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6 plus on account for 2 weeks and AT&T denied 5S unlocking request
- Thread starter Slicktype
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Customer service can't do it but they can create a case to have it escalated with exception.
I believe if you try to do it through the defaulted request device unlock page, as others have said, the computer will probably see that the device is "still under contract" and automatically deny the request.
I agree. This is why I never said it is impossible. Anything can be done, but they don't have to.
I've successfully unlocked two devices in the middle of a contract using the default request device unlock page after device swapping the new iPhone from a different line to my line. The only requirement is I had to wait out the 14 day buyers remorse period. This policy is in effect to prevent people from unlocking the offed device then changing their mind and returning the new iPhone while still in the middle of a contract.
Sorry, I have been MIA since starting this thread. Thanks for all reply's.
I just wanted to inform anyone that is wondering the same question.
AT&T will indeed unlock your old device if not met the two year contract term if the new phone was purchased retail and has met their 14 day buyers remorse period.
I found this out by calling and explaininig my situation. The one issue that I experienced was submitting an unlock request through AT&T's web site.
I had to personally call them and the rep had to manually submit a written unlocking request to a supervisor to have my 5S unlocked. The web site recognized my phone as still being under the two year contract which resulted in a reject email every time.
My current plan: Mobileshare value plan (2 lines) with 30GB and unlimited talk and text. My two year contract is up September 2015.
I just wanted to inform anyone that is wondering the same question.
AT&T will indeed unlock your old device if not met the two year contract term if the new phone was purchased retail and has met their 14 day buyers remorse period.
I found this out by calling and explaininig my situation. The one issue that I experienced was submitting an unlock request through AT&T's web site.
I had to personally call them and the rep had to manually submit a written unlocking request to a supervisor to have my 5S unlocked. The web site recognized my phone as still being under the two year contract which resulted in a reject email every time.
My current plan: Mobileshare value plan (2 lines) with 30GB and unlimited talk and text. My two year contract is up September 2015.
There is indeed a lot of bad information here. What you're saying only applies if you do an early upgrade. When you sign a new 24 month contract, the old one is considered fulfilled.
If you buy the phone retail (like the OP did), the contract isn't extended, so the old phone is not eligible to be unlocked. The new phone however is eligible to be unlocked since it was never a part of a contract
No, that's partly incorrect. Device swapping a new iPhone from another line to a iPhone still in the middle of the contract will make the offed device eligible to be unlocked after 14 days, and you're not extending nor fulfilling that contract. I've done it a few times so it doesn't only apply to early upgrades.
Apparently you didn't read the OP's update to his unlock request.
So the OP did it, I've done it, and the other people who said this is the norm did it. Doesn't look like "slipping through the cracks" to me.
Michael
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It's not their official policy. Looks like reps are bending the rules (may also depend on ARPU). I guess I could get my 5S unlocked if I really want to by calling
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Being authorized to unlock the offed device when doing device swap (or "cross upgrade") has been allowed for years now. Just because they don't like to advertise cross-upgrading (because they lose money that way) doesn't mean we're slipping through the cracks. It has always been allowed per their internal policy.
If it's always been allowed then the online requests wouldn't be denied.
Official policy: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/
I'm sure it is more than that. There isn't much of a downside for AT&T.
1.) The person is still under contract. I would venture the number of people who just bought a phone to use on AT&T are not looking to leave AT&T. The number of people who would burn AT&T on whatever is left on the ETF just to get away with the unlocked phone is probably insignificant at best.
2.) Despite being able to tout the phone as "unlocked" a majority, if sold, will probably generate revenue for AT&T anyway: either directly, through an MVNO, or via roaming. That locked phone could be placed into a drawer and let sit dormant and there is nothing AT&T could do about it.
3.) Goodwill.
Michael
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Wrong. I've successfully unlocked the offed device using the online request twice in the past when doing "cross upgrade" despite not being in the official policy.
The online requests are not always reliable (but improving). If you'll do a search, you'll see that many members have reported being denied despite having an "official" reason.
We were able to get new devices on next before our contracts were over. As soon as we switched over to Next, our current contract was considered fulfilled. They unlocked the phones for us when we requested them two weeks later.
(sorry for the late response, haven't logged in a while)
It's different with NEXT because they consider the old contract fulfilled. The 14-day buyer remorse period doesn't apply if the contract is fulfilled, either by waiting the full two years or by switching to NEXT.
It seems to me that subsidized phones are locked for a reason. The carrier wants to make their money back. If you decide to walk away from your contract and the phone is locked you can't use it elsewhere. Sure they still have you under contract but it's much harder to enforce it with an unlocked phone.
In this particular case the OP says he bought the iPhone 6 retail. I take this to mean that he has an unlocked, contract free phone that he wants to now swap in for his old phone on contract. I just don't see AT&T saying "oh ok, we'll unlock your old device even though we have no control over your new one. We trust you to honor your contract."
If the new phone is indeed locked then I don't see what the hub-bub is about.
In this particular case the OP says he bought the iPhone 6 retail. I take this to mean that he has an unlocked, contract free phone that he wants to now swap in for his old phone on contract. I just don't see AT&T saying "oh ok, we'll unlock your old device even though we have no control over your new one. We trust you to honor your contract."
If the new phone is indeed locked then I don't see what the hub-bub is about.
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