A second hand mobile can be a good option for prepaid or to avoid monthly fees on a plan. While you will have to pay an upfront cost, it means you wont have to worry about plans that offer cheap handsets, but may hide the cost in monthly fees like high call charge rates.

The constant release of new models on the market means that there are plenty of second hand mobiles being sold online or through second hand stores. Like buying any second hand piece of technology however, there are certain things that you need to look out for. A good general rule is if you think you think the price for the phone is too good to be true, then it probably is.

Request the box the phone was originally sold in, along with a receipt

This, however,  may not always be possible. If you can get hold of the box, , check that the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number corresponds to the IMEI number on the handset. You can check the IMEI number by typing in *#06#. If the IMEI numbers don’t match, this may be a sign that either the phone is stolen, or it has been sent for servicing in its previous life. This could indicate further problems later on.

The receipt will confirm where the phone has been purchased from, and when. This will also tell you if there is any warranty left on the phone. Most warranties in Australia are for 12 months. If the seller has told you the phone is still in warranty, make sure that they have sent in the warranty card, and that it was within a few days of the phone’s purchase. They may have also needed to register their warranty online.

Is the phone locked to a network?

Many handsets are locked to the network that they were bought from. Some handsets don’t have an unlocking fee – but some do, and different providers charge different amounts. It’s important to factor in this amount to the overall amount.

Check for external damage or wear, and factor this in.

Keep in mind that scratches on the display will be expensive to repair. Press the buttons, and make sure they all work when pressed repeatedly. Make sure all the moving parts have not been damaged by frequent use or dropping.

Check to see if all the features of the phone are in working condition

Call another mobile if you can, and make sure that the microphone is working, and that the other person can easily hear you. Test SMS, Bluetooth, the speakers, the camera, infrared Red, Wi-fi and GPS.

Be sure that there is a charger there with you when you inspect the phone, and make sure that it works. The battery life will reduce with the age of the phone, but testing the phone should not use more than 10% of its battery.

Try to negotiate a seven-day warranty from the seller

If the seller is happy to do this, you can also be sure that the seller is confident in the phone’s condition.

Buying a second hand mobile phone can be a great way to save money and resources, but there are things to be wary of.  Be a conscientious consumer and make sure that everything is in working order before committing to a used mobile phone. Once you have purchased your handset, have a look at some prepaid or postpaid plans that allow you to BYO.