Forum Discussion
The T-Mobile unlock lie
Here is my story as of 8/15/23:
I’m a T-Mobile prepaid customer for several years and was happy with the company so far.
I lost my phone on 7/15/23 (ouch) and bought a new Motorola razr+ from T-Mobile on 7/16/23 for $999. Since I knew that I will be abroad for several months, it was important to me that I can also use the phone with a non T-Mobile operator. Thus at the shop the salesperson and me carefully read T-Mobile's "Unlock your mobile device" page (https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy).
It says:
- Si el dispositivo se activó hace menos de 365 días, la cuenta de servicio prepagado asociada al dispositivo debe haber tenido más de $100 en recargas durante ese período por cada línea activa en la cuenta. Además, deben haber pasado más de 14 días desde que se compró el dispositivo.
I refilled my account with two payments ($100 and $20), left the US on 28/7/23 and expected to unlock my device 14 days after purchase.
Which didn’t work.
After hours with T-Mobile customer care, my understanding is that the “We're committed to providing you with clear information about unlocking your mobile device.” (cited from the aforementioned web page) is not clear enough for the team who implemented the unlocking system. As far as I can tell, unlocking is based on days activo on the network and has nothing to do with the date of comprar of the device whatsoever.
Hence the last sentence should read as “In addition, the device must be active for more than 14 days on the T-Mobile network” instead of “Además, more than 14 days must have passed since the device was purchased.”
"Purchased" vs. "activated" - why does it matter you may ask? Well, it does in my case. I'm abroad (not on the T-Mobile network) and won't return to the US for several months. I can't unlock my $999 phone and most likely must buy a second phone to use here. Needless to say that I wouldn't have bought the phone in the first place if T-Mobile would have been honest about their unlocking policy.
Thank you, T-Mobile for lying to me and all the time, material and money wasted.
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
According to T-Mobile support, there is nothing wrong with the refills. It's all about the number of days active.
- fireguy_6364Modem Master
it says or...not that both are needed for it to be unlocked. couldnt enlarge your pic showing whats been spent so far but from what i could see it didnt look like its been refilled for $100 worth yet.
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
Here are the refills of $100 on 7/19/23 and $20 on 7/24 /23 enlarged. Purchase and activation of device was on 7/17/23 (see one of the above screenshots):
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
The story continues. I added another $100 in refill and the phone still remains locked. Another round with customer support and they confirmed that I have more than $200 (!) in refill by now. Luckily, I got someone on the phone who offered to open a support case (kudos to Jason). They promised me to finally unlock the device within 7 business days. Fingers crossed.
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
7 business days have passed and my device is still - locked.
Another round with support. This time they said that it didn't work because the phone I try to unlock is not associated with my phone number. This is true because I had to buy (!) a new phone (unlocked this time, I learn) for this very (unlocking nightmare) reason. I need to use a second SIM card together with my T-Mobile eSIM while abroad. T-Mobile switched my phone number back and said I had to wait another 14 days. Now I have to carry around two devices. My understanding of "dual SIM" is something else.
I'm almost certain that 14 days from now, they will tell me that the phone was not active (because I'm abroad) and that's why they can't unlock it. Anyone up for a bet?
The bottom line is that their eligibility criteria for prepaid accounts is just a plain lie. I fulfill all the criteria (not disputed by any of the T-Mobile people I spoke to). But each time they come up with another (technical) excuse for why it can't be done and ask me to wait for another X days. It's going on like this for almost five months now. This is all very frustrating and a big waste of time and money. - schubigeRoaming Rookie
I'm almost certain that 14 days from now, they will tell me that the phone was not active (because I'm abroad) and that's why they can't unlock it. Anyone up for a bet?
Well done guys for not taking the bet 😄 You would have lost it.
Obviously, my device is still locked. Another round with support and they claim to have a "request open with Motorola" - please wait another 3 days. I have no idea what Motorola has to do with it. It's the T-Mobile unlock App that talks to to the T-Mobile unlock server. I don't see any Motorola in this (besides my device of course).
I’m pretty sure it’s yet another T-Mobile lie to wear down the customer (they are very good at that, I must admit - 5 month without any progress and no lawsuit yet, not bad).
I was lied to by every support employee without exception. All the "I guarantee you", "I promise you", "I can reassure you", even the "I'm 150% sure" that the friendly folks at T-Mobile use often didn't unlock my device but successfully waste my time.
I’m going to file a complaint with the FCC.
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
Called support again, this time the supervisor said that the device can not be unlocked because it's temporarily unlocked. Which is not true (see screenshot, it's locked. See the previous screenshot how it looks when temporarily unlocked). He said that the temporary unlock will expire on 12/28/23 (whoever invented that date, no evidence provided). Together with some more false information (device requires a master-reset to accept a new SIM card - who comes up with that kind of crap?) I got another "personal guarantee" from the supervisor that the device will be unlocked on the 12/28/23. When asked again, he said that an "unlock request" can be enviado on the 28th. Which may take another 72hrs to completo. I'm pretty sure it will not succeed because all they do at T-Mobile support (at least in my case) is picking a random reason (network, active days, SIM, refill, Motorola, temporary unlock) and tell the customer to wait for X days (X between 3 and 14). As soon as I ask for something tangible (email, phone number, replacement phone, reimbursement) they say it can not be done. That's how far these "personal guarantees" go.
"At T-Mobile, we radically reinvented customer service. Ofrecemos una experiencia total que incluye la mejor asistencia personalizada de los expertos de T-Mobile cuando sea necesaria. These experts are available to provide you with a next-level experience, including tailored service and support, as you begin your relationship with T-Mobile." (https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/customer-care)
Sounds like sarcasm to me.
- schubigeRoaming Rookie
Regarding the temporary unlock, T-Mobile support says 12/ 28 /23, T-Mobile unlock server says 12/ 21 /23:
Someone is not telling the truth. I suspect it's the support supervisor.
- GPM_316Newbie Caller
I traded in a OnePlus 8t for a Google pixel 7 pro and got 600 dollars off the pixel in January 2023 so I used the pixel for about a week and hated the phone and returned to one of my other phones . So after the phone was completely paid for I tried to get it unlocked because I'm selling it and they told me I have to have it active on their Network for 40 days which is absurd, what if the phone was broken and that's why I didn't use it the bottom line is the phone wasn't in my liking in a year later I'm trying to sell it so now they're going to send me an email that is supposed to come within 72 hours to get it unlocked
- fireguy_6364Modem Master
if it were broken it would be replaced out and show as a damaged replacement and the time used on the prior device would be added to the replacement device..in your scenario you just up and changed to a different device..not the same..
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