Can you still use a phone with a bad IMEI?

If your phone cannot activate on a CDMA carrier like Verizon or Sprint, the IMEI can still be used on a GSM network. Having a phone with bad ESN or blacklisted IMEI is naturally a headache, however, all hope isn’t lost.

What can you do with a blacklisted phone?

Sell your phone You can sell your blacklisted phone if it has a bad ESN/IMEI. Some online buyback stores will buy financed phones you still owe money on, for example, and local repair stores might buy it for parts.

Can you Unblacklist a phone?

In cases in which your carrier blacklisted the phone in error, you can ask them to remove it from the list for free. If the carrier blacklisted the device because of outstanding payments on the account, you’ll simply need to settle the bill before they will remove the device’s IMEI from the blacklist.

Can I unlock a blocked IMEI?

Some companies claim to be able to unblock blacklisted IMEIs. Others can unlock your phone, but they can’t remove it from IMEI blacklists. Even reputable services could have trouble reinstating your T-Mobile phone’s IMEI. Two companies that offer IMEI unblocking are IMEI Authority and Cell Unlocker.

What does it mean if a phone is IMEI blocked?

It’s simply a method by which you can lock a mobile phone. In a way you can say IMEI blocking is equal to “cell phone blocking.”. There are many advantages of blocking a phone through IMEI, one of which is explained as an example here: David has lost an Apple iPhone.

What is the difference between IMEI and Meid/ESN?

Here is an overview of each of them. The main difference between MEID and IMEI is that the MEID allows hexadecimal digits while IMEI allows only decimal digits. ESN ESN or Electronic Serial Number and although some phones that require a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network for wireless services still use it in the United States, it is slowly being replaced by the MEID. MEID is a longer number than the IMEI and it is used in GSM and UMTS mobile phones. MEID

What happens if IMEI on iPhone is blacklisted?

When the IMEI gets blacklisted, the lists updates , and this information propagates across all the carriers in the US. So, even if the thief tries to unlock the access to the network, then he/she won’t be able to do it unless the carrier, which blacklisted the number, does it.

Why is my iPhone IMEI blacklisted?

The most common reasons that Apple or Mobile Networks blacklist an iPhone are: iPhone is reported as Lost or Stolen from the original owner iPhone original owner hasn’t paid the bills for the carrier The iPhone owner requested an insurance claim If Apple replaced its IMEI number (It blacklists the previous numbers) and some other rare cases