from somebody with decent feedback.

[prking]

First of all phones will only be blocked if reported lost/stolen/not delivered. The only exception to this is certain networks will block a phone if a contract is taken out and no payment is ever made (ie the handset was obtained fraudulently).

If the handset was blocked there is no way for you to have the block removed. If it was reported stolen then it isn't yours to keep anyway.

You are in the same position as buying anything else sight unseen, so its very important that before buying you satisfy yourself that the seller is genuine.

[FallOutBoy]

Originally Posted by RobM83

It's a risk, but less of a risk if you obtain the sellers personal details and you buy from a sensible place. It's why I'd never buy from eBay, but would happily buy from AVForums.

To get a phone blocked they would have had to claim it was lost or stolen and claim under their insurance. Should this happen, you could contact the network who supplied it (who are the only people who could block it) and explain that you bought it fairly and provide them their details. It will be investigated and hopefully, the block will be removed.

But there are no certainties in any of this.

If you are careful in your purchase I'm sure you'll be fine. Get as many details as possible and buy from somebody with decent feedback.

Thanks, I thought the same really, I've always been careful about who I buy from/trade with, and I've been fine so far, but it's still worrying! And because I like to sell/trade my phones frequently, I don't want to end up getting into trouble if a phone I sold to someone became blocked, because the person I bought it from originally claimed on their insurance!

[prking]

Originally Posted by RobM83

. . ., you could contact the network who supplied it (who are the only people who could block it) and explain that you bought it fairly and provide them their details. It will be investigated and hopefully, the block will be removed.

. . .

I can clarify this for you. The block will only be removed in two circumstances:

The person who reported the loss calls to say it is found. (There is a security procedure in place which is explained to you when the initial report is made)

The person requesting the removal of the block can prove they are the rightful owner. Either by confirming their identity as registered with the network and answering security questions. Or by providing a physical copy of the receipt/contract from an authorised dealer, which contains the printed IMEI.

[RobM]

I worked for an insurance company in a previous life, who would request network blocks are removed if the claim that resulted in the block was deemed to be fraudulent.

So there is a third way.

[prking]

Thank you for that, I have to say that is a new one on me. Was this some time ago?
I will do some digging.

[RobM]

Just over two years ago.