If I buy a bad esn phone?

Can I get a non working SIM card and activate? I just want to use it as an ipod.

Yes, if its a clean ESN, then all you will need is a SIM from the carrier it is locked to, even if its not an activate SIM.  The SIM just has to be issued by the carrier that it's locked to... Unless you decide to but an unlocked device, then you don't have to worry about needing a SIM.

Similar Messages

  • Is Bad ESN Phone can be reactive?

    just want to know is the Bad Esn iPhone4 can be reactive again?

    According to Verizon, the only way to get an ESN unblocked is for the original registered owner to remove the block (either pay the bill or tell them it wasnt stolen).

  • If i buy an iphone with a bad esn, will i still be able to use the apple appstore?

    1. If I buy an iphone with a bad esn, will i still be able to use the apple app store?
    2. Searching craigslist, it looks like iphones with a bad esn are cheaper than buying an ipod.  If it's the same functionality, then is there a downside to getting an iphone with a bad esn instead of an ipod touch?
    Thanks

    Actually, you can in fact restore it or re-activate it using iTunes. A bad ESN just means it can't ne activated for phone service, but it can still be used as a touch. Phones with bad ESN's are not necessarily stolen, if the owner/account holder fails to pay their bill, the carrier will list with a bad ESN.

  • Can I use unlocked iPhone with bad ESN in South America?

    I want to buy an unlocked iPhone 4s or newer but it has a bad ESN/IMEI/MEID. I read that even though it is blacklisted and can’t be used in the USA and Canada, it can be used in most of the world’s GSM carriers (assuming a compatible frequency). Assume the iPhone is GSM and the carrier abroad is GSM too. Because it has a bad ESN it’s cheaper.
    But I’d like to buy the phone in Canada and test it here before I leave the country so I can return it if something doesn’t work. How can I test it? I read that data might work wherever there’s public Wifi but I mean I wanna test if it can actually make calls and text. Is there usually problems with those features with used iPhones? Do any carriers abroad check the ESN blacklist and not allow the phone?
    I also read that some phones have a country code lock, which says that the phone won't connect to systems with particular country codes and that cracking the country code lock is a lot more difficult than the SIM unlock. Is this true or usual in iPhones?
    For the record, "bad ESN" isn't exactly a synonym for "stolen phone”.

    dariuchi wrote:
    For the record, "bad ESN" isn't exactly a synonym for "stolen phone”.
    No, it's a synonym for 'very likely to be stolen, and more problem than it's worth, don't waste your money'.

  • How can I use a SCH-LC11 device in CHINA which bought from ebay. I am not Verizon customer but I prefer to using your 4G LTE Router . How can I get the unlock code? The device may have a bad ESN but I only use it in CHINA. Kindly looking forward your repl

    How can I use a SCH-LC11 device in CHINA which bought from ebay. I am not Verizon customer but I prefer to using your 4G LTE Router . How can I get the unlock code? The device may have a bad ESN but I only use it in CHINA. Kindly looking forward your reply. Thanks!

    It's good to read Antoniad's post.  It reassures me that I can use my new iPad as an international communication device which is the reason I purchased the thing.  However, I called Verizon today (my provider of cellular data) who told me that I can't just pop in a SIM card as you suggested.  He also said that he was from the "Pre-Pay" division of Verizon and he was certain that I couldn't do what I planned to do.  I was extremely disappointed as I had called Apple prior to buying the iPad and I read the algorhythm on the website for choosing an iPad before purchasing.  Those sources were quite specific and the information seemed clear.  I would be able to use my iPad to communicate through cellular connections while traveling on the road, literally, abroad.  I was told that I could pop in a data card wherever I was, just as you indicated in your message above, and voila I was good to go.  The Verizon rep definitively rained on that parade, but said that I might be able to do this if I have a "Post-Pay" account, a different area of Verizon.  I haven't had the chance to talk to this division yet, so I looked to Apple's Support for answers.  Maybe I will find out that I can use my iPad as an international communication device while traveling on the road afterall, however, it appears I may need a different type of account (Post-Pay), something I was never warned about. Can I switch to this kind of account?  I don't know.  I have to find out.  If you have any information about this issue, it would be good to share since I strongly suspect there are others who bought the iPad for the same purpose that I have.

  • Seriously thinking about paying the ETF to get out of contract. Will I get bad ESN?

    Due to many reasons, I am incredibly unhappy with Verizon (been a customer for many, many years and am finally fed up) and am seriously thinking about paying the ETF to terminate my contract and move to another carrier with a new phone, like the Nexus 5 from Google. However, I would like to sell my Galaxy S3 to help pay the costs. If I pay my last bill and the ETF, will I get a bad ESN on my phone and be unable to sell it? Or, as long as everything is paid in full, including the ETF, will my ESN stay clean?
    Thanks!

    Your phone will be fine as long as you pay all fees/bills.

  • How to fix a bad ESN with verizon

    Just got a phone from craigslist and didn't know about the bad ESN any way that it can get fix to use it ( carrier is Verizon )

    Usually the only way an esn is bad is it has been reported lost or stolen, or an insurance claim (damage) that the phone never got returned and customer had to pay an additional fee.
    It is about 99% certain that ASURION, verizon's insurance company for phones, has put the block on.
    The unfortunate side of that is that by legal standings, the phone belongs to asurion.  So until they receive the phone they will likely not release the esn unless you pay for the cost of the phone they sent minus the deductible the original owner paid.
    that is why so many of these are for sale on ebay and advertise BAD ESN in the title.  Technically they are selling stolen property, if I was informed right.

  • If an iphone has a bad esn...

    if an iphone has a bad esn can i use the touchscreen as a repalcement for a phone with a working esn?

    as long as the models were the same i dont see why not but warning to you doing it will void any warranty you have with apple

  • IPhone 5C 'Bad ESN' - Ok for unlocking in Italy?

    Quick question. I am trying to get a good price on an iPhone 5C off of eBay. I have found one in the USA that has 'Bad ESN, means can't be activated with Sprint.' Will I be OK to buy this and unlock it for use in Italy on TIM / Vodaphone / WIND etc?

    If the device has a bad ESN it will never work.  Sprint will not and cannot unlock it with a bad ESN.

  • Can I clean a bad esn iphone 4?

    Hello,
    I have a bad esn sprint iphone 4 and i was wondering could i clear the esn so i can use it with sprint again? The seller said it was a bad esn because there wasnt a payment done
    Thanks!
    My phone is a cdma no sim tray!

    You will need to call Sprint or go to a Sprint store and see if they will let you pay it out. It could be a rather large payment that is worth more than the iPhone and you will only be able to use that phone with Sprint.

  • Buying a used 4g phone

    So lets say you buy /trade a basic phone and some cash for a 4g phone on craigslist ( this person no longer wants to pay for data) and the person you trade with activates his used basic phone on his account immediately and I swap the sim card from my droid razr into the phone I that I received from this person, Does this also transfer ownership of both devices? Both phones are up and running without a single problem, but I started thinking and if this other person stops paying his bill does verizon block the esn on the basic phone on his account or both phones?
    It seems that with all the used newer phones floating around for sale this has been covered somewhere .

    It sounds like the person activated a different basic device on their line and you put your SIM card from Razr in the "new" phone. If the basic phone you also traded was deactivated, the the transfer of ownership should be completed.

  • I dropped my phone in the water I know it's not covered with the Warranty so what can I do can I trad it in and get a new one and pay some kind of money or do I have too just buy a whole new phone?

    I dropped my phone in the water I know it's not covered with the Warranty so what can I do can I trad it in and get a new one and pay some kind of money or do I have too just buy a whole new phone?

    The genius bar folks will be glad to help...and if you have backed up your iPhone in iCloud they will restore the backup to the replacement iPhone for you while you wait.
    Call or email for an appointment, you don't want to add to your frustration by standing around waiting for someone to get free to help you.

  • I updated my 4s to ios7 and the phone is now completly dead. I tried to restore it with the new itunes but it won't restore. If you can't get the download be glad! Anyone have any ideas other than going out and buying a new Samsung phone?

    I updated my 4s to ios7 and the phone is now completly dead. I tried to restore it with the new itunes but it won't restore. If you can't get the download be glad! Anyone have any ideas other than going out and buying a new Samsung phone? I don't really need a paper weight.

    No not jailbroken. After the update which took about 45 minutes. The phone went black. Dead. Wouldn't restart. Using the new itunes I tried to restore it. It went through the motions; the white Apple and progress bar appeared on the iphone screen. Then I got a message "Itunes has detected an iphone in recovery mode. You must restore this iphone before it can be used with itunes." Then the phone went completly dead again. I Repeated the process and got the same results. Is there another way to restore the phone if it's dead, besides itunes?

  • If I buy a sim free phone here and take it to the Ukraine, can I get a local sim card and the phone still work properly, while in the Ukraine?

    If I buy a sim free phone here and take it to the Ukraine with me, can I get a card there in the Ukraine to use the phone with.  If that is possible, when I return to the states can I get an AT & T sim card and the same phone work in the states?  Thanks in advance for your help.

    If you buy an unlocked phone, it will work on any compatible GSM network anywhere in the world. If you buy an unlocked phone in the US, it will not work on LTE networks outside of North America. The warranty is also only valid in the country where the phone was originally sold.

  • I have an 8gb iPhone 4 and i need more space, is there a way to get more space rather then buying a whole new phone?

    I have an 8gb iPhone 4 and i need more space, is there a way to get more space rather then buying a whole new phone?

    No. Sell the 8gb and buy one with more capacity.

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