Carrier iPhone not eligible for ATT unlock

[laser310]

So, I have bought several iphones on ebay over the years.., and have always been able to get ATT to unlock them.

I guess I thought that ATT would unlock any phone that is 100% owned.., and is not on a contract.

I was looking at an ATT iPhone X on ebay.., and the seller says it is not eligible for ATT unlock.

This is not a small seller.., who maybe didn't pay off their phone - this is one of the huge iphone sellers, with like 20,000 previous sales. they currently have a few hundred iphones for sale.

i messaged them to ask about it and this is what they said:

"Thank you for the interest in the device. This item is not available to be unlocked with AT&Ts free unlocking and it would need a third party companies premium service to unlock this item. "

Can anybody clue me in here?

what is a "third party premium service".., and why won't ATT unlock the phone?

 

[Banglazed]

This would mean the device is not paid off, with unpaid bills, blacklisted, or not completed its service agreement which AT&T would qualify it as not eligible for unlock. You can unlock it via third party services but pricing can be high depend on the status of the device on AT&T network and model of the device. Premium unlock covers all type of statuses and guarantees 100% success rate.

 

[chanerz]

ATT blocked that phone. Maybe it was never paid. Go to third party instead.

 

[laser310]

This would mean the device is not paid off, with unpaid bills, blacklisted, or not completed its service agreement which AT&T would qualify it as not eligible for unlock. You can unlock it via third party services but pricing can be high depend on the status of the device on AT&T network and model of the device. Premium unlock covers all type of statuses and guarantees 100% success rate.

i really don't think that's the case

it's a huge seller with like 99% positive feed back - they wouldn't have that if they are selling thousands of stolen phones or phones that aren't paid off.

these guys are selling hundreds of iphones a month, and they have a 60 day return policy

i've seen the same statement more or less with other large sellers

there is something else here...

 

[chanerz]

Have you talked to the seller?

 

[laser310]

Have you talked to the seller?

i posted their response above

 

[Raist3001]

If ATT won't unlock, then as someone has pointed out, the phone is either still in contract, or blacklisted. Or at least according to ATT records, the phone is still in contract (or not paid off). I have had more than a few friends have some issues with ATT where they were refused an unlock because ATT systems still had them in contract. It was straightened out but I believe you need to be the original owner to do so.