hi all i bought a samsung tocco from cex last week and now the handset is blacklisted i have been told from orange customer services... i was wondering if there is a way round this legally through orange or just take the phone back to cex

It's illegal to sell a blocked handset (at least that's what I was told by a bod at O2) and so you should have no problems with getting a refund from CEX. Whether you get anyone else involved due to them selling it in the first place is up to you.

cex should have tried it when they purchased it off the original seller... unless the seller reported it stolen afterwards then its not CEX's fault, but you still have the right to return it as they sold it blacklisted.

I've never worked there so I don't know what checks are made before Cex buys stuff off people, but it just seems like a great way to off-load stolen goods...

Once its been network blocked thats it, it wont work again in this country (it is possible to change the IMEI number if you know what youre doing, but getting caught doing it will land you with a hefty fine)

IMEI number changing is a criminal offence punishable by a prison sentence AFAIK.

Take it straight back to CEX and complain. To be honest, its a trick people are playing...insure phone, sell it, claim it was stolen, get new phone + money.