1. som's Avatar
    Hi Everyone,

    I just bought a "brand new" verizon pearl off of ebay for my girlfriend. The seller has 100% positive feedback and has been selling phones. Everything was wrapped and sealed so it seemed legit.

    However, when I went to activate it over the phone it is not working. The Verizon reps are asking me if the phone is damaged, or if the "receptor sensors" have been damaged or removed. Anyone know ANYTHING about this? I don't even know what those sensors are or might be. Really frustrating. Sent some messages to seller still waiting on a response.

    Any help you can provide is appreciated, thank you!
    10-21-08 03:39 PM
  2. berry me with it's Avatar
    How is it not working? Is the system accepting the ESN? Have you done the *228 to activate?
    10-21-08 03:50 PM
  3. som's Avatar
    The ESN is okay. *228 does not work currently...
    10-21-08 04:02 PM
  4. berry me with it's Avatar
    So customer service said the esn took and advised you to press *228 to activate and then it just doesn't activate? I bet it's still active on another account. That is exactly what happens in that situation. The system doesn't recognize it's in use until you attempt to activate. Sorry...
    10-21-08 04:05 PM
  5. som's Avatar
    Well, they never actually advised to press *228. They just verified the ESN, which was okay. While trying to activate over the phone there were issues and it was not working, leading them to ask me about damaged/removed "receptor sensors". I have no clue what these are....
    10-21-08 04:14 PM
  6. berry me with it's Avatar
    Well then, they may never have changed the esn in the system. I'm at work right now, PM the esn to me and I'll tell you if it is in use.
    10-21-08 04:17 PM
  7. GregMargie's Avatar
    Boy, I am sorry this is happening to you, and it does appear you checked the right things as far as the seller!

    I certainly mean no offense to you, but the old "buyer beware" tends to ring out.
    10-21-08 04:21 PM
  8. sniffs's Avatar
    First off.. make sure YOUR # is attached to the ESN on the Pearl you bought.

    If it is, try *228 then press 1 when asked.. if you are dialing *228 and it's immediately going to Call Failed, you're either 1. in no signal area.. or 2. the radio on the phone is bad and it's pretty much hosed.

    Also try *22890 (same thing but auto does the 1 rather than making you press it)

    These "receptor sensors" they are referring to, I bet are the little white water damage stickers that bleed red when they get wet. The red lines or X's on those white stickers should be perfect looking and not have any bleeding at all.
    Last edited by sniffs; 10-21-08 at 04:32 PM.
    10-21-08 04:30 PM
  9. som's Avatar
    Thanks a lot guys for your help.

    @sniffs - Do you mean make sure my # is attached to the ESN as in enter it on the phone's settings? I'll give the activation numbers a try and also inspect the water damage stickers and post back tonight. Thanks!
    10-21-08 04:46 PM
  10. sniffs's Avatar
    Go to Settings, Options, Status.. make sure the ESN that is showing there is the same as what Verizon has in their system.

    The ONLY other reason activating would fail is because you are in "Roaming" aka "Extended Network" and activating on another carrier's network while roaming wont work. You NEED to be in a Verizon coverage with Verizon towers.

    It'll show 1XEV even when on an Extended Network so call VZ and make sure the location you are at is actually covered by Verizon towers. Once activated, you wont notice a difference and service will work normally, but that initial activation needs to be done while connected to an actual VZ tower.
    10-21-08 05:56 PM
  11. mariadee's Avatar
    If it is a brand new phone, it may be an upgrade that someone decided to sell without activating it. If not, it may still be activated on their account even if they got a different phone

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    10-21-08 10:43 PM
  12. mikells43's Avatar
    i hope you paid with paypal and you have 2000 of buyer protection.

    thats a must to check. if the item is under 200 bucks ur good. but anything over 200 make sure u have that 2000 of buyer protection. in event of a disbute make sure that ur covered.
    10-22-08 12:25 AM
  13. sniffs's Avatar
    If it is a brand new phone, it may be an upgrade that someone decided to sell without activating it. If not, it may still be activated on their account even if they got a different phone

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    Even if it's an upgrade that was never activated, VZ isn't "supposed" to program the phone, but they always do.

    I've never once been rejected for this and i've had it happen a handful of times.
    10-22-08 09:54 AM
  14. Crystall09's Avatar
    That's really good to know! My best friend is having the same problem.
    10-22-08 11:44 AM
  15. tom1l21's Avatar
    I have a verizon Pearl that I got under a contract with verizon for 2 years, it will be up by this coming august, I am planning on buying a curve this weekend from a friend (its a verizon curve) that was activated once but deactivated because his company moved to a new type of phone. If I want to activate it through verizon and use it on my family plan, how would I go about doing it? I know dialing *228 will activate the phone, but how will i be able to associate it with my account? Do I have to go into verizon or call them to get this done? Thanks.
    10-22-08 11:53 AM
  16. som's Avatar
    Okay, so after a couple hours on the phone with Verizon they figured out the issue. Apparently the phone was programmed improperly (for whatever reason) but they were able to re-program it and now it's working great! Thanks everyone for the help.
    10-22-08 12:06 PM
  17. sniffs's Avatar
    Ouch..a couple of hours? Man I must be spoiled by my company's direct line to a VZ / ATT National business rep..

    I call a certain # on ATT and Verizon and within 30 seconds I'm speaking to a live business specialist.. I can typically get them to do anything I want whatever the task is.. lol =)
    10-22-08 12:13 PM
  18. genoist#CB's Avatar
    I hear many people say "a couple hours" but after further checking it turns out to be 30-45 minutes.
    10-22-08 11:58 PM
  19. SK1's Avatar
    I have a verizon Pearl that I got under a contract with verizon for 2 years, it will be up by this coming august, I am planning on buying a curve this weekend from a friend (its a verizon curve) that was activated once but deactivated because his company moved to a new type of phone. If I want to activate it through verizon and use it on my family plan, how would I go about doing it? I know dialing *228 will activate the phone, but how will i be able to associate it with my account? Do I have to go into verizon or call them to get this done? Thanks.
    Call Verizon and give them the ESN of the new phone. After they attach the ESN to your number, then you dial *22899 to program the phone. That's it!

    PS: You can do an ESN change online also for free (you can be charged $20 for an ESN change over the phone).
    10-23-08 09:52 AM
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