When I activate a phone the cell phone company records my info along with the phones info i.e. serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number so if I report it lost or stolen why can't they return my phone to me when someone else tries to activate it?

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Level 1

8 points

When I activate a phone the cell phone company records my info along with the phones info i.e. serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number so if I report it lost or stolen why can't they return my phone to me when someone else tries to activate it?

When I activate a phone the cell phone company records my info along with the phones info i.e. serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number so if I report it lost or stolen why can't they return my phone to me when someone else tries to activate it? They have the info right there, how hard is it to contact the rightful owner?? If I brought in a stolen car to the dmv and tried to register it in my name they wouldn't just tell me I can't register it and send me on my way, even if I was not the one who stole it the car would be taken and returned to the rightful owner. Why isn't it the same with phones, they know who used to own it from those numbers and they also know it has been lost or stolen, why don't I get my property back?

Posted on Oct 29, 2013 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 29, 2013 10:18 AM in response to Devon K

No cell phone company is going to put its employees at risk by making it policy for them to confiscate phones. Additionally, many phones are activated online. There is no one to confiscate them. In the U.S., most companies will, if you report your phone stolen, add it to a stolen phone list so that it can't be reactivated by anyone but you. With iOS 7, you also have the option of activating Find My iPhone and the Activation Lock.

Best of luck.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Oct 29, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Devon K

Wow, thank you for being rude to those to tried to address your issue. That's far from being awesome and borders on infantile, particularly since this forum is for issues with Apple's products, not for complaints your cell provider.

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Answer 3

Devon K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 29, 2013 10:40 AM in response to varjak paw

No one has addressed this issue, and I am not complaining about my cell phone provider, I am just wondering why it is that if something is reported stolen, especially if it is worth more than $500 why isn't the stolen property given to the police, nothing is done which creates a black market for stolen cell phones, if the normal practice is to take the phone and either give it to the police or the rightful owner there would be almost no stolen phones. But thanks for your useless comment too, I really do appreciate the time you took to point out nothing :)

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Answer 4

Devon K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 29, 2013 10:42 AM in response to varjak paw

And it is easy enough for me to check online or call a cell provider to find out if the phone I am buying is blacklisted or marked as stolen. If I did come across a cell phone that was stolen I would turn it in to the police, so why wouldn't the cell phone companies....oh I figured it out, money. Never mind got the answer on my own no need to reply.

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Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Oct 29, 2013 11:24 AM in response to Devon K

I am not complaining about my cell phone provider

Well, yes you are. You asked this:

When I activate a phone the cell phone company records my info along with the phones info i.e. serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number so if I report it lost or stolen why can't they return my phone to me when someone else tries to activate it?

That's a complaint in my book, and again, that is a cell company issue. Ask them. These forums are for technical problems with Apple products, not for questions or complaints about your cell company's policies.

I have no interest in continuing with this discussion. Good luck getting further help if you are so rude when asking other questions.

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Answer 6

Oct 29, 2013 12:25 PM in response to Devon K

Devon K wrote:

No one has addressed this issue,

I believe I addressed your issue pretty clearly. Perhaps you should take a deep breath, re-read the thread and then politely thank the people who have attempted, to the best of their abilities to answer a question that is, as varjak pointed out, really outside the pervue of this forum.

Best of luck.

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