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  1. #1
    Dale Edwards
    Guest
    Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is, Sprint
    won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is on
    some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how to
    activate it, I'll pay!

    Thanks,
    Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)





    See More: need help with an ESN




  2. #2
    P T Wang
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN


    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is, Sprint
    > won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is on
    > some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how to
    > activate it, I'll pay!


    Ask exactly why Sprint won't activate it (tape record the conversation if
    possible), and then ask the seller to fix the problem for you. Most likely
    the phone is stolen or the previous user did not pay his bill. Another
    slight possibility: You misread the ESN.







  3. #3
    Chris Russell
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    If it wasn't originally a SPCS phone they won't activate it. If it was a
    SPCS phone and the previous owner of the phone owes money from usage on that
    phone they will not activate it until the previous owner pays all money
    owed.

    Chris

    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is, Sprint
    > won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is on
    > some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how to
    > activate it, I'll pay!
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
    >
    >






  4. #4
    Dale Edwards
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    found it. It was active on Sprint when found but no one ever called the
    number to claim it. It had no data in it. I suspect that whoever lost it
    got it replaced by the Sprint insurance. When I called Sprint to get it
    activated, they said the ESN cannot be activated. And they didn't offer to
    tell me how to get it back to original owner or tell me to return it. So
    now, how can I get it activated??? How about if someone works for Sprint
    and takes the ESN off the blacklist?

    Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)

    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is, Sprint
    > won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is on
    > some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how to
    > activate it, I'll pay!
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
    >
    >






  5. #5
    desi
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    How about if someone works for Sprint
    and takes the ESN off the blacklist?

    Then that someone who works at Sprint would get fired.

    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    > found it. It was active on Sprint when found but no one ever called the
    > number to claim it. It had no data in it. I suspect that whoever lost it
    > got it replaced by the Sprint insurance. When I called Sprint to get it
    > activated, they said the ESN cannot be activated. And they didn't offer

    to
    > tell me how to get it back to original owner or tell me to return it. So
    > now, how can I get it activated??? How about if someone works for Sprint
    > and takes the ESN off the blacklist?
    >
    > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
    >
    > "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is,

    Sprint
    > > won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is

    on
    > > some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how

    to
    > > activate it, I'll pay!
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
    > >
    > >

    >
    >






  6. #6
    P T Wang
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN


    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    > found it. It was active on Sprint when found but no one ever called the
    > number to claim it. It had no data in it. I suspect that whoever lost it
    > got it replaced by the Sprint insurance.


    Insurance-replaced phone belongs to the insurance company. Stolen or lost
    phone belongs to the rightful owner. How are they difficult to understand
    for you?






  7. #7
    Bill T
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    I just underwent something similar. After several months of occasionally
    tethering my laptop to my Sprint phone for internet access, I decided to do
    the right thing and sign up for a wireless data plan. I bought a used
    connection card on Ebay from a "Powerseller" who has tens of these things
    for sale.

    Next followed my attempts to activate the card through *2. The card could
    not be activated, but my many attempts resulted in curious encounters with
    the Sprintoids:
    - 2 basically said "wireless what?" and immediately transferred me to
    technical support, who then of course bounced me right back to customer
    service.
    - 2 told me the card was already assigned to someone else and could not
    tell me what to do next.
    - 1 transferred me to the business unit, who put me on hold for 10
    minutes before my car went through a dead zone and I lost the call
    - 1 (yay!) promised to investigate and call me back within the hour.
    She told me that the card was one of many assigned to a third party
    (presumably a reseller or big corporation) and only it can activate my card.

    I then contacted the Ebay seller, who after several days' delay, said that
    he contacted Sprint and straightened out the whole matter. So I called
    Sprint today three times:
    - 1st rep transferred me to technical support, who transferred me back
    to Customer Service
    - 2nd rep hemmed and hawed at her computer screen and couldn't figure
    out what was going on with my card.
    - 3rd rep reported that the card's ESN has been investigated by the
    "help desk" (either at my or the Ebay seller's instigation) and that there
    is no way that Sprint can activate this particular card - no details
    available.

    Since all these reps were looking at the same info on their screens, it
    seems like it's just a luck of the draw to actually get someone
    knowledgeable in a particular problem area. Most seem to me to be
    technically unsophisticated. Perhaps it is best just to politely end a call
    and start a new one if a customer rep appears out of his/her depth.

    The Ebay seller has agreed to refund my purchase - minus shipping fees.

    My intepretation of the events is that the card I bought was one of many
    sold by Sprint in-bulk to a reseller, who then dumped overstocks to the
    Ebayer. Unfortunately, it appears that Sprint has no process to deactivate
    these cards. It only took me a week's worth of work to find this out.
    Luckily for me, I took the week to research other wireless card options, and
    I just bought a new card and wireless data service from Verizon; over the
    course of a 2 year contract, that's close to $2000 that Sprint just lost to
    Verizon.

    End of whine.


    Bill T







  8. #8
    Rod
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN


    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    > found it.


    I thought you said you bought it.






  9. #9
    Jerome Zelinske
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    That is not to say that if you had bought a new card and wireless data
    service from Sprint PCS you would not also have very satisfactory success.


    Bill T wrote:
    > I just underwent something similar. After several months of occasionally
    > tethering my laptop to my Sprint phone for internet access, I decided to do
    > the right thing and sign up for a wireless data plan. I bought a used
    > connection card on Ebay from a "Powerseller" who has tens of these things
    > for sale.
    >
    > Next followed my attempts to activate the card through *2. The card could
    > not be activated, but my many attempts resulted in curious encounters with
    > the Sprintoids:
    > - 2 basically said "wireless what?" and immediately transferred me to
    > technical support, who then of course bounced me right back to customer
    > service.
    > - 2 told me the card was already assigned to someone else and could not
    > tell me what to do next.
    > - 1 transferred me to the business unit, who put me on hold for 10
    > minutes before my car went through a dead zone and I lost the call
    > - 1 (yay!) promised to investigate and call me back within the hour.
    > She told me that the card was one of many assigned to a third party
    > (presumably a reseller or big corporation) and only it can activate my card.
    >
    > I then contacted the Ebay seller, who after several days' delay, said that
    > he contacted Sprint and straightened out the whole matter. So I called
    > Sprint today three times:
    > - 1st rep transferred me to technical support, who transferred me back
    > to Customer Service
    > - 2nd rep hemmed and hawed at her computer screen and couldn't figure
    > out what was going on with my card.
    > - 3rd rep reported that the card's ESN has been investigated by the
    > "help desk" (either at my or the Ebay seller's instigation) and that there
    > is no way that Sprint can activate this particular card - no details
    > available.
    >
    > Since all these reps were looking at the same info on their screens, it
    > seems like it's just a luck of the draw to actually get someone
    > knowledgeable in a particular problem area. Most seem to me to be
    > technically unsophisticated. Perhaps it is best just to politely end a call
    > and start a new one if a customer rep appears out of his/her depth.
    >
    > The Ebay seller has agreed to refund my purchase - minus shipping fees.
    >
    > My intepretation of the events is that the card I bought was one of many
    > sold by Sprint in-bulk to a reseller, who then dumped overstocks to the
    > Ebayer. Unfortunately, it appears that Sprint has no process to deactivate
    > these cards. It only took me a week's worth of work to find this out.
    > Luckily for me, I took the week to research other wireless card options, and
    > I just bought a new card and wireless data service from Verizon; over the
    > course of a 2 year contract, that's close to $2000 that Sprint just lost to
    > Verizon.
    >
    > End of whine.
    >
    >
    > Bill T
    >
    >
    >
    >





  10. #10
    Bill T
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN


    "Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > That is not to say that if you had bought a new card and wireless data
    > service from Sprint PCS you would not also have very satisfactory success.
    >


    Sure, and I don't mean to suggest otherwise. But.... 1) most of the Sprint
    reps don't seem to be very knowledgeable, and 2) Sprint should have a
    better means of deactivating cards.

    Of course, Verizon may be no better. I went with Verizon because their
    roll-out of broadband seems faster than Sprint's, and their $80 monthly plan
    is unlimited compared to Sprint's 300MB.

    I still have my SprintPCS phone plan.


    Bill T





  11. #11
    Bob Smith
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN


    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    > found it. It was active on Sprint when found but no one ever called the
    > number to claim it. It had no data in it. I suspect that whoever lost it
    > got it replaced by the Sprint insurance. When I called Sprint to get it
    > activated, they said the ESN cannot be activated. And they didn't offer

    to
    > tell me how to get it back to original owner or tell me to return it. So
    > now, how can I get it activated??? How about if someone works for Sprint
    > and takes the ESN off the blacklist?
    >
    > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
    >
    > "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Recently bought a Sprint Treo 600 (nice phone!) used. Problem is,

    Sprint
    > > won't activate it for me on my existing Sprint number. Says the ESN is

    on
    > > some kind of list. Anyone can take it off the blacklist or tell me how

    to
    > > activate it, I'll pay!
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Dale [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)


    Dale, you list two different stories about this card. Just what is it?

    Bob





  12. #12
    Jim Seymour
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    In article <[email protected]>,
    "Dale Edwards" <[email protected]> writes:
    > The reason they won't activate it is because someone lost it, then my son
    > found it. It was active on Sprint when found but no one ever called the
    > number to claim it.

    [snip]
    >


    I would've dialed *2 on the thing and told Sprint PCS customer
    service that I'd found a phone somebody had apparently lost and
    ask what I should do about it. Or I would've called the local
    police department and done the same.

    In any event: You have a phone that apparently does not belong
    to you. Kudos to SPCS for refusing to activate it.

    --
    Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
    WARNING: The "From:" address | http://www.uk.pgp.net/pgpnet/pks-commands.html
    is a spam trap. DON'T USE IT! |
    Use: [email protected] | http://jimsun.LinxNet.com



  13. #13
    norelpref
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    Jim Seymour wrote:

    > I would've dialed *2 on the thing and told Sprint PCS customer
    > service that I'd found a phone somebody had apparently lost and
    > ask what I should do about it.


    I did that before. I was told there was nothing they could do, they
    suggested I take it to a PCS store. Not convienent by any means.
    Luckily, a few hours later the phone owners mother called and despite a
    language barrier, I was able to arrange to return the phone.



  14. #14
    O/Siris
    Guest

    Re: need help with an ESN

    In article <%[email protected]>,=20
    Bill [email protected] says...
    > Since all these reps were looking at the same info on their screens, it=

    =20
    > seems like it's just a luck of the draw to actually get someone=20
    > knowledgeable in a particular problem area. Most seem to me to be=20
    > technically unsophisticated. Perhaps it is best just to politely end a c=

    all=20
    > and start a new one if a customer rep appears out of his/her depth.
    >=20


    I know this conversation is a few days old, and the example=20
    you gave is even older, but allow me to speculate a bit,=20
    please.

    This kind of response is indicative of what two reps told=20
    you: that this card already "belongs" to someone else. In=20
    fact, I ran into the same thing myself when I purchased a=20
    Sierra 550 Aircard via EBay. I got a terrific reseller=20
    who, after I promised him I would try a couple of times=20
    (and never told him I was a SPCS employee), promptly sent=20
    me a new card at no extra charge whatsoever. And even let=20
    me turn in the previous card.

    It turns out the card was already activated and assigned to=20
    a corporate account. It wasn't until I turned mine in that=20
    the company even realized that these cards had been=20
    purchased and activated. And the account was big enough=20
    that 10 such cards went unnoticed for about three months,=20
    from what I saw.

    All of that really to simply get to: I bent a few rules=20
    determining what was going on, because privacy regulations=20
    forbid us from going into any detail. We are simply to=20
    refer such issues to a store.

    Unfortunately, all a store will do is take the card from=20
    you. Your purchase is between you and the EBay seller. =20
    And you still remain obligated to the subscription if=20
    beyond 14 days on a new one.

    --=20
    R=D8=DF
    O/Siris
    -+-
    **A thing moderately good is not so good as it=20
    ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a=20
    virtue, but moderation in principle is always a
    vice.**
    -Thomas Paine. The Rights of Man. 1792-



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