Manipulated Samsung phone

[snpbjf]

Dear All 

Online shopping is an easy way to buy items but some sellers are damaging this business. I bought Samsung NOTE 20, and contact Samsung to make sure this phone is genuine. The customer service first time give me the wrong information but raised attention that the IMEI number does not exist in the database. Then after 3 times calling customer service plus chat with them and furthermore investigation I discover this phone has been manipulated by changing the IMEI number which is an easy task anyone can do that if he has a computer and technical background. However, this phone is not subjected to the Samsung warranty policy.  

First, this item is a counterfeit and eBay doing nothing to the seller. 

Second, my data are installed on the phone and delete it will not wipe the data because get data back can easily return this data. Unfortunately, the first Samsung customer service disinformed me by telling me Yes this is note 20. but did not tell me this is not a UK phone and will not be repaired in the UK, this is the reason I start to install my data on this phone. 

Now my information could be breached if I return this phone, and it is not fair to pay for a phone that has no warranty. 

the only way I can delete the data on this phone and make it unretrievable by rewrite don't the phone storage 0s and 1s and this will damage the OS. 

eBay should approve this process for customer protection. So the seller will stop tricking people and be genuinely telling this phone is not subject to repair policy and people might buy it at will cheaper price.  

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

You have overlooked to tell us the two things we most need to know: when and how did you pay, and when did you receive this phone?

If it was delivered within the last 30 days you can use eBay's money back guarantee, see: https://pages.ebay.co.uk/ebay-money-back-guarantee/. Better still, read the full terms and conditions here: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/money-back-guarantee.html

If you paid by PayPal and it's already beyond eBay's 30 day time limit you can still file a dispute under Paypal's longer, 180 day buyer protection policy, see: https://www.paypal.com/uk/smarthelp/article/what-if-i-didn%27t-receive-my-item-or-it%27s-not-as-adve...

Unlike eBay, PayPal requires the buyer to pay for the return postage, unless you first register for their (free) "Return shipping on us" service, see: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/refunded-returns

[snpbjf · Accepted solution]

Return is not an issue, the issue when you download and install your information credit card, bank account and much more on this system. So, even if you return it to the factory setting this will not delete your data, as data recovery can get the information back, in this case, you are totally exposed to those people who can do what they like. The online business is a gift where people can buy staff easily, also people selling online as the only expense is the shipping cost in comparison to shops. So we are able to find cheaper products online because the business does not add lots of profit in comparison to a normal shop who have rent cost, shop taxes, electricity, and much more, unfortunately, some people are illogical. For example, buy a bike from a high-end shop has 2 years warranty, so the price is double. but buying a bike from eBay should not have the same price as they do not have the same warranty. So the item you buy from eBay after one month if something happens, you and the seller, sometime you can involve PayPal.  

[snpbjf · Accepted solution]

People who are not technical make everyday mistakes and it depends on their luck, or sometimes they found themselves self-lost in issue after issue without knowing where it comes from. Such a case is a source of lots of problems if the item falls into the technical hands. If those people who sell the phone has the ability to change the IMEI number and write over the Erasable programmable ROM, So they can easily do data recovery. I personally Sold 5 or 6 years ago a Samsung phone after change the OS, but I told the customer that this OS is changed to such and such. So, those people if they just being honest and tell it is manipulated, people might buy it with X amount less. but tricking people and tell them it is a UK phone and it is not. this is an issue. It is not a crime to change even the OS on the System, You can reprogram the EPROM, but you should tell, otherwise, it is a crime. The phone is a small computer you can have OS, the OS is Andriod which is free as it is open-source code. The hardware is Samsung, and you can change even the Mac address of the network card. So, the issue is, the phone will not register with Samsung and it will not subject to a Samsung warranty if an issue happens. This is why we register the phone with the main company. a lot of people do not register the phone which is a big mistake.