Each week we see customers whose phones suddenly switch to SOS Only or No Service. Many bought their phones through Facebook Marketplace private sales. The device works for a short time, then the signal disappears overnight. When they contact the seller, the number is disconnected or they’ve been blocked.

In many cases, the IMEI is listed as lost, stolen, or unpaid in another country. Once that information reaches the global GSMA blacklist, New Zealand carriers may block the phone immediately — or sometimes days or weeks later.

Some customers bring in phones that cannot activate at all because of iCloud Activation Lock. After a factory reset, the phone refuses to activate since it’s still tied to the previous owner’s Apple ID. No repair shop can remove this legally.

Imported models cause even bigger issues. Many US, EU, and Chinese variants lack NZ network bands (especially Band 28). When this poor compatibility overlaps with an IMEI block, the phone becomes completely unusable on any NZ carrier.

How Overseas Blacklists Affect Phones in New Zealand

“Problems overseas stay overseas” — this is wrong. Here’s what really happens:

• Phones with unpaid carrier debt overseas may be globally blacklisted and later blocked in NZ.
• Phones reported stolen in Korea often get blocked in NZ because Korean carriers participate in GSMA anti-theft systems.
• NZ carriers (Spark, One NZ, 2degrees) use shared IMEI block databases and may act on overseas blacklist data.
• Some phones work for a while before NZ updates its blacklist and blocks them completely.

What Happens When a Phone Is Reported Stolen in NZ?

When a phone is reported stolen in New Zealand, it enters the national IMEI blocklist and becomes unusable on all local carriers. NZ may also forward the information to global databases.

Overseas results vary. Some carriers follow GSMA blacklists and block the device abroad. Others ignore the system entirely. There is no universal global blacklist — cooperation depends on the country and carrier.

Common Symptoms of a Blacklisted or IMEI-Blocked Phone

• SOS Only on all carriers
• No Service
• Emergency Calls Only
• Mobile data stops working but Wi-Fi works fine
• “Unable to register on network” errors
• Signal appears briefly, then drops instantly

IMEI blocks affect cellular networks only, which is why Wi-Fi continues to work. Many users mistake this for a hardware fault when the network is actually rejecting the device.

Real Cases Seen in New Zealand

• US iPhone 12 — unpaid installments → blacklisted → blocked in NZ
• Korean Galaxy — stolen report → rejected by all NZ networks
• EU iPhone 13 — blacklist + missing Band 28 → unstable or no signal
• Chinese Oppo — unofficial ROM + blacklist → immediate rejection

Why Imported Phones Fail More Often in NZ

• Different LTE/5G band support
• Lack of Band 28 (critical in NZ)
• International blacklist sync
• Delayed blacklist reporting from overseas carriers

Even without a blacklist, incompatible bands already cause issues. When both overlap, the phone becomes impossible to use reliably in New Zealand.

Related Articles

• Why Your Phone Shows SOS Only or No Service
• How to Check SIM/VoLTE after NZ 3G Shutdown
• Why New Zealand Is Shutting Down 3G
• How to Diagnose “No Service” Issues
• How to Check Overseas Phone Compatibility

Need Help Diagnosing Your Device?

We check IMEI block, blacklist status, and network compatibility for all models.

Christchurch: 03 343 1078
Auckland (Westgate): 09 392 0039
Website: www.eziphonerepair.nz