Why is a CDMA A1865 iPhone X locked to T-Mobile?

[MarlboroLite]

So I bought an iPhone X from BestBuy which was supposed to be a Verizon version, which as is commonly known are factory unlocked. The phone was paid for in full. The IEMI of the iPhone itself corresponds with the number on the back of the box and the serial number and the model version. All of which show that this is the model with CDMA bands included. I.e. the Verizon or Sprint version of the phone.

And yet, upon checking the IEMI for carrier lock status the service is showing that the phone is locked to T-Mobile. Yes, I tried inserting a SIM in order to confirm if the phone was indeed locked. It is.

Does anybody know what the hell is going on here? How can a brand new phone, a phone of the CDMA variety to boot be possibly locked to T-Mobile? The phone was sold as a Verizon phone and everything would indicate that it is one until it isn’t because it’s locked to T-Mobile.

Who has the power to unlock this phone? Does Apple?

 

[winterny]

Best Buy's iPhones are not 'unlocked', per-se.

They follow what is called the "Reseller Flex" policy, which means that they will follow the locking policy of whatever carrier provided the sim card used for the first activation.

If you activated the phone using a Verizon sim card (even if the SIM card was not activated), it would be unlocked, because Verizon does not lock any phone with LTE (as required by a specific law applying only to Verizon). At this point, the phone is unlocked, and you can swap out any other sim cards as often as you like.

If the first activation of the phone is using a T-Mobile sim card, it will be locked to T-Mobile.

At this point, you would have to file a request with T-Mobile, who will probably tell you that they do not have the IMEI in their database and cannot send an unlock request, and then ask them to stay on the line as you conference in Apple support (800-APL-CARE), and have Apple open a ticket.

It will probably take week or two, but will eventually get unlocked.

Next time, make sure to activate it using a Verizon sim card first if you buy it from Best Buy or Target, or just buy it from the Apple store at full price.

 

[Cergman]

Phones sold by BestBuy/Target/anyone that isn't Apple or a carrier automatically lock to the first SIM inserted regardless of whether or not you paid in full. Your phone must have been activated with your T-Mobile SIM first, and is now locked to them.

You have to go through T-Mobile and submit an unlock request.

edit: sniped by winterny

 

[ET iPhone Home]

Phones sold by BestBuy/Target/anyone that isn't Apple or a carrier automatically lock to the first SIM inserted regardless of whether or not you paid in full. Your phone must have been activated with your T-Mobile SIM first, and is now locked to them.

You have to go through T-Mobile and submit an unlock request.

edit: sniped by winterny

So if I buy a Verizon X directly from Apple, should I set up the X with the Verizon SIM card or insert my ATT SIM card before activation? I'm confused.

 

[Bamff]

If one buys a Verizon iPhone X from B.B., activate it with the Verizon sim, if not, what the OP stated will happen.
It's because of what 'winterny' stated above.
If one buys directly from Apple, it is not carrier locked. If it's paid in full at time of purchase.

 

[gahig ulo]

So if I buy a Verizon X directly from Apple, should I set up the X with the Verizon SIM card or insert my ATT SIM card before activation? I'm confused.

no need to set it up on verizon sim which is in the phone just remove the verizon sim before turning on the X and pop in the att or whatever sim card you have

 

[laptech]

It would appear the OP has been sold a 'used' phone that someone prior used and activated it on the T-Mobile network, didn't like the phone, returned it to the store. The OP buys the phone with all intense purposes that it is linked to Verizon, get's it homes and finds it's already been activated to a different carrier.

If the OP did not activate the phone on the T-Mobile network in error then I would take the phone back because the OP said it was purchased in the belief that it was assigned to the carrier Verizon which is clearly not the case.

 

[HarrisonTaylor]

no need to set it up on verizon sim which is in the phone just remove the verizon sim before turning on the X and pop in the att or whatever sim card you have

Bad advice, activating a Best Buy iPhone with any SIM other than Verizon will lock it.

 

[Cergman]

So if I buy a Verizon X directly from Apple, should I set up the X with the Verizon SIM card or insert my ATT SIM card before activation? I'm confused.

If you buy from Apple, it doesn't matter. If it makes you feel better, I just got another iPhone X this weekend at the Apple store for Verizon. Put my AT&T SIM in before even turning it on and it's still unlocked.

 

[JonathanK81]

Bad advice, activating a Best Buy iPhone with any SIM other than Verizon will lock it.

Before telling someone that they gave bad advice. You probably should have read their question more carefully. The person's advice was 100% correct. The person asked about activating a Verizon iPhone bought from Apple. This is a different question than the one the OP posted. Anyways, this phone since it was bought from Apple does not fall under the reflex seller policy, thus is fully unlocked.

 

[Shadowbech]

Actually, iPhone purchased at Best Buy is actually Sim-Free model. But when you choose a carrier other than Verizon it will lock to that carrier. You actually need to activate it on Verizon on first boot to have it remain unlocked.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

Actually, iPhone purchased at Best Buy is actually Sim-Free model. But when you choose a carrier other than Verizon it will lock to that carrier. You actually need to activate it on Verizon on first boot to have it remain unlocked.

It's responses like this that makes me want to wait for the Sim-Free X to ensure me I can switch to different networks should I choose.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

It's responses like this that makes me want to wait for the Sim-Free X to ensure me I can switch to different networks should I choose.

Or just buy from Apple.

 

[HarrisonTaylor]

Before telling someone that they gave bad advice. You probably should have read their question more carefully. The person's advice was 100% correct. The person asked about activating a Verizon iPhone bought from Apple. This is a different question than the one the OP posted. Anyways, this phone since it was bought from Apple does not fall under the reflex seller policy, thus is fully unlocked.

I misread Apple as Best Buy, my bad.