How to activate iPhone without original sim?!

Question

Level 1

8 points

How to activate iPhone without original sim?!

So bear with me as I explain this predicament.

SO I bought a brand new phone off ebay, I check and the phone was not blacklisted. However the phone was linked with the sellers phone number and I needed the last four of his social and billing zip to activate. I call AT&T and they tell me just to go get a new sim card and it will work. I go and get a new sim and the guy at AT&T throws away the original sim (remember that!!!!)

So that doesn't work, they tell me to go restore it and THAT doesn't work.

The seller ends up giving me his zip code and last 4 SSN, but now the phone says that it can not activate because the sim that was shipped with the phone is not in the phone currently.

What do I do?! I have a $600 paperweight just sitting here right now.

iPhone 5s

Posted on Jan 30, 2014 8:39 AM

Reply

Answer 1

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Gannon12

So return it to the seller and get your money back. Sounds like the problem you are having is with the Activation Lock.

Reply

Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 30, 2014 9:01 AM in response to Gannon12

So the iPhone was activated and working on the AT&T network before you took it to AT&T? If it was then why did you take it in?

There is no requirement that the iPhone has to be activated with the original AT&T nanoSIM it came with. If there was such a requirement then if the nanoSIM was defective you could never replace it. There is no requirement that you have to have the previous owners last 4 of SSN and billing zip UNLESS you are trying to use their AT&T cell account.

They seller should have erased all content and settings from the iPhone and then sold it to you. At that point you would be able to activate it on your AT&T account without having to know any information from them.

Return it and get your money back.

Reply

Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:41 AM in response to Gannon12

Go back to the AT&T store and have them activate the phone. I'm not clear why you need the sellers information to do this.

Reply

Answer 4

Gannon12 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:53 AM in response to deggie

I have been to AT&T 3 times and apple once, they said there is nothing they can do.

Which is total BS considering it's AT&T's employees fault that the phone won't work.

I can't even get to the springboard because their is no option to bypass the original sim notice.

Reply

Answer 5

Gannon12 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:57 AM in response to deggie

I can't return it to the seller because the phone was in perfect working condition until the AT&T employee screwed it up by throwing away the original sim. If he never did that, then with the ssn and zip code the seller gave me, the phone would be working.

Reply

Answer 6

Gannon12 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2014 9:25 AM in response to deggie

The phone was completely brand new, sealed in packaging.

So you're saying that there was a defective nanoSIM? ....which is why I wasn't able to activate even though I had a sim with all my info on it? Even with my sim in the phone, his phone number kept coming up in the activation process.

Reply

Answer 7

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 30, 2014 9:29 AM in response to Gannon12

You are aware it isn't that hard to seal a package, right?

No, I wasn't saying there was a defective nanoSIM. My point was if you purchased a new iPhone from an authorized reseller if it did have a defective nanoSIM under your theory there would never be a way to activate the iPhone again.

What I am saying is if it was a brand new iPhone that was never activated then when you put your nanoSIM in it the phone should have activated. There is no requirement to use the original nanoSIM it came with. There is no need to have the sellers zip code and last 4 of their SSN.

Reply