I purchased an open box Samsung Galaxy a32 on eBay last week. When it arrived and I powered it on, it went straight to the AT&T activation screen but I wanted to use it with my existing Straight Talk service so I pulled the AT&T sim and inserted a new Straight Talk AT&T network sim and tried to get the phone activated. After several hours and multiple chats with Straight Talk support, during which the phone never activated on their network, I decided to give up on them and just start new prepaid service with AT&T.
When I put the AT&T sim back in the phone, though, it's now asking for a network unlock code. I can put the Straight Talk sim back in the phone and it boots normally (but no service since it never fully activated). So it seems that the Straight Talk activation attempt locked my phone to their network, and Straight Talk refuses to help me or to provide an unlock code. The last guy I talked to told me flat out that they will absolutely not issue an unlock code for a BYOP device (but everyone I talk to has a different story, so who knows?).
Another wrinkle; the local AT&T store sent me to the AT&T unlocking page (https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/). I filled out the online form along with the phone's IMEI but the unlocking process reports "Looks like the device you want to unlock is active on another AT&T account. The owner has to remove it from their account first." I don't know if the AT&T message is the result of its finding the IMEI locked to another network or if the phone really is active on someone's AT&T account.
The eBay seller is supposed to be asking the original owner for details about the phone maybe still being active on their account but in the meantime, I thought I'd see if anyone here can offer me any hope or helpful suggestions. The phone's returnable but it seems like my activation attempt tmessed it up and I really don't want the seller to take the heat for that.
So can I do anything to fix this? Would an unlocking service (there's only one on Craigslist in my area) be able to clear a Straight Talk lock on an AT&T phone? Or is there a reputable, guaranteed online unlocking service I can try? Or another way to unlock/clear the network selection?
I'd really appreciate any help you guys can offer.
When I put the AT&T sim back in the phone, though, it's now asking for a network unlock code. I can put the Straight Talk sim back in the phone and it boots normally (but no service since it never fully activated). So it seems that the Straight Talk activation attempt locked my phone to their network, and Straight Talk refuses to help me or to provide an unlock code. The last guy I talked to told me flat out that they will absolutely not issue an unlock code for a BYOP device (but everyone I talk to has a different story, so who knows?).
Another wrinkle; the local AT&T store sent me to the AT&T unlocking page (https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/). I filled out the online form along with the phone's IMEI but the unlocking process reports "Looks like the device you want to unlock is active on another AT&T account. The owner has to remove it from their account first." I don't know if the AT&T message is the result of its finding the IMEI locked to another network or if the phone really is active on someone's AT&T account.
The eBay seller is supposed to be asking the original owner for details about the phone maybe still being active on their account but in the meantime, I thought I'd see if anyone here can offer me any hope or helpful suggestions. The phone's returnable but it seems like my activation attempt tmessed it up and I really don't want the seller to take the heat for that.
So can I do anything to fix this? Would an unlocking service (there's only one on Craigslist in my area) be able to clear a Straight Talk lock on an AT&T phone? Or is there a reputable, guaranteed online unlocking service I can try? Or another way to unlock/clear the network selection?
I'd really appreciate any help you guys can offer.