Anything wrong with using someone else's unwanted upgrade on a different network?

[hola]

Hello,

as far as I understand it's illegal to network lock phones in SA, but I'm just checking if anyone knows a reason not to buy someone else's upgrade phone - am I going to run into any trouble with compatibility if I use it on a different network?

I think vodacom at least brands their contract phones - that likely to be a problem?

Thanks!

 

[Lupus]

The phone does not belong to the person while they are on contract, it belongs to the cellular provider. Once they've paid it off it's theirs to do with what they want, before then it's not theirs. So basically they technically aren't allowed to sell it, and it can be blacklisted by the network.

 

[hola]

Oh really?? Jeez didn't know that.
How come people are always selling their upgrades online then?

 

[Zukat]

It will work on any network, but its true what Lupus has said. You are taking the risk of the seller either defaulting on his contract or reporting it as stolen and the chances of it getting blacklisted afterwards is 50/50.

Oh really?? Jeez didn't know that.
How come people are always selling their upgrades online then?

They need the money and dont need the phone, while you are hunting for a bargain at 20-40% less than official cash price with risks mentioned above.

 

[hola]

Thanks, makes sense

 

[SauRoNZA]

Oh really?? Jeez didn't know that.
How come people are always selling their upgrades online then?

Same reason I question why they upgrade at all in the first place.

 

[casper76]

Suppose its a lucrative way of turning it to cash

 

[SauRoNZA]

Suppose its a lucrative way of turning it to cash

But you are paying for it every month.

So if anything you are just losing money?

*****

Outside of someone receiving a cellphone allowance from their company and pocketing the phone. Which surely must be illegal in the terms of the company too.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

9.1.2. Vodacom will remain the owner of the Apparatus for the duration of the Initial Period.

It states it quite clearly in the contract. Even though you pay an amount towards the handset every month, at no stage do you own any part of the handset. You are paying a "usage" fee. At the end of the contract the network will kindly let you keep the handset.