TamaraBQuestion The Current Paradigm Premium Member join:2000-11-08 Da Bronx ·Verizon FiOS Ubiquiti NSM5 Synology RT2600ac Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)
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to LazMan
Re: [iPhone] iPhone Unlocksaid by LazMan:Why is AT&T refusing to unlock her phone? Is there a subsidy balance owing, or other account "issue"? She purchased the phone from Apple for cash, AT&T has no claim on the phone, which is the source of her anger. She claims correctly that the phone is hers as is her number, and AT&T has no right to prevent her from using it. The issue is her fleeing AT&T after some sales droid talked her into changing her plan so save money. They lied to her and she ended up with a more expensive plan. Pissed, she went to Verizon and ported out her number essentially terminating her deal with AT&T -- told AT&T to get bent, and now she wants to use the iPhone on T-Mobile. VZ told her that AT&T couldn't hold her number hostage, which was correct, but they now hold her phone hostage unless she can unlock it and use it elsewhere. AT&T claim she terminated her contract prematurely and want a substantial fee to release the phone. She will purchase a new one before she pays AT&T a dime. Even if she sells the phone, she will get more if the phone is unlocked. Pissed she is! So, these sites which claim they can get AT&T to release the lock for a fee are bogus? The ones I saw, all claim you simply send them the IEMI number along with a fee, and within a few days the lock is lifted as long as the phone is not blacklisted, which it is not. They also claim there is no software or jailbreaking required. There are tons of these sites out there, but are any of them legit? They too must deal with AT&T right? |
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buckinghamDoylstown Pa Premium Member join:2005-07-17 Buckingham, PA |
Based on your description, she is still in a contract with ATT on that "deceptively expensive plan" (no surprise about that cost!)...when you make changes like that, they typically create a two-year contract. That would account for them refusing to unlock the phone...one cannot just "terminate" a contract by walking away, even if you own the device. Unfortunately, ATT likely has the legal weight here.
And yes, the third party unlocking offers are sometimes bogus... |
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TamaraBQuestion The Current Paradigm Premium Member join:2000-11-08 Da Bronx ·Verizon FiOS Ubiquiti NSM5 Synology RT2600ac Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)
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TamaraB
Premium Member
2014-May-7 9:49 am
said by buckingham:And yes, the third party unlocking offers are sometimes bogus... Yes, and the search is on for a legit one. Know of any? |
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HiVolt Premium Member join:2000-12-28 Toronto, ON |
to TamaraB
If the phone was bought from Apple with no involvement from AT&T, it's not locked. But if it was bought thru AT&T, even for the full price, it is locked.
Have you tried popping in a sim card from another provider? |
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TamaraBQuestion The Current Paradigm Premium Member join:2000-11-08 Da Bronx ·Verizon FiOS Ubiquiti NSM5 Synology RT2600ac Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)
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to buckingham
said by buckingham:Based on your description, she is still in a contract with ATT on that "deceptively expensive plan" (no surprise about that cost!) Yes, but that should not involve the phone itself. If AT&T has an issue with her, they can sue her for the money, that's their right, and it's her right to contest it on the grounds of deceptive sales representation. If she sells the phone, won't the new owner have the right to use it? Will AT&T still refuse to unlock it? Would that void the sale? I would agree with AT&T if the phone were subsidized, but it's not, it's her phone. How can AT&T make it disabled when it is not theirs in any way? |
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If she has proof she paid for the phone outright, you could try to file a complaint with the FCC. They may put some pressure on AT&T as the "contract" you're in is not actually for the phone, I guess? Not really sure how she ended up in a contract for a phone she owns, but that's besides the point...
Also try HiVolt's advice, if the phone was purchased outright, there's chance its already unlocked. |
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TamaraBQuestion The Current Paradigm Premium Member join:2000-11-08 Da Bronx ·Verizon FiOS Ubiquiti NSM5 Synology RT2600ac Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)
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to HiVolt
said by HiVolt:If the phone was bought from Apple with no involvement from AT&T, it's not locked. I'll have to ask, I know she paid almost $700.00 for the phone. AT&T's refusal to unlock should indicate it is locked. Perhaps not. said by HiVolt: Have you tried popping in a sim card from another provider?
No access to another SIM. She will take the phone to T-Mobile, and see if they can sell her a plan on the phone. Perhaps T-Mo can get the thing to work with the incentive of a sale. |
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TamaraB |
to Thinkdiff
said by Thinkdiff:As try HiVolt's advice, if the phone was purchased outright, there's chance its already unlocked. Guess she will find out for sure when she takes it to T-Mo. |
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HiVolt Premium Member join:2000-12-28 Toronto, ON |
to TamaraB
AT&T can also be lying, trying to fool her, or the agents dont know and automatically think the phone is locked because she is in a contract. If it was bought from an Apple store or Apple online it should not be locked. |
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HiVolt |
to TamaraB
Yeah take it to T-Mo and they should have a sim card they can test it with. |
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LazMan Premium Member join:2003-03-26 Beverly Hills, CA |
to TamaraB
That it was bought outright from Apple, could explain the problem trying to unlock...
The AT&T system could be 'confused' trying to unlock a phone that was never locked in the first place...
Take it to T-Mo, see what happens... |
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Daemon Premium Member join:2003-06-29 Washington, DC |
to HiVolt
said by HiVolt:AT&T can also be lying, trying to fool her, or the agents dont know and automatically think the phone is locked because she is in a contract. If it was bought from an Apple store or Apple online it should not be locked. IIRC, if you buy a "carrier" version iPhone unsubsidized, it will still be locked to the carrier you choose. You have to choose the "unlocked" version of the phone in order for it to be unlocked in the box. Whether or not Apple would sell you a carrier version phone unsubsidized has changed over time. It looks like they currently won't, but I do remember that unlocked iPhone 5's weren't available for a month or so after release, meaning for at least a month, every phone people bought was locked. You can tell whether you bought a carrier version phone by whether or not it has a SIM in it when you open the box. |
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chip89 Premium Member join:2012-07-05 Columbia Station, OH |
chip89
Premium Member
2014-May-7 6:02 pm
Nope Verizon sells iPhones that are unlocked even with a contract. » [Equipment] Unlocked? |
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KevNYC Premium Member join:2002-03-31 Seattle, WA |
KevNYC
Premium Member
2014-May-7 6:57 pm
Verizon is the exception per FCC Network Access Regulations. |
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chip89 Premium Member join:2012-07-05 Columbia Station, OH |
chip89
Premium Member
2014-May-7 8:33 pm
Yeah they are It's surprising that Verizon is following the rules for once. |
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tdumaine Premium Member join:2004-03-14 Seattle, WA |
to TamaraB
said by TamaraB:said by HiVolt:If the phone was bought from Apple with no involvement from AT&T, it's not locked. I'll have to ask, I know she paid almost $700.00 for the phone. AT&T's refusal to unlock should indicate it is locked. Perhaps not. said by HiVolt: Have you tried popping in a sim card from another provider?
No access to another SIM. She will take the phone to T-Mobile, and see if they can sell her a plan on the phone. Perhaps T-Mo can get the thing to work with the incentive of a sale. Dig up your receipt or have apple pull it up. There was no such thing as unsubsidized (full price) and locked to a carrier. Apple can correct this, you do not need att at all. |
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Daemon Premium Member join:2003-06-29 Washington, DC |
Daemon
Premium Member
2014-May-8 9:55 am
said by tdumaine:Dig up your receipt or have apple pull it up. There was no such thing as unsubsidized (full price) and locked to a carrier.
Apple can correct this, you do not need att at all. What if I bought a release day iPhone 5 before Apple was selling them unlocked, and I bought the AT&T version even though I wasn't eligible for an upgrade? I'd end up with a full price locked AT&T phone. OP, what does this website say if she puts in her IMEI? » iphoneimei.info |
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TamaraBQuestion The Current Paradigm Premium Member join:2000-11-08 Da Bronx ·Verizon FiOS Ubiquiti NSM5 Synology RT2600ac Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)
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TamaraB
Premium Member
2014-May-8 11:48 am
Ok... So far I have:
iPhone 5 64GB Black IMEI: 01332NNNNNNNNNN Activated: Yes Find My iPhone: On Telephone Technical Support: December 7, 2014 Repairs & Service Coverage: December 3, 2014 Carrier: AT&T
From the $2.00 e-mail
Firmware Version: 7.1.1 First Activation Date: December 5, 2012 Last Activation Date: December 5, 2012 Next Tether: US AT&T Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Activation Policy Lock Status: Locked
===========================
The original iPhone she purchased died and was replaced with a new one at an Apple Genius Bar. Perhaps that's when her unlocked phone went locked?
Yesterday T-Mo tried their SIM, no-go. She was told to have AT&T unlock it and return.
So, next step is to use the link you provided, and see if the unlock will take. I can see why this is so convoluted --- beyond the ability of an AT&T rep to sort out!
Thanks again for the link. It's $50.00 to unlock with a money-back guarantee if it can't be done. Also it's a PayPal transaction, making it fairly safe. It's cheaper than purchasing a new phone, and, at the least, will increase the resale value by more than the $50.00 unlock fee. |
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TamaraB |
to Daemon
Ok, the unlock has been ordered. said by "iphoneimei.info" : Thank you for ordering factory unlock service for AT&T US , AT&T , IMEI number - 01332NNNNNNNNNN
Your order was placed successfully, Your IMEI is now processing to be factory unlocked on Apple unlock server, your iPhone should be unlocked within 5-10 Days Once your iPhone is unlocked we will send you an email with instructions on how to complete the unlock. [...]
What's interesting is that they say the unlock will be done on "Apple Unlock Server". Not by AT&T. Is that something they gleaned from the IMEI? |
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AppleGuy Premium Member join:2013-09-08 Kitchener, ON |
AppleGuy
Premium Member
2014-May-8 12:06 pm
If they're saying Apple unlock server, then it will unlock, in 5-10 days, and you simply hook the iPhone up to iTunes and iTunes will finalize the unlocking. And it's true, AT&T does NOT unlock, Apple does. AT&T would usually give Apple the info to unlock. Obviously, the vendor has inside workers. This is common. So someone from AT&T is being paid to the proper info, which is sent to Apple for unlock. |
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