Help with a still-active 8130 on VZW

[bravokiloromeo]

Hi guys,
I just joined the Crackberry forums because I need some help with a predicament I just found myself in.

I work in a government facility that prevents us from having camera cellphones. I purchased an 8130 for VZW on Jun. 1 from eBay seller "thebluedot" (which is an actual company, not an individual) for $20 so I could drill out the camera and epoxy it (I know some of you cried then) so I can use it at work in lieu of my iPhone.

When my phone arrived today, it was still active on the previous owner's account. I've contacted thebluedot but I doubt they can be of much help, so I'm wondering what exactly I should do. I called *228 and tried to activate it (just to check) and it tells me to call a VZW number.

Is it possible to flash the phone to a different carrier, back to VZW, and then try reactivating it? I'm just a little lost here, and shipping a $20 phone back in the retail box will be ~$5, which almost makes it not worth it.

Thanks!

[BergerKing]

Verizon will not activate a phone that has been flashed to another carrier. They're very picky about that.

As for a camera, it is just a small module that can be removed once you open the housing, no need to drill it out. Unless you can get the previous owner to release it, or you make a return, you have a pretty paperweight.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[bravokiloromeo]

I tried dialing a number just for the heck of it, and I got a message saying to dial #8899, which I subsequently did. I got another message saying that my number is either "not active or is invalid." Does that mean it was originally a stolen phone or something before it went through the reseller thebluedot?

[californiablackberry]

If you need a phone with no camera, and still a BB, Verizon sells non-camera 9650's.

[bravokiloromeo]

Originally Posted by californiablackberry

If you need a phone with no camera, and still a BB, Verizon sells non-camera 9650's.

I was going for cheap, and the $20 8130 was as cheap as I could get It's in perfect condition minus the fact that I can't use it.

Ironically, several of us were going over the cellphone policy today (during a debate), and the rule stated that as long as the camera was either A) not present or B) drilled out and epoxied (to cover the back entirely; nobody asks you questions all the time), then it was considered an approved device.

I was talking with a coworker the other day about cameraphones and he said that several people discovered that Verizon was selling them standard cameraphone models with just a solid backplate, which is not allowed...

[californiablackberry]

Well have fun drilling.
With my luck, I'd probably end up drilling through the phone.

[lak611]

Originally Posted by bravokiloromeo

I tried dialing a number just for the heck of it, and I got a message saying to dial #8899, which I subsequently did. I got another message saying that my number is either "not active or is invalid." Does that mean it was originally a stolen phone or something before it went through the reseller thebluedot?

Either it was reported lost/stolen or the original owner did not pay his bill.

[bravokiloromeo]

Thanks for the info guys. I feel like it's weird that VZW can't deactivate a phone whenever they deem it appropriate. I see both sides to it, but why don't they throw that clause into the service agreements?

I bought another 8130 eBay that *should* activate as well. This one was only $10, though in poor cosmetic condition. If it does indeed activate, I found the tools and tutorials to disassemble the phone entirely (pretty simple), so I can swap bodies/LCDs, thereby putting the unusable phone to some use.

[VZW_CS]

We would recommend calling verizon at 800-922-0204 to check the serial number, prior to purchase. The error message you got may be a generic error message please call verizon to troubleshoot.