IMEI not valid, allegedly.

Damiand
Enthusiast - Level 2

Keep getting the run around about not having a valid IMEI. Watch is brand new, not refurbished. Went to two different Verizon stores that were of  no help. Even called tech support directly and got the same run around. A few years back, my wife was able to connect her watch with no problems. They even asked if I bought  a Verizon watch. Huh? I contacted Samsung directly and they told me my watch was fine, unlocked, and compatible with any carrier. Not sure what's happening on Verizon side. Should not be that difficult. Ready to change carriers over something this simple.

12 Replies
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hello, Damiand. Help is here. My apologies to hear you have had so many issues with the watch in question. Please keep in mind, I cannot see any previous conversations so may I ask, where did you get the watch from? Any info is greatly appreciated as we want to help. 

 

-Natasha

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Damiand
Enthusiast - Level 2

Natasha,

Good morning. I bought the watch brand new from Bestbuy. I even exchanged the watch for another, and are still experiencing the same issues. No where on any of the watch boxes did they say Verizon, AT&T, etc. 

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We appreciate the clarification. Did you purchase the phone to work for Verizon? Is it the cellular model?

~Freddy

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Damiand
Enthusiast - Level 2

Freddy,

 

Good morning. Thank you for the reply. Yes. It's a Samsung 4G LTE Bluetooth watch.

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SynthpopAddict
Champion - Level 2

You're not the first person who's reported this problem of the IMEI not working on Verizon with a Samsung smartwatch.  I'd get a refund from Best Buy and file a bug report with Samsung as the watch clearly doesn't work on Verizon and they said it does.

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I'm not a Verizon employee, just another customer trying to help.
Damiand
Enthusiast - Level 2

What I don't understand is how these watches are not working with my carrier. I guarantee, if I had bought the watch directly from a Verizon store, there would be no issues. It's not like they're not getting money. You still have to pay for the line associated with the watch.

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Damiand, all watches sold by Verizon have Cellular capability as they are specifically designed to work in-network. Watches sold at other retailers, such as Best Buy, sell both Cellular models as well as Bluetooth only models. Bluetooth only models are designed to only work while connected to Wi-Fi or via Bluetooth. This could explain why you are experiencing an issue with the IMEI not being valid. If you were wanting to activate the watch on your Verizon account as a standalone device or use our numbershare feature, we suggest exchanging the watch at Best Buy for the appropriate model, one Verizon Wireless cellular capability. You do not need to purchase a watch directly from us for it to be activated, it just needs to be compatible with our network. -Sara

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Damiand
Enthusiast - Level 2

Sara,

My watch is cellular capable. The model is: SM L315U  LTE.

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Thanks for that info, Damiand. Can you do me a favor and enter the IMEI for your smartwatch here: https://www.verizon.com/bring-your-own-device/? What message do you see when checking compatibility?

-Lauren

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yoshkapundrick

I am having the same problem with a Google Pixel 5a from Fi.

Google says that the phone is compatible on all networks. Verizon database says that it is not, and even refuses to file a DMD Load Form.

Verizon tech support explanations never make sense, from a technological standpoint.

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hello, yoshkapundrick. Having access to use the device you desire is very important. Help is here. Please tell us more. Are you currently an active Verizon customer? 

-Natasha

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Zachthorn
Enthusiast - Level 1

I am having the same problem and have been trying to get it resolved for months now.