What "blacklisted" actually means
Every phone has a unique IMEI number. When a phone is reported lost or stolen to a carrier, or a financed phone's payments stop, the carrier flags that IMEI in a shared industry database. Flagged phones are blocked from activating on US carrier networks — that's the "blacklist." It's a network block tied to the hardware, and it follows the phone no matter who holds it or how many times it's reset.
How phones end up on it
- Insurance claims — a phone is lost, the owner files a claim, then the phone turns up later. The claim already flagged the IMEI.
- Unpaid financing — installment payments stop, and the carrier blocks the device tied to the balance.
- Loss or theft reports — the carrier flags the IMEI when the report is filed, and the flag stays until it's actively removed.
Check your phone's status
- Find your IMEI: dial *#06#, or look in Settings → General → About on iPhone (Settings → About phone on Android).
- Run it through a carrier's bring-your-own-device checker (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each have one on their websites) — if the phone can't be activated, they'll say so.
- Either way, tell us the status in the quote form. Blacklisted isn't a dealbreaker here — but surprises at inspection change offers, and disclosure keeps your number firm.
What we require
Two things, and they're non-negotiable:
- You lawfully own the phone. Our terms have you confirm ownership on every sale. If a phone isn't yours to sell, we won't buy it — full stop.
- It's signed out and reset. A blacklist is a carrier block; Activation Lock is an account lock. We can work with the first, never the second. Our iPhone reset guide and Samsung reset guide cover sign-out step by step.
How the sale works
Same as any other device: tell us the model and condition in the quote form, note the blacklist status, and we text you a cash offer that already accounts for it. Accept, and either book an appointment at our Charlotte office for same-day cash or take the free mail-in label. The number we text is the number we pay when the phone matches your description.