Possible to have a cell phone re-programmed?

[stillwantmore]

I dont know these things very well. I'm asking because I found a really nice $130ish cell at my job today. I'm pretty sure that when someone reports their cell phone as missing/lost/stolen to their provider, that the service is deactivated for that phone. However, let's say I walk into a store that carries the same service for this phone a couple months from now, claiming a friend of mine said he found it, and that he thought I might like it. Could they just re-program the phone and set me up with a new contract, etc? I mean wouldnt it be basically the same as me already having the phone if I'd bought it somewhere else like on E-Bay? I mean, some guy coulda found the same phone, or even stolen the thing, and then sold it anyway.

 

[BeBobBox]

switch the SIM cards.... if u dont use sim cards id take it there in like a month and theyll prolly switch it with no problems

 

[Jason1]

I'm almost certain you can do it.

 

[pupper]

yes all cell phones can be reprogrammed

 

[belowav]

I bought a used cell phone and took it in ,they said they would reactivate it in my name but all the outstanding phone bills on it had to be paid in full first. I took it as a lose because it would of cost me more to do it than to buy a new phone.