Questions on Theft

D2VW14_20 · Thread Author #1 08-29-2011, 06:36 PM

So, my girl is wanting an iPhone and I found one locally on Craigslist for a decent price.

Question is: If it has a clean ESN now, and I activate it on her account johnny on the spot to where its hers, can they leave there and report it stolen and it not work?

I usually dont buy of CList so its new to me. Thanks Nick

ridesno159 · #2 08-29-2011, 06:40 PM

No, they can't do anything to the phone once you activate it.

Just meet at the Verizon and have a rep activate the phone for you right there before you pay for it.

Once it gets on yours/her line, it belongs to you, the seller won't be able to do anything with it.

D2VW14_20 · Thread Author #3 08-29-2011, 06:49 PM

Awesome, thanks. Does the same go for a 4g phone as well if she decides to go that route? There isnt a Verizon near me so I was going to activate it there and then once its activated pay.

Thanks for the response! Nick

ridesno159 · #4 08-29-2011, 06:55 PM

That's how it works with any Verizon phone, so you should be good to go with meeting the seller at the store and activating the phone before you pay.

I've sold many phones this way, if the seller doesn't want to wait for you to activate it or doesn't want to meet at a Verizon store then be very wary of that person...

D2VW14_20 · Thread Author #5 08-29-2011, 07:04 PM

Great. Thats for your quick responses!

MisterObvious · #6 08-30-2011, 05:19 AM

What you could do is be at a point where if there are no stores close by, have a means to activate it like over the phone. If you're leary of CL maybe make a simple contract and see if you can get a couple witnesses and if you call Verizon to activate an iPhone, why not record the phone conversation as proof?

markhunsaker · #7 08-30-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterObvious

What you could do is be at a point where if there are no stores close by, have a means to activate it like over the phone. If you're leary of CL maybe make a simple contract and see if you can get a couple witnesses and if you call Verizon to activate an iPhone, why not record the phone conversation as proof?

Depends on your state laws if you can record a conversation without the other party knowing. I know in Idaho, you can LEGALLY record a conversation as long as one party knows about it.

Accidental Post · #8 08-30-2011, 12:45 PM

Whenever I buy a VZW phone off CL I agree to meet some where public get the ESN and call VZW if all is well I activate right then and then pay the person. Like said before once it is activated to you it's yours.....

MisterObvious · #9 08-30-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markhunsaker

Depends on your state laws if you can record a conversation without the other party knowing. I know in Idaho, you can LEGALLY record a conversation as long as one party knows about it.

True. I forgot about that.

D2VW14_20 · Thread Author #10 08-30-2011, 01:42 PM

Ok ... So one more hypothetical lol .

I buy a phone and I activate it there. It works, she uses it a few weeks and doesnt like it or the new towers here dont help (I had an iPhone previously but the coverage sucked. They say theyve extended the coverage since then)..

Anyways. She uses is a week and for one reason or the other, she goes back to her old phone, they cant keep trying to report it correct? Like if they got lucky and she wasnt using it and it wasnt connected to a line it still would work correct??

We would be the only ones who could report it correct??

Thanks Nick

Accidental Post · #11 08-30-2011, 01:48 PM

Correct when you activate the phone it belongs to you and is on your account the only person who can kill the ESN is you.

Once you activate the phone even if for 5 mins that ESN belongs to you.