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Let’s discuss how to check if my phone is paid off or stolen on AT&T. There are always a few issues to be considered before purchasing a used phone online, whether it be eBay, Facebook market place or any other website.
Millions of phones are stolen each year, with some cities reporting theft rates as high as 40%. And you don’t want to be on the receiving end of buying a stolen or unpaid phone because it can be rendered unusable.
Most people don’t want to be handed a device that will have to be immediately replaced and lose money in the process if they find out a phone has been stolen. Thankfully AT&T is a company that can determine if a phone has been paid off, or stolen and is free of any liability.
The good news is that AT&T has made it easy for people to check whether a phone has a clean history. So we decided to come up with this information guide to help you determine whether your soon-to-purchase second-hand phone is free from any liabilities.
All that is required is to check the IMEI number.
Table of Contents
Importance of checking Phone’s IMEI
It is important to check the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity, 15-digit ID number for the device) of a second-hand phone before purchasing it from AT&T because it can help you determine whether the device is stolen, lost, or has an outstanding balance or contract attached to it. If the phone has been reported as lost or stolen, it may be blocked by the carrier, and you won’t be able to use it.
Furthermore, if there is an outstanding balance or contract on the phone, the carrier may not unlock it for you, even if you purchase it from a third party. This could result in the phone being unusable on AT&T’s network or other networks.
By checking the IMEI on AT&T’s website or contacting their customer service, you can ensure that the phone you are purchasing is legitimate and free from any issues that may prevent you from using it.
Check IMEI Status Before Buying Second hand
Before you commit to buying a second-hand phone that’s been locked to a carrier like AT&T then, be to check the phone IMEI number before handing over the cash.
Here’s how in 2 easy steps:
- Obtain the IMEI from the seller
- Call AT&T and ask to do an IMEI check or use the AT&T IMEI checker tool here.
How to check if your phone is paid off with AT&T
If you are looking to hand off your old phone to a family member or friend or would like to sell it then you can check the status of your phone on AT&T’s system by doing a quick IMEI status check.
It’s also important to remove any debts and pay off your contract to AT&T as it would impact your credit and they could send AT&T debt collections to your doorstep if it’s not paid off.
Here’s how to check
Your billing statements
The first point of call is to check the billing statement. Any printed bills from AT&T will display the balance, hence when the balance has been paid completely, there will be zero balance but seeing any other figure indicates that the phone is not paid in full.
Access your AT&T Account
You can as well make use of the AT&T official website to confirm.
- Navigate to https://att.com/deviceunlock.
- Search for My Bill” on the “My Account” page.
- Click on it to display any outstanding balance.
- If there is no outstanding balance, then your phone has been paid off.
- On the other hand, when you see this message “as all the instalment payments have not been made, this device cannot currently be unlocked. This is the information needed to make your decision to proceed or not.
In Conclusion
Now you have known how to check if your phone is paid off with AT&T. Ensure you check your billing statement, make use of the website, or rather reach out to the AT&T collection department for further information.
With the correct resources, you can be sure your phone is paid off and you can unlock your phone to sell it on or give it to a family member
Frequently asked questions
How do I ensure my phone is paid off on AT&T?
You can confirm this on AT&T by checking your billing statement, making use of the AT&T official website, and reaching out to the AT&T collections department. Once you confirm that the balance is zero, then it’s obvious the phone has already been paid off.
What does AT&T Device Payment Plan imply?
This refers to the installation plan that makes it possible to pay for your device. The plan is divided into 12 to 30 months.
How do I reach out to AT&T’s collections department?
You can get to them by calling 1-800-338-6690. Alternatively, you can also contact them by sending an email to [email protected].
Is it possible to negotiate with AT&T for a lower balance?
You can negotiate your phone bill but you must reach them by calling customer service. They will outline the information about the payment plans as well as other options.
