I got a new samsung as an upgrade but recieved 2 of exactly the same phone, being honest i called my network and told them that 2 had arrived and had to give them a few details about the extra phone, they told me a courier from ups would be at mine to pick up the phone but they never did come to pick it up. its been over a month now so ive decided that if they cant be bothered to pick it up then im gonna keep it and give it to my sister,however the phone has been blocked (i presume from the details i gave over the phone) is the phone now no good or does any clever person want to inbox me and sort it out for me for a fee? i will show you the paper work, box etc just so that you know that its not stolen or nothing.

basically the network have blocked it via the imei number (over the air )its never going to work as the network have disabled it ,you cant ring them as they wont enable it .what samsung model is it .

So its absolutely useless then Stewy? its a Samsung Wave m8

As far as I know it WILL work, but not in the UK. So your only option would be to sell it abroad.

What an asshole thing to do! What network was that?
They could of just let you keep it as a spare!

If they have blocked it via the IMEI number then the phone is useless. Its the phones serial number and once blocked the phone is useless.

Unlike the old days where phones where barred on individual networks, people where stealing phones and unlocking them, and then just using them on a different network.

The IMEI solution was a collaboration between all the manufactures and operators to stop this happening.

Therefore, if the IMEI has been blocked its useless.

Has it been blocked or has it never been activated? May be worth asking?

It is possible to re-use this phone but will need the imei number changing.
Due to the fact most people who want to change imei numbers, do it because the phone is stolen, I don't want to post any more info on this here as im sure it will be able against site rules.
But it can be done.

Just to make sure anyone who considers doing this is aware, not only is it against site rules it's against the law and carries a sentence of up to five years imprisonment.

If you are arrested for any reason and taken into custody the police will, as a matter of course, check the IMEI numbers of any phones you have.

We're asked to do this all the time, and always refuse, how much would you charge to risk fives years of your life ?

sell it to someone in Morocco - problem solved (at least till PayPal inform you that they paid using a stolen credit card lol)

Cheers for all your information guys an gals, the network is o2 but the mobile seems to be unlocked as ive tried 2 different sims in it an both networks worked, i presume it has been activated when o2 sent it out? unless they blocked it when i gave them the imei number over the phone? im not very tech minded but it just says emergency calls only when i try to dial a number so make ya own minds up lol.
Well it looks like my best bet is just selling it on ebay as im sure someone out there will be willing to sort it out regardless of the 5 year penalty risk, it is a brand new £200 smart phone so im sure it will catch someones attention, Abroad or here.
Thanks again for all your info peeps. Kev

IMEI changing is only illegal on stolen phones, not peoples own phones.
Alot can happen to a phone that makes it need an IMEI change, software damage, chip or board damage ect........

Actually the law concerning this does not differentiate between your phone, stolen phones or software damage.

Sometimes a phones IMEI can become corrupt (an "unlock" code that was sold on eBay used to change the IMEI to all zero's) but you're unlikely to find anywhere that will advertise repairing this, especially as under the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act even having the equipment (or software) to change IMEI's is illegal, this is why most software that phone shops use have a "UK" version which doesn't have IMEI changing sections.

Whilst I agree that repairing an IMEI that has become corrupt should not be an offence the way this badly written piece of legislation that covers it does not allow you to do so. If you'd like to run the first test case through the courts.... feel free

Cheers 4 The info TheDr, well im one of these people that like to take risks, especially when i know that i have a good case to answer if i was ever caught. But it looks as tho im not gonna get lucky with this phone regards to getting it sorted as i have no contacts anywhere that are in that kind of business, plus i cant find anywhere online pointing me in the right direction, so im gonna ebay it, any ideas on how much i should ask for it m8? its currently retailing at £199 and its brand new in box with all accesories except wall charger because my other one broke, i was thinking £75ish is this too much?