IMEI blocked iPhone out of UK

[sromurca0]

Hi!
I'm living in UK right now and I have an O2 contract (iphone) but i'm leaving the UK for living in Spain in a month. I would like to find solutions about if I can use my iphone even if O2 blocks its imei.
I intend to get a contract with Vodafone Spain and I don't know if my mobile will work.


-Do you think that imei blocking affects only in UK and I could use iphone wherever I want except in UK?
-Do you think it's better if I change imei number? (Is it easy? and Which ways I have to do it?)


thanks a lot!

 

[Harman M]

Why would they block the IMEI? Say you're moving to Spain. Most carriers have a clause if you can provide proof your leaving.

 

[sromurca0]

imagine they will block my IMEI...
could i continue to use it in Spain with any network company althought O2 blocks my imei? or if I insert a Spain network, the iphone will blocked too?

 

[Greenstick]

If you're saying you intend to default on your O2 contract then yes, O2 will bar your SIM and IMEI as you would be stealing a subsidised phone that technically belongs to O2 until you've completed the lengh of the contract or paid it off early in full.

The IMEI bar only applies to the O2 and other UK networks. The bar won't work on any other network in the world.

In the UK, it is illegal to change an IMEI.

 

[sromurca0]

Thanks for replyes!
I don't know how the imei block works...
I would know what I have to do step by step...
Once the assurance company reports the imei to O2, it will be blocked... I hope you could help me in what are the steps to take!=)

 

[CD3660]

Once the assurance company reports the imei to O2, it will be blocked.

Forgive me , but this is sounding decidedly dodgy. Is this iPhone insured, and are you planning to report it lost or stolen?

....I hope you could help me in what are the steps to take!

Quite simple really. Pay off the contract and take the iPhone to Spain with a clear conscience and without risk of prosecution for theft and/or fraud.


Incidentally, an O2 iPhone will not work on Vodafone in Spain unless you unlock it.

 

[Steve Jobs=God]

Depends,

If the bar is applied due to non payment of bill then no it won't effect the phone in anyway, it will be the sim that is locked, not the phone

If the bar is applied due to the phones being reported lost or stolen, the phone will be blacklisted, which ranges right through europe

 

[trainguy77]

Depends,

If the bar is applied due to non payment of bill then no it won't effect the phone in anyway, it will be the sim that is locked, not the phone

If the bar is applied due to the phones being reported lost or stolen, the phone will be blacklisted, which ranges right through europe

If the OP is in a contract and doesn't pay bills the phone could be banned as well. Either way I think its against macrumors policy help with illegal activity.

 

[efp1]

Yeah, this seems very dodgy. Seems like OP wants to claim insurance money and declare it stolen. Hopefully that's not the case.

 

[trainguy77]

Yeah, this seems very dodgy. Seems like OP wants to claim insurance money and declare it stolen. Hopefully that's not the case.

Thats or he is leaving the country without paying bills.