Have you bought it with a blocked IMEI or have you originally owned it?
If you've bought it with a blocked IMEI then it's likely to be stolen or someone's obtained it and breached the contract. Either way if it wasn't originally yours you need to get in touch with the service provider to let them know you have it.
Don't be silly enough to try and change the IMEI, if you get caught you are looking at serious punishments. Remember that each time you are stop searched or arrested the police can check your IMEI against the national database as part of the process.
Originally Posted by lalaland: “ Remember that each time you are stop searched or arrested the police can check your IMEI against the national database as part of the process.”
The networks you mention above suggest you are a US user, not UK. The law re IMEI changing is referenced by myself as a UK law.
I am not aware of the law in the US so it may be different there. It may also be that the network you are using is not GSM as there are less GSM networks in the US. As such your phone may not actually have an IMEI if it's a CDMA handset.
Originally Posted by lalaland: “The networks you mention above suggest you are a US user, not UK. The law re IMEI changing is referenced by myself as a UK law.
I am not aware of the law in the US so it may be different there. It may also be that the network you are using is not GSM as there are less GSM networks in the US. As such your phone may not actually have an IMEI if it's a CDMA handset.”
Yes as far as I know changing and IMEI in the USA is legal.
CDMA handsets don't have an IMEI, they have an ESN.
Given that the technology isn't used in the UK, this really isn't the best place to ask. ESNs are incredibly complicated and the networks hold most of the cards in this area.