Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
MikeNas
Newbie

Hello,

         I bought a basically new iPhone 4s ( still had wrap and stickers on them) on ebay. Now while I dialed *228 and followed the normal procedure It took me right to a REP. I spoken with the lady and she said that the previous owner has a balance. Now I tried contacting the owner but the owner has not responded since I bought the phone. Is there any loop hole to this situation? Say that the previous owner pays the minimum am I clear to activate it? What if the previous has left Verizon with the outstanding bill? or just letting it run and never ever paying it. Also is this consider a bad ESN? I mean we can still activate it but not until the previous owner pays.

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
soupcannon
Specialist - Level 1

Vzw will not activate untill that balance is paid I would report to pay pal and get my money back

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
MikeNas
Newbie

I was thinking that. If the seller has not respond in within 7 days I will. Also the ad never stated it was a clean ESN or bad ESN. One of a answer question on the ad stated this person received it as a gift. I also message before the auction ended if the ESN was clean and after I won the auction . No response as soon as I found out that I could not activate it I message the seller. Also, I sent a personal email to the sellers email NO response. Will paypal give me my money back even though I have the item? I know this is the wrong place to ask.. but if someone can chime THANKS!

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
Xyvis
Specialist - Level 1

Seeing as it did not state that it was a bad ESN (it is a bad ESN at this time due to an unpaid balance) you have a case. The seller sold it as a functioning device or put up the ad in a way to make it  seem like it was a functional phone and at this time it is not a functioning phone, so you certainly have a case.

Do not wait 7 days, dispute it immediately so you get the process started, if the seller ignores the dispute you will receive your money back. If he/she does respond and you cannot rectify the issue, then look into Ebay's buyer protection, I believe it covers mobile phones.

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
MikeNas
Newbie

Thank you for helping me as well thanks to soupcannon to answer quickly.

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
SydneyK
Master - Level 3

You will have options for recourse through PayPal and Ebay. I've never had to open a case with PayPal, but I have with Ebay when a seller sent me a broken phone case. I agree with Xyvis ... I would not wait 7 days.

This seems like a good time to mention: Never send a PayPal payment as a gift when buying from someone you don't know. If you note it as a gift instead of purchasing goods, you don't have the same buyer protection.

I hope you get this resolved quickly.

Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
soupcannon
Specialist - Level 1

Pay pal normaly fixes problems the fastest as they normally hold on to the sellers money for a while before they pay them in case if a dispute

Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
Xyvis
Specialist - Level 1

My pleasure, please keep us updated with anything that happens, I've had my fair share of issues through PayPal/Ebay and can offer some advice if you need it.

But as I mentioned earlier, the best thing you can do is immediately file a dispute, waiting is not something you want to do, especially since the seller has not replied to any of your inquiries.

Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
MikeNas
Newbie

I will do . I open a case through eBay and tried through paypal but it says I already open a case through ebay. They gave the seller a week. I will keep this updated I want it be available for those who are in the same boat as me.

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Re: Activating phone problem(NOT BAD ESN)
MikeNas
Newbie

This is the ad..http://www.ebay.com/itm/280909711317?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

The seller responded back with this

The seller has responded to your case with other solution.Jul 11, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Seller's message:
"Hello,   It is unfortunate that this is the situation. The buyer did not try to contact me after purchasing the item, nor did he/she give me the opportunity to reply to his/her concerns. The messages the buyer is referencing were ones prior to the end of the auction, and prior to the buyer's initial bid. I had an overflow of questions about the item at the time, and it is true that I did not respond. However, he/she still chose to bid. The item in question was undoubtedly new; it was a package straight from Apple, but I had chosen to sell it because I prefer droid software. The buyer claims the previous owner had an account balance remaining on the phone, therefore deeming it with a bad ESN. This is impossible, for the phone was factory sealed when I received it, and was never once activated onto any account. I do not feel I should be held responsible for an item that I did not sell, and I am confident that the item I sold was, indeed, new (as clearly shown in the image I had posted)."
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