Posted on 06/15/2014 8:33:07 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
I just purchased a purportedly unlocked AT&T Samsung Exhilarate on ebay.
Works fine, but it apparently wasn't really unlocked, so I can't change APN settings and therefore can't use it to access 3G or 4G internet.
AT&T simply hangs up on me automatically when I try to contact Customer Service, apparently because I'm not an active customer. You would think smart businessmen would realize someone who isn't a customer at the moment is still a potential future customer, but apparently not.
Their website outlines procedures for getting a phone unlocked, but only for present or past ATT customers, which I'm not.
There are numerous site online where they claim to be able to unlock your phone. I'm leery of clicking on these without some kind of info on the legitimacy of the site.
Thanks, Sherman
I wonder if this was a stolen phone you bought.
Any knocks on your door yet?
Do you have an AT&T store locally?
They should be able to help you out.
Probably a ‘good idea’ to explain where the phone came from etc prior handing it over to a ‘tech’.
Isn’t that like trying to bypass the gubmnt mandated safeties on your new lawn mower?
I think you both meant to reply to Sherman.
I very much doubt it. The seller is well reviewed and there are some dozens of identical phones available.
Checked the IMEI on Swappa to see whether it is blacklisted, and it apparently is not.
Phone should be ok to activate.
You got it off of Ebay?
If so, contact the seller and tell them you will leave a very nasty rating if he doesn’t get the phone unlocked for you. He may need the phone’s ID, serial number, etc ...
You don’t mention the model #, but there are videos on Youtube of performing the unlock.
Corollary to the other comment, I too wonder if your phone was stolen.
ATT: Another company, like GM, I wish would evaporate. Their customer service hasn’t changed...ever. I hear someone say ‘AT&T’, cringe, tell them why and EVERYONE just rolls their eyes in denial.
I’m telling you my story now as you asserted, sarcastically, a willingness to do business with them:
I had AT&T mobile phones years ago with my business. They came with a one-year contract. AT&T was the last of my research, as all others I was interested in at the time had 3-year contracts.
I year later I had already decided to go Nextel, awaited the 1-year date, waited a week and called to cancel the account. The ‘customer service people’ (including the supervisor I asked for/spoke to) asserted I still had another 2 years. They first claimed I acknowledged that in the purchase and that it was on my receipts. I’m a businessman: I save ALL receipts/paperwork. It was NOT on the receipt. Years later I still occasionally get another collection company letter that bought the debt (all over $62.00). It simply wasn’t worth the legal hassle to go to court as it never affected me credit-wise, business or personal. But having spoken to other former AT&T users that experienced the same, it seemed ‘standard business practice’ for AT&T.
Anything branded with AT&T is radioactive in my book.
Just fyi.
But, of course, some here at FR would assert that all radioactivity is not dangerous and critique my comment, but they can pound sand...
Good luck with the phone, but I wouldn’t bet any $$ it’ll work, but I found this forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2461288
If the unlock works, please post a thread under General/Chat about how you did it with pertinent keywords. I would LOVE it if more business ran away from the horrible company...
You beat me to it :-)
FWIW, my daughter has been with ATT for more than five years and absolutely loves their service.
As stated, the phone does not appear to be blacklisted and it is imo unethical for ATT to continue to impose a block on use of the phone after their contract has probably expired.
Return the phone to the eBay seller, secure your refund, and buy an unlocked phone.
Look on craigslist for cell phone unlock... cell phone store owners that have accounts with ATT have unlock privileges if their accounts are old enough. They can get it done automatically. They charge anywhere from $5 to $50 for this service... you should be able to find it for $5.
Who are you wanting to get service through?
I am using Net 10. But I don’t think it makes much difference, since if the APN isn’t accessible, I can’t connect to any carrier except probably ATT.
Too bad you aren’t in my little part of Europe. You can take any phone to any pawn shop and they’ll crack it for you (or jailbreak it) for about $10.
I know in Sonnenalle in Berlin, there’s tons of electronic shops and internet cafes where they’ll do it as well.
Oh, and if you’re phone gets stolen in the Czech Republic? Wait about 20 minutes, and you’ll find it in a pawn shop for sale. If you can prove it’s yours - i.e., you have the IMEI written down - they’ll give it back to you.
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