BlackBerry Forums Support Community

JSanders · 09-24-2009, 05:08 PM

On the home screen of the Storm:

Press and hold down the escape key (left of the red END call key).

Now, with your other hand, press to click in top left, top right, top left again and top right again of the screen. That is four clicks... left right left right.

The Help screen should appear, and the Vendor ID a few lines down.

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 05:15 PM

Thanks.

Phone is booting up now.

Meanwhile, I was on the phone with my carrier and they said that the pin is still bounded to the network I got the phone from and I need to call them to get it unlocked..

She said the phone was bought from verizon... Do i just call verizon and ask them kindly to unlock it?

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 05:21 PM

Vendor ID is 105 which is Verizon....

So... The question remains.. Do I just call verizon?

JSanders · 09-24-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTsoldier

Thanks.

I need to call them to get it unlocked..

NO, not unlocked... use the correct terminology so they will understand what you need.

You need to ask (politely) that Verizon "release" the PIN from their account or their system. The other person never did this. Tell them you bought the device used and need to use it on another carrier. If they say you can't use the device on another system, just be polite and say please... you are moving to another country and need it released.

Be polite, I say again, they don't have to do it for you, but they will. Otherwise the previous owner may need to call and make the request.

AND, this has nothing to do with the MEP code error... I don't know what you do about that. I thought maybe you had some odd pre-production device, but it seems not.

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 05:46 PM

Released. Ok. Got ya.

Wait what other person? I'm doing this for a friend and giving her the phone back.

Btw. Do you have a number for them? I looked on the site and they were prompting me for a zip code.

Or can I do it over the live chat?

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 10:10 PM

Well i called verizon.. they told me call RIM.. I called RIM.. they told me call verizon because verizon needs to authorize it and they can't do it because of security purposes... etc..

JSanders · 09-24-2009, 10:15 PM

Correct, the carrier has to do it. Call Verizon again.

The other person... I meant the person you who previously owned the Storm. They might need to call Verizon.

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 10:32 PM

I got through the first time but now when I'm trying to get through they keep asking me for a 10digit verizon number which I do not have.. then the call ends.. sigh..

what do i do?

JSanders · 09-24-2009, 10:55 PM

ahem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSanders

The other person... I meant the person you who previously owned the Storm. They might need to call Verizon.

Where did you buy the device? Private sale?

TTsoldier · 09-24-2009, 11:00 PM

Well what I'm hearing is my friends bf who is in the states now.. HIS friend bought the phone from verizon when it had some buy one get one free special? And gave my friends bf the phone.. My friends bf "unlocked" the phone up there and sent it here for her....

I basically just need a number where I can call verizon ( preferrably 24/7 support as its 12:00am here ) and get some technical assistance and not a automated menu asking me for my verizon number which i told them I don't have....

It's pretty dumb.. they ask u if u are a customer.. u say no.. yet they are prompting you for a number... When you tell them again you don't have one, they say they can't pull up your information , "good-bye"

Don't you hate automated menus? lol

TTsoldier · 09-25-2009, 08:13 AM

So I got through again.. They are saying the original owner ( don't know who that is ) needs to do it....

JSanders · 09-25-2009, 09:39 AM

It all sounds very strange to me... no one knows where the device came from? Maybe you need to call the friend's bf's friend and get them to release it.

Yep, it's complicated.

TTsoldier · 09-25-2009, 09:41 AM

That is my plan. Thanks alot man!

TTsoldier · 09-28-2009, 08:57 AM

So apparently my friend got on to the original owner and he called. I don't know what he told verizon but they did not want to do it.

While on the forums I saw an add on the side about unlocking phones.

Unlock Blackberry 9530 Storm - Cell phone unlocking services from Cellcorner

The last option says

"Unlock Blackberry Storm 9530 smartphone locked to Verizon Wireless using remote unlocking code. No cables or unlocking software required. Guaranteed to work or your money back.
Simlock codes are usually returned within the same day"

Will this work for me? Can anyone vouch for this website?

JSanders · 09-28-2009, 09:48 AM

You are confusing, still, two different matters.

Please refer to posts #9-10 above, in this thread. I suggested an unlocking service, and you responded you had that covered "a reputable source I purchase unlock codes from. So I'll get one from them."

Now I think we are going in circles. Forty posts later, we're back to getting the device unlocked, when you've said you done that already.

NOW, I thought (please refer to above posts #44-45) we were speaking of getting the PIN/IMEI "released" from the previous Verizon account where it was registered.

"Unlocked" and "PIN Released" are two different things... apples and oranges. Your friend's gf friend was to ask to have the PIN/IMEI released, not unlocked... you've done that. At least I think... I have asked for a screen shot a couple times, you haven't provided.

I think there are too many chefs in this stew.

TTsoldier · 09-28-2009, 09:59 AM

Ok Lets see if we can clear this up.

Next to network under Sim Card it says Active. Which means the phone is "locked"

I did purchase a code but... ( see post #38 )

So the phone is still locked to Verizon's network. Right?

So what we need now would be a PIN release. Are you insinuating that the only way to release the PIN would be through Verizon?

JSanders · 09-28-2009, 10:48 AM

1. The device is still locked.

2. It sounds like you need the PIN released as well... and Verizon is the ONLY one who can release the PIN from the previous users account.