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Will AT&T unlock a 4S?
- Thread starter viperGTS
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They're contract prices. They're saying to sign the contract, pay the ETF, and stuff come under the off-the shelf price for an unlocked phone from Apple.
I forgot where, but I read that come out to just about $525, lol.
I'd rather just buy used off of ebay for about $100 cheaper and save myself that hassle.
They ask for the phone number of the AT&T account in question before even proceeding.You can call from a blocked number
Then you tell them that you don't have an account with AT&T, but then they reject you too...
It's ok though, my cousin has AT&T so I can just log on to chat from his account to get the unlock through.
They have unlocked several on contract 4S', including my own. I got mine unlocked as soon as they started offering unlocks -- I still had 18 months to go on my contract
My theory is that if your 4S was purchased from AT&T, they have more accurate records whether the contract was fulfilled or not, so they are more likely to deny the request.
However, if your 4S was originally purchased at the Apple Store or replaced under warranty at the Genius Bar, AT&T may not have enough information to deny your unlock request.
I just called today to get my dad's 4S unlocked. His contract just ended yesterday, but my sister purchased the 4S for him using her upgrade at an Apple Store a few weeks after they were released. I was expecting them to deny my request, since the 4S is technically still under contract, but after waiting on hold while they checked the IMEI number, they eventually told me that it's eligible and processed the unlock.
If the upgrade was purchased at an AT&T store, I bet they would have denied my request even though his contract had ended already, because they would have been able to see that the 4S was purchased under contract.
However, if your 4S was originally purchased at the Apple Store or replaced under warranty at the Genius Bar, AT&T may not have enough information to deny your unlock request.
I just called today to get my dad's 4S unlocked. His contract just ended yesterday, but my sister purchased the 4S for him using her upgrade at an Apple Store a few weeks after they were released. I was expecting them to deny my request, since the 4S is technically still under contract, but after waiting on hold while they checked the IMEI number, they eventually told me that it's eligible and processed the unlock.
If the upgrade was purchased at an AT&T store, I bet they would have denied my request even though his contract had ended already, because they would have been able to see that the 4S was purchased under contract.
If it was purchased full price at an Apple Store (at least in the last year or so) it would already be unlocked. I had AT&T unlock an old iPhone 3G recently and it had been replaced at the Genius Bar, which is why the IMEI wasn't showing up in their database. They put me on hold, checking the IMEI with Apple, and confirmed that it was a replacement phone from the Genius Bar, presumably also getting additional information such as the IMEI of the phone that got replaced.
I always thought that they ask for IMEI when they encounter anyone who asks for a phone unlock. I think they keep the record of what account any given IMEI is/was linked to, so when contacting them to have the phone unlocked, they look up that account, then check the status and from there on YMMV.
My story goes like that: I pre-ordered iPhone 4 when it was announced and received and activated it on launch day. When iPhone 4S came out, I purchased it as off-contract AT&T (which was already unlocked), swapped the SIM's and sold iPhone 4 on eBay. About a few weeks after AT&T started unlocking iPhones, the guy who bought my iPhone 4 messaged me asking if I can get it unlocked for him. I got on their online chat and the first 3 reps that I encountered refused saying that that phone is still under contract. However, the fourth rep that I got sent a request in to Apple to get it unlocked.
Technically, AT&T is not losing anything with unlocking when it comes to the original owner. Locked or unlocked, if they purchased it as subsidized price, they need to keep paying bills for 2 years or pay ETF if they wish to get out early.
What AT&T is losing on with unlocks is the second hand market. Typically, once their contract is over, some folks will upgrade to another phone (be it with the same carrier or another). In regards to the old phone, they will probably pass it on to someone else (be it sell or gift it). With the locked phone, whoever gets it next has no choice but to activate it with AT&T, that way AT&T makes some extra money off of them. With unlocked one, the recipient can take it to another carrier if they wish (e.g. T-Mobile). So AT&T will not make any extra cash in that case. But in no way are they losing any money from whoever purchased this phone originally.
I doubt that the place of purchase has anything to do with the outcome of the unlock request. The iPhone 4 that I had unlocked for someone who bought it from me on eBay was purchased from Apple, and I was still denied 3x before getting someone who processed the unlock.
I think that varied results when it comes to unlocking are a combination of poor training, lack of proper procedure(s) and human nature. Some reps may not have been trained on how to properly determine eligibility, and as a result may be letting ineligible unlocks to go through and/or denying legitimate requests. Some are way too lazy to pull up the account and either just send that IMEI on to Apple or flat out deny you. Some are very helpful while others are pricks. On top of it all, I think AT&T is yet to discipline anyone who improperly handled unlock request(s). That is why if you really need an iPhone unlocked and do not succeed at first, keep on trying and ultimately you will get what you want.
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I've tried the chat multiple times and today I tried calling but still no luck unlocking my on-contract 4s.
It's better off you buy it factory unlocked. AT&T will not do that for you because you are not a customer. I bought 2 used 4S on Craigslist, i called them explain that I needed to go overseas. They check the imei of both and see their history. My acct been in good standing so they did both for me. However I asked if they can unlock my current 4S they said this 1 is under contract with them.
Man, I have tried SOOOO many times to get my 4S unlocked with no success. I've gone both the chat route and calling in. One time, using chat, the rep said something like 'I've seen that you have contacted us multiple times on this issue' basically indirectly telling me to cut it out. It bums me out because I am travelling to Europe next month and getting it unlocked would help me out so much.
Hmm... So I guess some of the reps actually do check history of when you contacted them and with what problems/issues. Not sure what kind of CRM they use at AT&T and how easy/difficult it is to pull history for any given customer, but when I was contacting them multiple times trying to get my old 4 unlocked, no one has mentioned that they see that this is not the first time I am contacting them about this.
Maybe AT&T reps have been trained to be extra vigilant when it comes to 4S; after all, it has only been out for 9 months or so, so the assumption could be that the majority of its owners are under contract.
If you have any friends who are also with AT&T but whose contract has ended, maybe they can try contacting them for you. Although the IMEI of your 4S will probably lead them back to your account, it's worth a try as they could be more sympathetic towards someone who is no longer under contract as opposed to you.
Here's another thing you can try. When my first attempt to get my old 4 unlock failed, the lady who I spoke with said that she noticed that the IMEI of my old 4 was not used on my account for quite some time while she did see that I have 4S on my account right now. I explained that I purchased 4S at full retail price so my contract should still expire 2 years from the date when I activated my old 4. She did say that if I can show them proof that I purchased 4S at full retail price, they can get that unlocked. Of course, I said "No Thanks" since I knew that given that it was purchased at Apple Store as Device Only, it was already unlocked. Which brings me to something you could try: if you happen to have purchased yours from Apple and can Photoshop a receipt showing full retail price, AT&T might bite.