URGENT ADVICE NEEDED

[D38rac3y]

I bought a Samsung Galaxy S6 from a well known second hand chain that buys and sells goods.

I asked them if they could tell me if the phone was ever on a contract (as its locked to vodafone) and they said they couldnt be 100% sure (which I personally feel should be checked).

So IF and its a big IF as I don't know myself and could be worrying over nothing, if the hamdset was on a contract and the person stopped paying it would my handset I purchased be barred/IMEI blocked for non payment too?

As I say I could be worrying over nothing but £350 is a lot of money to lose if it ever was to be barred as a result of it.

Any advice appreciated.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi

In my experience a handset is blacklisted / imei blocked for circumstances such as an insurance claim for a lost or stolen phone. 

If a person stopped paying their contract then the Network would apply restrictions on the account itself.  

[D38rac3y]

Ok, its just when I am looking around the net people are saying they have bought a handset like myself only to later be blocked and found out it was due to non-payment. I am kicking myself now and wondering if I made the right choice in buying this device with no 100% guarentee agianst this.

[BandOfBrothers]

Some people have been burned after buying phones in eBay etc as when the unscrupulous person has sold the phone they then make an insurance claim for it being lost or stolen. 

Part of the T&C of making such a claim is contacting the Network and advising them it's lost or stolen and then report this to the police for a Crime Number. The Network then apply the imei lock. 

Ive bought from CEX before and asked that question. They advised me if a phone is blocked then they would swap it out and take it up with the original seller. They only buy from members and before buying check the phone in for approx an hour to make sure it works and is not on the database for blacklisted phones. 

[D38rac3y]

Yes cash generator said the same to me but only within 60 days, so if this is true about it being blocked for non payment and this handset doea turn out to be linked an account of this kind of defult I am screwed thats why I wanted to know if its a fact or not before I decide to just take it back while I sill can.

[kids]

Unless the shop can guarantee that the phone if the phone is blocked at ANYTIME in the future they will refund you the money I would return the item.

it is the shop's responsibility to ensure that the customer is not placed in a position where through no fault if their own they end up out of pocket.

[BandOfBrothers]

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@D38rac3y wrote:
Yes cash generator said the same to me but only within 60 days, so if this is true about it being blocked for non payment and this handset doea turn out to be linked an account of this kind of defult I am screwed thats why I wanted to know if its a fact or not before I decide to just take it back while I sill can.

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Ive yet to come across a handset imei blocked for issues concerning payment of a Pay Monthly Contract.  

If your gut feeling is telling you to return the handset within any cooling off period then of course it's your choice.