Dilemma

**25jive1** · 07-31-2012, 11:01 AM

I ran across a Verizon phone for sale on Craigs List for $15. I often search CL for spare phones for my phone destroying grandsons, we all use PPC.
When I met the seller to pick up the phone he said "that phone is active". Out curiosity I asked if it was on VZW prepaid which would render it useless to me. He didn't know, it was his late mothers phone and he knew nothing about it. He suggested I use the remaining minutes (1500+ or .01 CPM) then do something else with it. I paid him and took it home,

Choosing "my number" on the menu I discover it is active on the ReachOut program. I went to the website and logged into the account using the phone number and a password texted to me at my request. I find the phone is on a free 125 minute per month plan with rollover minutes that never expire. I then added the phone to my Google Voice account and started making calls.

I'm against government hand outs of most any type but I feel I did pay something for those minutes and should recoup at least something yet I feel like I'm being a bit dishonest. Is it stealing? How much time do I have before ReachOut discovers the woman is dead and kills the phone? I can cancel the service easily on the web site. Would PPC be able to reactivate the phone since it was at one time given way and used on another prepaid provider?.. answering the final question is what I'm most interested in finding out.

**Frontierjustice** · 07-31-2012, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by 25jive1

1. Is it stealing? How much time do I have before ReachOut discovers the woman is dead and kills the phone?
2. Would PPC be able to reactivate the phone since it was at one time given way and used on another prepaid provider?.. answering the final question is what I'm most interested in finding out.

1. I expect you have to requalify for these plans each year ... the phone will die when you don't requalify. This requalify date might be a few weeks away, though. Stealing? Fraud? I dunno. If I loan you my phone are you stealing from P+ ? I think you have to have intent to steal or defraud. Use it for a while and cancel.
2. Only P+ can tell you or find out.
Regards, FJ

**25jive1** · 07-31-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Frontierjustice

1. I expect you have to requalify for these plans each year ... the phone will die when you don't requalify. This requalify date might be a few weeks away, though. FJ

When I logged into the account a popup told me I needed to reverify. I filled out the form checking the boxes without reading the question and made illegible hen scratches with my mouse in the signature box. A message told me I was reverified. I may have some jail time coming.

**rafster** · 07-31-2012, 04:40 PM

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**whacker** · 08-01-2012, 09:22 PM

You naughty boy!

**HF305** · 08-02-2012, 09:40 AM

Anyone who thinks it is OK to sign a dead person's name to get your phone service is obviously a troll.

**25jive1** · 08-02-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by HF305

Anyone who thinks it is OK to sign a dead person's name to get your phone service is obviously a troll.

I canceled the service on the Reachout website. And I did not sign anybodies name. The marks I made were illegible scratches. After thinking it over I decided it was dishonest. My first reaction was "free cell phone.. great". My final thought "It ain't worth it"

**whacker** · 08-02-2012, 11:36 AM

Anyone who's been on HoFo long enough to have a post count like yours, HF305, should know better about members like 25jive1. Troll? What are you, a politician? But then, you likely hang more in the VZW forum.

**25jive1** · 08-02-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by whacker

Anyone who's been on HoFo long enough to have a post count like yours, HF305, should know better about members like 25jive1. Troll? What are you, a politician? But then, you likely hang more in the VZW forum.

I've been hanging around here and other BB's for years. I've learned that when under the cover of anonymity some folks will make comments they would never say in a face to face conversation. If they did they wouldn't have many friends. I just let it pass.

**Frontierjustice** · 08-02-2012, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by 25jive1

I canceled the service on the Reachout website.

After looking on the ReachOut website, I think you could have let the "lifeline" part lapse but kept the account as a regular commercial account, buy some airtime ... and maybe kept the "roll-over" minutes.
Regards, FJ

**25jive1** · 08-02-2012, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Frontierjustice

After looking on the ReachOut website, I think you could have let the "lifeline" part lapse but kept the account as a regular commercial account, buy some airtime ... and maybe kept the "roll-over" minutes.
Regards, FJ

I don't really need any more phones. I bought it for replacing grandsons phones as they destroy quite a few each year. If ReachOut releases the ESN I will have got what I wanted in the first place.

BTW, its been over 24 hours since I filled out the cancelation form on ReachOut website and the phone is still active.