Check the SIM tray. While a “Bad ESN” means that phones on CDMA networks means the phone has been reported Lost/Stolen or a bad ESN can also mean that the phone is still active on another account and can’t be reactivated on another account. If you have a Sprint phone, you should know that the website has had a few issues with determining ESN and IMEI blacklisting. This is the easy bit. Third, ask them if the phone is activated. To do so, you need to know your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier) number or your ESN (Electronic serial number) number. Go to the section that gives you information about your phone. In most smartphones, it is always called “About” or “About phone”. A blacklisted phone is not always one that has been reported stolen/missing. Even though you might need to. First off, let’s sort out what a phone blacklist means. A blacklisted phone is only blacklisted in the country in which it was reported, A Verizon iPhone blacklisted in the US would not be blacklisted in Singapore or New Zealand, for example. The MEID (mobile equipment identifier) number is the one you need to provide in the http://www.checkesnfree.com/ web site to check the status of a phone’s ESN. Don’t buy a used phone if you’re still wondering, ‘what is a blacklisted phone?’ If, however, you do find yourself with a phone that is blacklisted, or has a bad ESN, this is what you should do. The account holder, or the phone’s carrier, are the only ones who can remove the blacklisting status. If you know someone in another country with your same phone, you can switch out the phone’s chip, which is where the logic board is stored. AT&T may even call you up to ask why you activated a blacklisted phone! If the owner fails to pay off the phone’s financing, the phone might as well end up on the blacklist. This web site, http://www.checkesnfree.com/, will check an ESN or IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) on Verizon for being blacklisted. If you bought the phone from an individual seller, you might as well ask for a refund. Check the battery. If it is an iPhone that is reported lost or stolen, then it could have what is known as a bad ESN, or electronic serial number. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Facebook has been in hot water about its... Downloading apps on your smartphone can be lots of fun. Depending on the carrier, you might receive a refund. The IMEI checks can be done without any limit. There are other ways that an iPhone could have a bad ESN. Before we proceed, perhaps it’s important for you to check if the phone really has a bad IMEI by doing a check online using an bad ESN or blacklisted IMEI checker. It is likely that the representative will only check all three things if they are asked directly. , the mere fact that it is a cheaper option when it comes to acquiring flagship phones gives it a competitive advantage. All rights reserved. These phones are on the GSM network, so either AT&T or T-Mobile. That’s pretty everything there is to know about blacklisted phones. There are other ways that an iPhone could have a bad ESN. When a phone is lost or stolen, it becomes a blacklisted phone. Basically, a blacklisted phone is one that has been reported missing or stolen by the original/ previous owner. Now you know, do all you can to avoid buying one. How else can a phone end up in a blacklist? If our iPhone IMEI Unblacklist Eligibility Check shows you that an iPhone is Blacklisted before buying it , you should immediately stop. You will also need to know which number to use to check if a phone is blacklisted, or if the ESN is bad. If that isn’t possible, then you still have a few other options. If you intend to purchase a Sprint phone, and you’re not sure whether it’s blacklisted or not, you should call Sprint and ask. When you speak to a Sprint representative, there are three things you need to ask. If you don’t know it, it is just a stone throw from you. Later on, we would go into what you should do if you find out that your phone is blacklisted. Even if you have absolutely no idea of what it means for a phone to be “Blacklisted”, as you will read every word of this article, you would become enlightened on this subject matter. However, when it comes to buying used phones, you need to be extra careful so as not to buy a blacklisted phone. Without further ado, let’s explore this concept…. Second, ask them if the phone is inactive on a delinquent account. Basically, a blacklisted phone is one that has been reported missing or stolen by the original/ previous owner. It won’t be able to work on a network like Verizon, T-Mobile, and lots more. Typing #06# into the keypad should also display the numbers. 5855 W Silver Spring Dr. Milwaukee WI 53218. What to do once you are certain your phone is not blacklisted. If your device is blacklisted, your carrier may block services- and in the worst-case scenario, you might risk losing it to the local authorities. What was the first thought that crossed your mind when you heard the term “Blacklisted Phone”? including damaged or even broken devices. Another reason for a bad ESN is where someone tries to reactivate a phone on an account when the phone is still active on another account. You could dismantle the phone and sell off the individual components as phone spare parts. You may even make a small profit that way. The Blacklist Check service will help you to protect your money, investment and time, so you can either purchase a CLEAN iPhone or learn if it can get unblacklisted. You need to get the phone’s ESN and EMEI numbers, as described earlier.