That is definitely the case. If you have a German Personalausweis and buy it in a store, then the store personnel ask you for that so they can tie the SIM card to a unique form of ID since obviously no one has the same ID card number. The newer MVNOs are more flexible in that regard. Aldi Talk requires registration as well but they don't ask you for your Personalausweis # when registering online for example. T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 still have that requirement when you buy your prepaid SIM in a provider store or at a place like Mediamarkt, Saturn or ProMarkt.

Maybe I asked this before....

So these people selling SIMs on Ebay (us & de) as anonymous.....
Low or zero balance....

Is that LEGAL? IF one should buy one of these, will the hotlines even SPEAK to you if you are not the person listed in the registration?

I have 2 Viktor Vox prepaid Xtra SIMs that I will probably keep. They were new when I purchased them and are registered to me. I have spoken to the hotline several times, even changed the tarif structure. So what happens if I try to sell these? I don't have a registration form. I hear VV has a deposit on their POST PAID SIMs; I don't think that applies to the prepaid. And, anyway, what are their chances of collecting that from me and my registered address in the USA?

Well, actually you are required to re-register if you buy a sim-card that is already tied to another person. (There are forms to download on most websites - but remind both parties have to sign it!) If not the other person risks to get problems if you abuse the card for any criminal offence.

Chris

Thanks for the answer(s).

I suspect these Ebay sellers are NOT the person who originally registered. The ads often say registered to a company. Do I understand correctly that if only ONE party, the buyer, signs, then the deal is not official?

THEREFORE, unless one really does not care too much for a longer term relationship with the provider or need to change tarifs, the re-registration could be avoided, although it might be illegal or against the rules and regs (AGB).

I suspose the best advice to anyone would be:

1. Buy a new card -- better solution
2. Be wary of used cards and don't expect much support unless the seller agrees to transfer registration.

Stan

Well, a lot of deals work like that:
The sellers buy Prepaid-Kits with locked phones, they sell the locked phones (legal) or
they unlock the phones (illegal) and sell them on ebay or somewhere else.
They activate the cards, dial their 0900-number and suck out the money.
Then they throw them on ebay and even get a few bucks more.

Yes, if only one party signs the "change of ownership form" (however that is officially called in english ;) ) then its not working.

Chris