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New Iphone Contract from Carphone Warehouse - IMEI Blacklisted - Cannot connect to a network!

  • August 12, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 22 views
J
Community Member

Hi,

TLDR - Brand New Iphone 17 Pro Max - won’t connect to network - Suspected IMEI Blacklisted/Blocked

 

I signed up for a new contract through Carphone Warehouse on Sunday (9th August), received the phone on Monday 10th, set it up, put the sim in, but it won’t connect to the network. In settings the Iphone recognises that there is an ID Mobile sim inserted into the phone, but will not connect. I tried another simcard from Talk Mobile, and another from Giffgaff, each time the Iphone recognises the sim card is in the phone, but does not connect to the network. Can’t make calls, receive calls, connect to the internet etc. Nothing. 

 

I spoke to ID Mobile online chat - went through various troubleshooting methods to try and get it connected. None of them worked. They advised me to go into Carphone Warehouse (Curry’s), grab a new sim, activate it, and see if it worked. It didn’t work. Whilst I was in Carphone Warehouse i asked if there was anything else they can do, they offered to cancel the contract and put me on a different one  - this wasn’t very helpful as all the contracts they offered in store were more expensive than the contract i had already signed up too. The service was pretty poor and useless, and didn’t address the actual issue i am having - the phone will not connect to any network. 

 

I got back onto ID Mobile chat, and advised that i had tried a new sim to no avail. They then advised that there is nothing else they can do and to go back to Carphone Warehouse to request a return/cancel the contract. Whilst on the chat i advised that i had searched for the IMEI number on various online website checkers and each time it came back saying BLACKLISTED. The advisor ont he chat told me that this could not be the case as it was brand new. I’m not convinced.

 

I’m about to call Carphone Warehouse to cancel the contract and return the phone, but wanted to ask if there is a way for anyone to actually verify if the phone is Blacklisted as it shows online - the ID Mobile advisor on chat didn’t seem interested in this as route to explore the problem, and would rather me just return the phone.

 

Is it possible for a Brand New Iphone to be blacklisted out of the box?

 

Thanks in advance!

    1 reply

    Tashnieka D
    iD Mobile Employee
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    • Tashnieka D
    • iD Mobile Employee
    • August 13, 2026

    Hi ​@J.a.smith19,

     

    Thank you for taking the time to provide such a detailed explanation of what has happened. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through repeated troubleshooting without getting a clear answer, particularly with a brand-new iPhone that isn’t connecting to any network.

     

    As you’ve already tested multiple SIM cards and the issue appears to be affecting the handset rather than just the iD Mobile SIM, this will need to be looked into further.

    Please contact us through one of our official social media channels and send us a private message through either:

    • Facebook – our official iD Mobile page
    • Instagram – our official iD Mobile page

    When contacting us, please mention that you have already completed the troubleshooting steps and tested other SIM cards, and that online IMEI checkers are reporting the handset as blacklisted. This will allow the team to review the matter further and advise you on the next steps.

     

    I’m sorry again for the inconvenience caused and for the conflicting information you’ve received so far.

     

    Thanks,

    Tashnieka
    The iD Mobile Team

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