# when buying used cell phones... **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Off Topic\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246 "2010-05-24T12:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hang\_Your\_Cross](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hang_your_cross/32/6381_2.png) [@Hang\_Your\_Cross](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hang_Your_Cross)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/1 "2010-05-24T12:23:47Z")
make sure you bring it to the carrier’s store and have them check the ESN. i’m sure this is common sense and ive done it with every phone ive purchased before. i was happy, that i waited the 20 mins to speak to someone at the store because the bitch cancelled her account and didn’t pay the termination fee and tried to sell me her phone. bad ESN and she was complaining and yelling like it was sprint’s fault she is a piece of white trash. i wasted an hour and half with this whore, but whatever. i didn’t lose my $130. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PJB](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pjb/32/6389_2.png) [@PJB](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PJB)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/2 "2010-05-24T16:59:56Z")
No idea what that is but Ive had a few used phones and just swapped SIM cards and I was good. ---
**Author:** ![Akira](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/akira/32/6286_2.png) [@Akira](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Akira)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/3 "2010-05-24T17:01:46Z")
Electronic Serial Number. Each cell phone has a unique combination of numbers and letters to identify it from others. ---
**Author:** ![Vovchandr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vovchandr/32/6275_2.png) [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/4 "2010-05-24T19:58:04Z")
Good info. ---
**Author:** ![aldog1330](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/aldog1330/32/6517_2.png) [@aldog1330](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/aldog1330)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/5 "2010-05-25T06:38:49Z")
Another way to do it if you are buying online is to call Customer Service. I tried to activate a phone I got off eBay but it was reported lost or stolen, so they wouldn’t let me. I called, yelled at the girl who sold me the phone, and she gave my money back. If a phone has EVER been reported stolen on a Verizon account, chances are good that you won’t be able to reactivate it if you find it. ---
**Author:** ![Shady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/6 "2010-05-25T06:52:50Z")
> [@Rocky's Pizza Review - WINGS OMG!!](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rockys-pizza-review-wings-omg/32024/93): > > Another way to do it if you are buying online is to call Customer Service. I tried to activate a phone I got off eBay but it was reported lost or stolen, so they wouldn’t let me. I called, yelled at the girl who sold me the phone, and she gave my money back. If a phone has EVER been reported stolen on a Verizon account, chances are good that you won’t be able to reactivate it if you find it. What this guy said. Bought a Blackberry Curve off some kid, got home to activate it only to find it was stolen. Kid gave me a bunch of BS, found out his name and address, he changed his tune. The girl who owned it number was still in the phone, called it, but it was a cancelled account. Found her via facebook, told her I bought her stolen phone, and sent it back to her. ---
**Author:** ![ninety1two40](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ninety1two40/32/6332_2.png) [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/7 "2010-05-25T07:48:02Z")
Just change the ESN if you have problems :lol ---
**Author:** ![McBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@McBitchin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/McBitchin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/8 "2010-05-26T15:24:45Z")
i tried to registera phone the other day…turns out it was stolen of a broward county sherriff, they called me a bunch of times :lol ---
**Author:** ![ReDevil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redevil/32/6385_2.png) [@ReDevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ReDevil)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/9 "2010-05-26T15:28:41Z")
> [@Shady"](#): > > What this guy said. > > Bought a Blackberry Curve off some kid, got home to activate it only to find it was stolen. Kid gave me a bunch of BS, found out his name and address, he changed his tune. > > The girl who owned it number was still in the phone, called it, but it was a cancelled account. Found her via facebook, told her I bought her stolen phone, and sent it back to her. If your did not get money or sex for said deed, Fail. ---
**Author:** ![Kitsune](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/kitsune/32/6618_2.png) [@Kitsune](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/10 "2010-05-26T16:54:32Z")
very good info since I’m looking for a new phone since mine’s a POS ---
**Author:** ![Shady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/11 "2010-05-26T16:59:05Z")
> [@in the social section...](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/in-the-social-section/32209/3): > > If your did not get money or sex for said deed, Fail. No I got my money back, I told him he’s giving me my money back and he’s not getting the phone as I am returning it to the owner. He showed up with half his family after I threatened to go to the cops cause I had all his information :rofl ---
**Author:** ![ReDevil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redevil/32/6385_2.png) [@ReDevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ReDevil)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/12 "2010-05-26T17:19:29Z")
Nice! So you “GOT 'EM!” then! :lol ---
**Author:** ![justin2386](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justin2386/32/6496_2.png) [@justin2386](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justin2386)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/when-buying-used-cell-phones/252246/13 "2010-05-29T21:21:46Z")
> [@in the social section...](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/in-the-social-section/32209/2): > > i tried to registera phone the other day…turns out it was stolen of a broward county sherriff, they called me a bunch of times :lol the HOTTTTTTT blond one?? :excited:excited