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Correct. The only way AT&T locks you if you finance through them. I have no idea what T-Mo's policy is

www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy


"Unlock eligibility requirements

We unlock mobile devices that meet the following eligibility criteria free of charge.
Device eligibility is determined as follows:

The device must be sold by T-Mobile.
The device must not be reported as lost, stolen or blocked.
The account associated with the device must be in good standing.
The device must also satisfy all the Postpaid or Prepaid unlocking requirements outlined below.

Unlock eligibility for mobile devices on Postpaid plans

The device must have been active on the T‑Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line.
If the device was financed or leased through T‑Mobile then all payments must be satisfied and the device must be paid in full.
If the device is associated with a canceled account, then the account balance must be zero.
T‑Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply.

Unlock eligibility for mobile devices on Prepaid plans

At least 365 days must have passed since the device was activated on the T Mobile network.
If the device was activated less than 365 days ago, then the Prepaid account associated with the device must have had more than $100 in refills during that period for each line active on the account. In addition, more than 14 days must have passed since the device was purchased.
No more than 2 mobile device unlocks have been complete per line of service in the last 12 months.
T‑Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply."
 
Respectfully, I disagree. Buying on credit is paying for something with money you don't have. Sure - you can make the payments each month, but that isn't the right way to think about money. What if something happens to your job, or if you have unexpected expenses.

When you buy it from money you have saved, you never need to think about the payment again. If you haven't saved the money then you can't purchase the phone.

But if you pay it off every month, you do have the money. You are just using it for convenience and promos/rewards. I definitely agree you should never be carrying a balance.

There are legitimate reasons for buying with a charge/credit card, including promotional interest rate discounts, perks (cash back, rewards, etc) and extended warranties... but I totally agree that carrying any balance on a credit card is poor money management... the lone exception is ZERO PERCENT INTEREST on a purchase with sufficient funds in savings to cover the outstanding balance.

I learned at a very young age that a credit card with a credit limit is not "free money", even though that's what the credit card companies want you to think.
 
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But if you pay it off every month, you do have the money. You are just using it for convenience and promos/rewards. I definitely agree you should never be carrying a balance.
My response was missing the context of the comment I was responding to, where the person posting was talking about buying a phone using 0% APR and paying it in installments. And they thought well if they can't pay the installments the consequence would be little more than damaged credit.

This can work for people - I get it. However, you need to get into the habit of saving up then buying it. People all too often think they will charge it, then pay back each month. However, sometime 'life' happens and then you don't have the money to make the payment. It just happened to a dear younger relative when they lost their job and then the water heater failed and the car needed new tires. With two kids, they couldn't balance their books and needed to make a minimum payment rather than paying off the card.
 
Ugh... I didn't see this thread until now. But it answers my question about why Apple made me select a carrier to do the 0% financing on my iPhone 15 Pro Max pre-order. I have Mint Mobile now, so this won't work for me. I'll cancel.

In fact, screw Apple. I'll just keep using my 13 Pro until I can get a better deal on the phone I want. I'm increasingly displeased with things they're doing from many perspectives (this "Greenwashing" being the latest tiresome nonsense from them).

I'm in the same boat. On Visible. Service is as good as Verizon was and better than T-Mobile or AT&T, but only $35/mo including service on my AW Ultra. I can't pass that up just for 0% on a phone I don't really want. I have a 13 Pro and want the 10x zoom, but don't want a Pro Max. I was going to get it anyway as I always upgrade for significant camera improvements, but don't want to shell out $1,200 when 0% is available.

I'll wait for the 16 Pro. I anticipate they'll bring the 10X to it next year, and might raise prices depending on the take rate on the Pro Max this year. It's Tim Cook's extortionate genius at work. I think Apple really wanted to raise prices but couldn't face the backlash given the direction the economy was heading during design. They're driving buyers to Pro Max to increase ASPs. Them likely getting a kickback from the carriers with this financing change adds to that feeling.

Only sad for my mom, as she's on my old X, which is EoL. I always give her my old model, so she'll be running without updates for a year. Or she might switch to Android. She didn't mind my Nexus I let her try when I switched to iPhone. Once she got used to it, she felt it wasn't any different to iPhone (shows what non-fanboys think about tech).

Also with you on the greenwashing. The whole forest offsets thing has been shown to be a scam. Funny informative John Oliver show on it which even calls out Apple:
 
My response was missing the context of the comment I was responding to, where the person posting was talking about buying a phone using 0% APR and paying it in installments. And they thought well if they can't pay the installments the consequence would be little more than damaged credit.

This can work for people - I get it. However, you need to get into the habit of saving up then buying it. People all too often think they will charge it, then pay back each month. However, sometime 'life' happens and then you don't have the money to make the payment. It just happened to a dear younger relative when they lost their job and then the water heater failed and the car needed new tires. With two kids, they couldn't balance their books and needed to make a minimum payment rather than paying off the card.

This is why you should always have at least 6 months of living expenses saved. Anyone who does this can take all the 0% offers they can reasonably pay off per month (while still saving for retirement etc). 6 months breathing room gives you a lot of flexibility. I've had longer hiatuses before and having that much savings let me put my house up for rent and move to lower COL place, which stretched the savings out to 2 years. I didn't end up needing it, but it helped my mental health not to have the pressure.
 
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What about starting new service from T-Mobile or VZ and paying for the device using ACMI? Wait a day or two, then cancel service. Now, move your number to the new device. From the perspective of the carrier, it looks like you BYOD, and its just a device change. I believe that'll work. Anyone confirm they took this route before?
I would think this would work as Apple has stated that ACMI phones are all unlocked, but I'm guessing you'd have to pay for the first month's service and whatever activation fee they charge. I'm guessing that would be less than the interest of financing it outright on the Apple Card I was looking at T-Mobile to do just this, as they have the lowest plans.

My plan was/might be to just sign up for a new number, cancel, and then register an eSim with my existing number on PureTalk (my carrier).
 
Only sad for my mom, as she's on my old X, which is EoL. I always give her my old model, so she'll be running without updates for a year. Or she might switch to Android.
My step-mom switched to Apple from Android. I was on Android at the time, but helping her was difficult even though we both had Androids, given how each manufacturer changes things around so much. I couldn't simply say "tap here, tap this," as all the menus on my Android were different.
 
Wooow, y’all. I just discovered this development today when I went to purchase my new iPhone 15 pro. Stunning. That’s a real pisser. I’ve been holding out for USB-C with my iPhone 8! I’m on Cricket and now I don’t even know what I’m gonna do for an upgrade. I mean first world problems and all. Life is good but this still sucks big time.
 
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So why is the ability to have an installment plan linked with needing to be tethered to one of those carriers? Are the carriers supplementing this installment plan? Is that why?
Can’t be because it goes off your available credit and you can only finance on a ACMI plan if you have an Card. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
 
Wooow, y’all. I just discovered this development today when I went to purchase my new iPhone 15 pro. Stunning. That’s a real pisser. I’ve been holding out for USB-C with my iPhone 8! I’m on Cricket and now I don’t even know what I’m gonna do for an upgrade. I mean first world problems and all. Life is good but this still sucks big time.

So here's a post from a member on the Card Subreddit who's on the Visible Wireless Network (which if you don't know is a MVNO on the Verizon Network) being able to preorder the 15 pro today using an apparent T-Mobile loophole. Essentially when you pre order you say T-Mobile is your network and it let's you order on the Card Monthly Installment Plan without having to confirm a T-Mobile account.

THE OP MENTIONS THAT THIS APPARENT LOOPHOLE SEEMS TO ONLY WORK WITH IPHONE 15 PRO MODELS!!!

It was supposedly tried with the base 15 but needed to verify account with T-Mobile prior to being allowed to order.


A commenter who claims to be a recently former Employee, says that when you receive your new iphone 15 pro when you turn it on and begin setup it asks for your T-Mobile account# and pin to activate.
You have to attempt to skip this step THREE TIMES and ONLY THEN it will let you bypass this and continue to activate with a esim of your choice. It's apparently the T-Mobile Loophole. No one knows if its true, beyond being able to order under the premise of being a T-Mobile account holder.


I hope it works because I just ditched Verizon and went with Visible as well and I really don't want to shell out the full price upfront.

Actually, knowing I had the Card Monthly Installment Plan to rely on for upgrading to the 15 Pro or Pro MAX (haven't decided yet) was A HUGE deciding factor for me jumping ship with Verizon in the first place (and the fact that Visible offers a F R E E - 1 5 - T R I A L via eSIM ONLY FOR  Clients!) Now not having that... WTF!

Hopefully folks will keep it updated.

Ymmv
 
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I don’t know. That’s a lot of hoops to jump and if I can’t afford to pay without installment plan, I can’t afford it. Not moneywise. But good luck!
 
So here's a post from a member on the Card Subreddit who's on the Visible Wireless Network (which if you don't know is a MVNO on the Verizon Network) being able to preorder the 15 pro today using an apparent T-Mobile loophole. Essentially when you pre order you say T-Mobile is your network and it let's you order on the Card Monthly Installment Plan without having to confirm a T-Mobile account.

THE OP MENTIONS THAT THIS APPARENT LOOPHOLE SEEMS TO ONLY WORK WITH IPHONE 15 PRO MODELS!!!

It was supposedly tried with the base 15 but needed to verify account with T-Mobile prior to being allowed to order.


A commenter who claims to be a recently former Employee, says that when you receive your new iphone 15 pro when you turn it on and begin setup it asks for your T-Mobile account# and pin to activate.
You have to attempt to skip this step THREE TIMES and ONLY THEN it will let you bypass this and continue to activate with a esim of your choice. It's apparently the T-Mobile Loophole. No one knows if its true, beyond being able to order under the premise of being a T-Mobile account holder.


I hope it works because I just ditched Verizon and went with Visible as well and I really don't want to shell out the full price upfront.

Actually, knowing I had the Card Monthly Installment Plan to rely on for upgrading to the 15 Pro or Pro MAX (haven't decided yet) was A HUGE deciding factor for me jumping ship with Verizon in the first place (and the fact that Visible offers a F R E E - 1 5 - T R I A L via eSIM ONLY FOR  Clients!) Now not having that... WTF!

Hopefully folks will keep it updated.

Ymmv

thanks, I may give it a try. I’m on Cricket. if it doesn’t work I can return it I guess to avoid the up front total cost. It really sucks that Apple lured us into getting Apple Card with the promise of these plans and then restrict it like that. The whole appeal was removing yourself from the claws of the big 3.

EDIT: Well, I pulled the trigger. Fingers crossed.
 
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Update: I preordered the 15 Pro with ACMI but have an ATT prepaid plan. I got it to activate!

When I tried to set it up, the eSIM transfer from my 14 Pro failed with some error message about having the wrong type of account.

So I called ATT prepaid support and had them do the eSIM transfer manually where I gave them my IMEI. Took a little while and didn’t happen automatically as support person said (I never got a pop up message). Had to go to cellular settings and tap on the AT&T eSIM option (not the transfer eSIM from current iPhone option that was there before and failed).

It activated successfully. AFAICT the ACMI is still active and I don’t think I was charged a $35 activation fee. F**k Apple and f**k the carriers!!!
 
It's not quite dead...if you ask

So I purchased a sim-free iPhone 15 Pro and got it delivered 9/22. I just went in yesterday to the apple store to trade in my 12 pro. Today I contacted Apple Card Support and asked to move the single charge to installments. Got it done in less than 5 minutes.
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