Can you still simply trade phones with someone with T-Mobile's new plans?

[antheauxny]

So, I'm in the talks with someone to trade my HTC One for their iPhone 5 (HTC One is SICK but I just prefer iOS). My HTC One is paid off already (paid in full) but from my understanding my friends iPhone 5 is still on monthly installments.
My question is can we simply take our SIM cards out and swap phones without any issues? or will the IMEI in his iPhone be bad since it's not paid off yet?

Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app

 

[anthony2558]

I believe thay both phones need to be paid off in full prior to switching your sim cards out. This is how alot of people are getting screwed over when buying phones off the internet. Its your friend so u can give it a shot, but I really believe they needed to be paid off first.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[21stNow]

As long as your friend continues to make the payments on the iPhone or pays it off completely if he leaves T-Mobile, you will be fine.

 

[IAmSixNine]

21stNow hit it on the head.

 

[antheauxny]

Well we did the trade last night. Everything seems to be working fine. Thanks guys for your responses!

 

[Internet_Tough_Guy]

Well we did the trade last night. Everything seems to be working fine. Thanks guys for your responses!

i'm not sure about the quality of the friendship, but I hope you guys figured out how the iPhone5 was going to get paid off. There's no question, technically, swapping a SIM card would work when you both are still on T-Mobile, but at this point, you gave him a $600 phone, and he gave you a $600 phone with a balance due to T-Mobile. He needs to either continue to pay the phone installments, or give you a lump sum to make up the difference in the balance to have the iPhone5 paid off.


You need to view this like swapping a car or house that was financed. Just make sure the net value of the asset is accounted for. Have fun with your new phone! Also, I believe if your friend leaves T-Mobile before his phone payments are done, your phone will still work, but it can't be unlocked and he will continue to make payments. If your friend is a deadbeat and stops payments, then you're screwed, I believe they can completely sim-lock the phone out of the T-Mobile network too.