Locked
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I was sold a phone as unlocked, but that wasn't true; now I have a phone that is locked to another country.
Summary: julianrod1997 filed a complaint about purchasing an iPhone listed as 'Factory Unlocked' which turned out to be carrier-locked and financed, with no possibility of unlocking. They faced issues with the seller providing an invalid return label for international shipment, violating eBay's policies. comics-scifi-collectibles inquired whether the phone was shipped directly to Colombia or via a US package forwarding service, as this affects buyer rights. comics-scifi-collectibles offered to help julianrod1997 seek a refund.
FORMAL COMPLAINT - ITEM NOT AS DESCRIBED - FRAUDULENT UNLOCKED CLAIM
eBay Order: 04-15057-26096
eBay Return Case: 5329033870
Item: Apple iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine - Sold as Factory Unlocked - New
Buyer Location: Colombia (International Buyer)
Serial: JN4XNM24HY
1. SUMMARY OF FRAUD:
The item was sold as "Factory Unlocked - New". The device received is carrier locked and impossible to unlock. It is a financed phone with unpaid balance.
IMEI check from independent GSX/Apple database shows:
- Model: iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine A3081 US
- Estimated Purchase Date: April 1, 2025
- Blocked Operator: US TracFone / StraightTalk Blocking Policy
- Next Activation Policy ID: 2360
- SIM Lock Status: Locked
Policy 2360 is Apple's known policy for "US TracFone Locked - Financed, Not Eligible for Unlock".
TracFone live support (Agent Elder, transcript attached) confirmed IMEI is NOT in their platform and cannot be unlocked.
2. SELLER PROVIDED INVALID RETURN LABEL:
For international INAD case, seller provided domestic label FDX1RT877115792145.
FedEx Colombia confirmed this label is domestic US only and cannot be used for international shipment of a device containing lithium battery.
Tracking shows "label created, not shipped". Seller claims I did not ship, but label is unusable from Colombia.
Under eBay Money Back Guarantee for Item Not As Described, for international returns, seller must provide prepaid international return label or refund without return. Seller violated this policy and asked me to pay $80+ for return at my own cost.
3. ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION:
- Contacted seller: Seller insisted phone is unlocked and refused international label.
- Contacted TracFone: Confirmed impossible to unlock.
- Contacted eBay: Bot closed case 5329033870 automatically because domestic label was not used.
- Contacted PayPal: Referred back to eBay.
4. REQUEST:
I request a full refund without need to return, or eBay to provide a valid international prepaid return label.
The device is materially different from listing. It is not Factory Unlocked. It is a financed, carrier-locked device (TracFone Policy 2360) with no possibility of unlocking. This is not a buyer's remorse, it is fraud.
Evidence Attached:
1. Screenshot of IMEI check showing Policy 2360 Locked
2. Screenshot of TracFone support chat saying IMEI not in platform
3. Photo of iPhone screen showing "SIM Locked to TracFone"
4. FedEx label FDX1RT877115792145 showing invalid for international use
5. Original listing screenshot showing "Factory Unlocked"
Thank you.
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Aquí tienes todo el caso redactado en inglés, listo para PayPal y para eBay. Este es el documento maestro, guarda este texto:
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FORMAL COMPLAINT - ITEM NOT AS DESCRIBED - FRAUDULENT UNLOCKED CLAIM
eBay Order: 04-15057-26096
eBay Return Case: 5329033870
Item: Apple iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine - Sold as Factory Unlocked - New
Buyer Location: Colombia (International Buyer)
Serial: JN4XNM24HY
1. SUMMARY OF FRAUD:
The item was sold as "Factory Unlocked - New". The device received is carrier locked and impossible to unlock. It is a financed phone with unpaid balance.
IMEI check from independent GSX/Apple database shows:
- Model: iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine A3081 US
- Estimated Purchase Date: April 1, 2025
- Blocked Operator: US TracFone / StraightTalk Blocking Policy
- Next Activation Policy ID: 2360
- SIM Lock Status: Locked
Policy 2360 is Apple's known policy for "US TracFone Locked - Financed, Not Eligible for Unlock".
TracFone live support (Agent Elder, transcript attached) confirmed IMEI is NOT in their platform and cannot be unlocked.
2. SELLER PROVIDED INVALID RETURN LABEL:
For international INAD case, seller provided domestic label FDX1RT877115792145.
FedEx Colombia confirmed this label is domestic US only and cannot be used for international shipment of a device containing lithium battery.
Tracking shows "label created, not shipped". Seller claims I did not ship, but label is unusable from Colombia.
Under eBay Money Back Guarantee for Item Not As Described, for international returns, seller must provide prepaid international return label or refund without return. Seller violated this policy and asked me to pay $80+ for return at my own cost.
3. ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION:
- Contacted seller: Seller insisted phone is unlocked and refused international label.
- Contacted TracFone: Confirmed impossible to unlock.
- Contacted eBay: Bot closed case 5329033870 automatically because domestic label was not used.
- Contacted PayPal: Referred back to eBay.
4. REQUEST:
I request a full refund without need to return, or eBay to provide a valid international prepaid return label.
The device is materially different from listing. It is not Factory Unlocked. It is a financed, carrier-locked device (TracFone Policy 2360) with no possibility of unlocking. This is not a buyer's remorse, it is fraud.
Evidence Attached:
1. Screenshot of IMEI check showing Policy 2360 Locked
2. Screenshot of TracFone support chat saying IMEI not in platform
3. Photo of iPhone screen showing "SIM Locked to TracFone"
4. FedEx label FDX1RT877115792145 showing invalid for international use
5. Original listing screenshot showing "Factory Unlocked"
Thank you.
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What can I do in this case?
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor3 weeks ago · Edited@julianrod1997 Can you please tell me if the seller shipped to you in Colombia OR if you used a package forwarding service that was located in the US?
The answer to this question affects your rights as a buyer.
I want to try to help you get a refund.
I am marking this as answered so you hopefully will see my reply and answer my questions. We can not access accounts.