Sell a Blacklisted Phone with a Bad ESN or Bad IMEI
- Discover how to sell your blacklisted iPhone.
- Learn how to check if you have a blacklisted or locked phone.
- Check out how to remove your phone from a blacklist status.
Sell Your Blacklisted Phone Quickly, Easily, and Legally!
If your phone has a bad ESN or blacklisted IMEI number, it can significantly restrict your phone’s value. Phone buyers are also apprehensive about buying phones with bad ESNs.
So, how do you sell a blocked iPhone or Android phone? Can you fix a bad ESN or blacklisted IMEI? Let’s find out!
Where to Sell a Blacklisted iPhone – 100% Safe

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How to Sell a Blacklisted Phone?

Private buyers may be reluctant to buy phones with a bad ESN or IMEI number. But it is still possible to sell it as long as you are the owner or bought a used phone you didn’t know was blacklisted.
There are a few online buyback stores that will accept a blacklisted or locked phone. You can compare prices and options for selling a blocked iPhone or Android phone.
Here’s how you sell blacklisted phones:
- Find your phone model here.
- Select Blacklisted in locked status and provide accurate information about your phone.
- Click Get Paid and follow the instructions prompted.
What are the Conditions Accepted?
- Bad ESN – unable to utilize a cellular network due to a blacklist or block by the carrier
- Permanent blacklisted or blocked globally
- Blocked or blacklisted for any reason
- Blacklisted by not a hardware problem or issues
- It powers on
Some local repair stores also look for a locked phone to utilize their parts. However, if you can unblock your phone, you can sell it for a higher price.
Find the Best Deals for Your Blacklisted Devices Here!
BankMyCell provides an easy way to compare costs from reputable buyback stores. Get the most out of your device, ship it for free, and earn more while legally and ethically compliant.
What is a Blacklisted Phone?
The blacklist is a database of all the ESN (Equipment Serial Number) or IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers that phone carriers, insurance companies, or other entities have reported. A device that is on the blacklist will have restricted services, and local authorities may even seize the phone.
Why is Your Phone Blacklisted?
- Lost and Found: You report a lost phone, it gets blacklisted, but then you find it.
- Unpaid Financed Phones: Selling a financed phone before it’s paid off. The carrier then blacklists it.
If you have a phone with a bad ESN or IMEI, there are several things that you can do to unblock your phone.
How to Remove a Phone from the Blacklist
Contact Your Carrier
If your phone is on the blacklist as a result of non-payment, the first step is to contact your carrier and ask them to unblock your ESN or IMEI. Your carrier may be willing to unblock the phone, provided you pay your total balance.
Pay for Unblock Services
Service providers can unblock an IMEI or ESN for a fee. If you want to unblock an older model, for example, a 6-year-old iPhone, you will have to pay a fee of around $25. However, unblocking newer models is more expensive, and you can spend as much as $190 to unblock a brand-new iPhone.
Should you decide to go this route, stick to reputable companies that do not engage in unethical or illegal activities? You should only work with companies, such as IMEI Authority and Cell Unlocker, that offer money-back guarantees to protect you if they cannot remove your phone from the blacklist.
Use as Wi-Fi Device
If you can’t follow the above options to unblock your phone, you can still use it with Wi-Fi. Your phone will not be connected to a cellular network, but you can still place calls online, access the internet, and check your email. It can also be used to make emergency calls to 911.