Blacklisted phone

I purchased a phone in October last year from Kalahari Apple iphone 5s and now the phone keeps saying No-service. My phone is now in at the responsible people and when I called in today the agent lets me know that because the warranty is over I will be held responsible even if the phone is blacklisted. I see no reason why I should be held responsible for the mistake that was not mine. Now I am the client that must sit with no phone. I believe that Kalahari moved over to take a lot because of these cases and from the reports I have seen I am not the first client. I am hoping that by Friday this week I will have my new phone.