Root [Verizon] ESN / Sim Card

[freshbasil]

Hi Gang

I'm looking to purchase a used S3 off of Ebay because my current VZW S3 has a bad screen.

If the ESN on the replacement is bad, can I still simply use the sim card from my previous phone? Or does a bad ESN nullify phone usage completely?

Thanks

 

[TALONTRAX]

The esn is "bad"how? If verizon blacklisted the serial # on that device,possibly because it was reported as stolen, then you're outa luck. Even if you transfer your current sim, you still need to call verizon to get service on that device & as soon as you give them that esn, they will not authorize service on that device.

 

[Mikestony]

Hello freshbasil
Do your research. Don't go near a device with a bad ESN.

A cell phone can have a bad ESN/MEID/IMEI number for one of 3 reasons:

The phone was reported lost or stolen in the past.
The phone is still active on the owner's wireless carrier account.
There is money owed on the wireless carrier account to which the ESN/MEID/IMEI is connected.

Any and all discussion from here on out will not be about bad ESN's okee dokee?

Nothing personal, it just isn't discussed here