Used phone connected to plan?

[clsmith593]

I buy some used phones and sometimes get one that is still connected to a plan. Is there any way I can find out if the phone still connected, Before I go to active it? It can be real embarassing when this happens, with a customer, right in front of me, expecting to get a phone.
Most of the time they clear up in a week or two. I thought of trying to activate on my own account thru Eroes, but that would be a hassel. when I do a check thru lost/stolen, it doesn't show up. Any easy way?

[vzwinagent]

Generally it will still go through. I know they did a recent change in eroes that tells you its on another account but I think it still puts it on the account. The phone won't *228 but do manual programming and it will work fine. The only thing I've had issues with are pdas. The data won't work if tied to another account.