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Hi I want to buy this phone, unlock it and use it for ATT.
I heard you cannot buy this phone off contract and that you must have a service with them. I hear people are just signing up for the service for one day and then cancel the day after.
Can someone explain how they did it?
pham818 said:
Hi I want to buy this phone, unlock it and use it for ATT.
I heard you cannot buy this phone off contract and that you must have a service with them. I hear people are just signing up for the service for one day and then cancel the day after.
Can someone explain how they did it?
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Click to collapse
Pay full price for phone up front and buy the smallest package. After 40 days cancel the service. Some stores will sell it out right without a plan, but you will have to do some searching and calling. I had to go to 3 different stores before I found one that would sell it out right.
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
chong67 said:
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
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Click to collapse
Results vary. Some say it works just as good
My LTE works perfect on AT&T.
My unlocked T Mobile Note 4 running on AT&T.
chong67 said:
I read LTE and 4G dont work so well when you take it back to ATT. I read somewhere.
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Click to collapse
I thought the same thing. This is not the case with the Note 4. It was an issue with the Note 3 and previous devices in my experience.
martinezma99 said:
My unlocked T Mobile Note 4 running on AT&T.
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Click to collapse
Who did you use to unlock it? im looking to pick one up and i'd rather not have to wait for tmobiles unlocking terms.
If you buy the phone out right you can unlock asap
bigmase23 said:
If you buy the phone out right you can unlock asap
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Click to collapse
There's been conflicting reports about that.
I bought the phone outright. Paid $30 or so to cellunlocker to get an unlock code. Popped in AT&T sim and off I went. Still need to cancel Tmo service.
taphius said:
There's been conflicting reports about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you purchase the phone outright you now it and can unlock it.
I bought my Note 4 outright and purchased the lowest priced package I could. I unlocked it the first day I received it, inserted my sim card from Consumer Cellular and was up and running. However, I read that T-Mobile can and have blacklisted the IMEI of phones that don't comply with their terms of service. Since I didn't read the fine print when I bought the phone and service, I decided it would be prudent to go ahead and meet the 40 service requirement to get an unlock code (although the phone is already unlocked) rather than take a chance and have some T-Mobile manager with a Napoleonic complex blacklist the phone. Then I would be out of $800.00. I asked the customer care representative about blacklisting the phone if I didn't meet the 40 day requirement and she said it was possible. I wasn't willing to take that chance. I will pony up an additional $80.00 + dollars to have peace of mind.
cartertucker said:
I bought the phone outright. Paid $30 or so to cellunlocker to get an unlock code. Popped in AT&T sim and off I went. Still need to cancel Tmo service.
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Click to collapse
Thanks
I preordered, got phone Monday the 13th.
I unlocked with cellunlocker.net 4 days later.
Been using it on AT&T since last friday. Called and canceled tmobile same day.
Easy as that.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
bigmase23 said:
When you purchase the phone outright you now it and can unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right but you make it sound like every T-Mobile store or reseller will sell you a phone outright with absolutely zero commitment of any kind like you walked in to buy a pack of gum or bought a nexus from google play store. There are conflicting reports about zero commitment purchases. The safer bet seems to be walking in with the understanding that you may have to agree to a month-to-month or prepaid contract that you can cancel a day or more later.
The best way i can think to explain it is as follows:
A few people have reported that they were able to buy it outright without service. Though many have been denied that option.
Some have implied that Tmobile then unlocked it.
A moderately safe assumption is that you can buy it with service, unlock it via third party service, and cancel your tmobile service the second u get your unlock code. This comes with the gray area of region locking and having to activate it on tmobile first to remove the region lock pior to unlocking. This can be a lengthy discussion, you might not care about region locking, I'll leave it at that, but read into it. I went this route, activated on tmobile for 4 days, then unlocked and cancelled. I say assumption because people are worried about blacklisting and T.O.S.
The most cautious method would be to wait out your 40 days per Tmobile T.O.S., in addition to the time it takes for them to send your unlock code, pay applicable fees, then cancel.
Hope this clears up the options a bit.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
T-Mobile has the IMEI of phone they sell you in their records. I confirmed it when I called them and they read it to me for confirmation purposes. They sold the phone to you and they know everything about it. Guaranteed. If their records show the phone being used on another carrier without it being activated with them or unlocked by them then they can blacklist the IMEI of the phone. That phone will then be an $800.00 paperweight. They have done it before and a quick Google search will prove it. I'm not saying they will since that seems to be an unknown, but they can and the owner of the phone will have no recourse. I sure don't want to wake up one day and find out that my $800.00 phone is dead. I might very well be wrong, but I am not willing to take that chance after paying $800.00 for the phone. I'll pay for the 40 days of service.
I just bought my Note 4 full price from AT&T after calling about 30 stores in my area and finding one store with one black model in stock. I ended up paying less than full price because of some computer error that rung up the phone $749.99 instead of $825.99. They charged me the difference so I only paid $825 outright, after taxes. All in all, I saved almost $50 (difference in tax from $750 to $825). I still feel like it is ridiculous though that the AT&T model is $80 more expensive than TMo. Is it worth buying a TMO Note 4 with their baseball discount ($30 off) and trying to unlock it to use it on AT&T? Sorry for my long comment/question.
Bought mine from swappa in a sealed pack. Opened the phone, went to Cellunlocker.com and within 10 min had my unlock code. Works great on ATT
So I messed up and bought an AT&T Nexus 6 on Swappa. IMEI checked out okay and all looked good. Seller said he'd used it on Verizon and was a nice guy.
Decided a little later to try out T-Mobile service and it turns out it is still carrier locked to AT&T. They (AT&T) have told me several different stories, but the latest one is that the original owner has to call and request the unlock. Well the person I bought it from bought it used ... And he's been trying to, I presume, find the original owner to see about him getting it unlocked.
Anyway, I messed up and I have learned not to trust an IMEI alone. But does anyone have any suggestions? I tried two unlocking services and they each took a week and came back with unable to unlock and gave a refund. AT&T unlock site says they can't locate the IMEI.
Anyone been through this? When I insert a sim it requests a sim unlock code. With my Verizon sim, I can make and receive calls and texts if I dismiss the sim unlock prompt, but no data. I can't even find where to enter APN settings to try that out.
At my wits end.
sbrownla said:
So I messed up and bought an AT&T Nexus 6 on Swappa. IMEI checked out okay and all looked good. Seller said he'd used it on Verizon and was a nice guy.
Decided a little later to try out T-Mobile service and it turns out it is still carrier locked to AT&T. They (AT&T) have told me several different stories, but the latest one is that the original owner has to call and request the unlock. Well the person I bought it from bought it used ... And he's been trying to, I presume, find the original owner to see about him getting it unlocked.
Anyway, I messed up and I have learned not to trust an IMEI alone. But does anyone have any suggestions? I tried two unlocking services and they each took a week and came back with unable to unlock and gave a refund. AT&T unlock site says they can't locate the IMEI.
Anyone been through this? When I insert a sim it requests a sim unlock code. With my Verizon sim, I can make and receive calls and texts if I dismiss the sim unlock prompt, but no data. I can't even find where to enter APN settings to try that out.
At my wits end.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think you can just use a sim unlock website idk a trustworthy one though
I would tell the person you bought it from to take it back. If he refuses dispute it through PayPal and they will side with you, have him pay return shipping, and refund your money out of his PayPal account once the delivery is confirmed by the shipping service. I think you have 180 days to file a dispute through PayPal. PayPal is extremely biased for buyers, which works in your favor in this case.
Whether that guy knew or not isn't important. He sold you a phone without disclosing that it was sim locked. Not to mention if you're seeing the error on verizon then so was he (he scammed you). Either way that's his problem to figure out after you get your money back.
Also please leave this information in his feedback on swappa. Those of us who buy and sell every month or more need honest feedback to know who to avoid.
billycar11 said:
i think you can just use a sim unlock website idk a trustworthy one though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already tried two I've used before. It's hella weird that AT&T is messing around ... I don't want to go the hardball route but if he can't find anything out from the original owner I may have to.
Restola said:
I would tell the person you bought it from to take it back. If he refuses dispute it through PayPal and they will side with you, have him pay return shipping, and refund your money out of his PayPal account once the delivery is confirmed by the shipping service. I think you have 180 days to file a dispute through PayPal. PayPal is extremely biased for buyers, which works in your favor in this case.
Whether that guy knew or not isn't important. He sold you a phone without disclosing that it was sim locked. Not to mention if you're seeing the error on verizon then so was he (he scammed you). Either way that's his problem to figure out after you get your money back.
Also please leave this information in his feedback on swappa. Those of us who buy and sell every month or more need honest feedback to know who to avoid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I let Swappa know. They are apparently working on the issue. I'll give him a little bit to try and resolve it.
sbrownla said:
I let Swappa know. They are apparently working on the issue. I'll give him a little bit to try and resolve it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've sim unlocked at least 4 or 5 different phones with cellunlocker.net
have you tried them yet?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
HolyAngel said:
I've sim unlocked at least 4 or 5 different phones with cellunlocker.net
have you tried them yet?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. They were the second. They couldn't do it. So they refunded. The IMEI isn't blacklisted so I really don't know what's up.
And the fact that I can call and text with Verizon, but only data is blocked, is weird. The phone registers on Verizon's network and shows up in My Verizon under my account.
sbrownla said:
Yup. They were the second. They couldn't do it. So they refunded. The IMEI isn't blacklisted so I really don't know what's up.
And the fact that I can call and text with Verizon, but only data is blocked, is weird. The phone registers on Verizon's network and shows up in My Verizon under my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the phone is picking up the network that means it's not sim locked! There's something else going on here....
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
BigDig said:
If the phone is picking up the network that means it's not sim locked! There's something else going on here....
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has to be SIM locked.
T-Mobile SIM won't register on the network at all even though it's an active SIM. The T-Mobile SIM works in my other phones. Verizon SIM registers but no data available, and it still prompts me for a SIM unlock code even though I can make and receive calls and send and receive texts.
Honestly, if there's a work-around out there I'm down to find out. I can't even locate the APN settings on this thing ... Had to go in through a Nova Launcher widget.
Phone wasn't payed for or ATT would unlock it. They only lock data.
prdog1 said:
Phone wasn't payed for or ATT would unlock it. They only lock data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sigh. They couldn't just tell me that ... I like this phone but I don't like being ripped off.
This bodes poorly for my first return to Nexus devices, but my bad for not getting a real Nexus. Whatever that is.
sbrownla said:
Sigh. They couldn't just tell me that ... I like this phone but I don't like being ripped off.
This bodes poorly for my first return to Nexus devices, but my bad for not getting a real Nexus. Whatever that is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Luckily you bought from Swappa. They should hook you up. Then buy new from Playstore for discounted price. If it was cheaper there is a reason. Or find a swappa seller with a good history.
sbrownla said:
Sigh. They couldn't just tell me that ... I like this phone but I don't like being ripped off.
This bodes poorly for my first return to Nexus devices, but my bad for not getting a real Nexus. Whatever that is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't wait for Swappa. They really don't have any leverage. You need to raise a dispute on PayPal. They have the leverage to get you your money back.
prdog1 said:
Luckily you bought from Swappa. They should hook you up. Then buy new from Playstore for discounted price. If it was cheaper there is a reason. Or find a swappa seller with a good history.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The seller has a good history, and has been communicating with me. I just don't know if he really knew how not unlockable this phone is. AT&T did a number on it, first with the extra software and then with the aggressive carrier lock. I'm not used to carrier locked phones since I'm on Verizon. They don't do that.
cam30era said:
Don't wait for Swappa. They really don't have any leverage. You need to raise a dispute on PayPal. They have the leverage to get you your money back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They require that they are notified first. Then Pay Pal. It's fine.
sbrownla said:
They require that they are notified first. Then Pay Pal. It's fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. Swappa will work out fine with a cooperative seller. But if the seller proves to be uncooperative at any point, they have no means to help further. If one opens a dispute on PayPal, it can be cancelled at any time. In a case like this, I'd start with PayPal now.
sbrownla said:
They require that they are notified first. Then Pay Pal. It's fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe your phone is SIM unlocked. Before unlocking mine, if I inserted a VZW SIM, I got a popup with something like "unauthorized SIM. Enter unlock code to continue".
I don't follow. If it prompted you before you unlocked it it would have been SIM locked. SIM unlocked devices don't prompt you to enter a network or SIM unlock code.
sbrownla said:
I don't follow. If it prompted you before you unlocked it it would have been SIM locked. SIM unlocked devices don't prompt you to enter a network or SIM unlock code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. I am saying that it appears that your N6 is unlocked.
Nope it appears that mine is SIM locked. Not unlocked because if it was I wouldn't be prompted to enter the code. And it would have data on any active SIM. I'm going to try a refund. If that doesn't work, maybe someone with AT&T will want one. For a great price. Ugh.
I had to send my phone into LG for repair. I am a Prepaid T-Mobile customer. Since I got the phone back, whenever I try to open the app to check on Permanent Unlock (as I have done temp in the past), the app get this error when Connecting to NetworkL:
Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care.
Well, I tried using chat service on their website and all that resulted in was the person thinking they should send in an unlock request for me. I knew this was wrong. Next day I get an email from the unlock dept telling me to use the app
Since I figure people here tend to be smarter than a telco tech support person, I would ask here before pursuing this further with Tmo.
This is in fact the same phone I sent in...I checked the IMEI, etc. Using the same tmo sim card.
Any ideas?
Thanks
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
thevmax said:
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. I am sadly aware of tmo's FU to prepaid customers needing service, as I have experienced it as well.
But, before I sent it in this app did recognize my phone and would allow me to temp unlock. It is only since it came back from LG repair that it stopped working. This was a period of maybe 10 days.
One item I question, but imagine it is nothing is that under the battery next to the original label with IMEI, model, seriel, etc , they place another label that has a barcode with the imei numbers next to that LB (Leather Back). Above that is shows HB811LB, but then after that BT01 EU.
No idea what that was about but EU made me think Europe.
I am interested to know if and/or how you got this resolved. I am suffering the exact same issue with a T-Mobile LG V10 after sending it in for repair.
Same thing with me, i was able to get the prompt to temp or perm unlock before i sent my g4 off to LG. Phone came back same IMEI on sticker and on device after dialing *#06# I get the stupid message device not recognized by your service provider. Please contact customer care. I tried reinstalling the firmware, same firmware that was in there, didn't want to brick the phone again.... still nothing.
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm nice to know, the only problem is i bought this phone from someone and I'm in Canada.
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I should call them again. Last time I tried they basically said FU to me. They repaired it and that was that. Frankly, the only thing keeping me with these TMO arses is that I have a super cheap prepaid plan they no longer offer.
Of course my concern with them replacing the phone is that the replacement could have any of the other various issues that this LG quality control clusterF*** has.
Thinking along the lines of it being my last LG product instead. Maybe even sell it now before the flood and use my little LG Leon backup phone I bought when I initially sent this one in for service.And Maybe tell TMO FOOO too.
Whatever LG is doing when they are flashing phones back to stock after them being bricked, is really messing up the phones. I sent out another one and the IMEI is clear fully paid off and the device unlock app is pulling the same ****. I'm not impressed. T-mobile won't unlock the phone either because i'm not the original owner. There is no block what so ever on the phone. PURE B.S on T-mobile and LG's part.
On the phone with LG now. So far getting the same run-around. He is actually calling TMO support because he simply won't believe they can't fix it.
If I don't get a replacement, I may be selling this phone, done with LG for good and ordering a Moto X Pure or something
I don't mind a screw up by a company, but you best stand behind your product properly or foo you and your company, IMO.
Results of call.....Total Failure. The LG person pawns me off on a TMO person who asks for my number so they can call back. Instead, they just transferred me to a TMO support idiot who had no idea whatsoever about what was going on. Really sick of both these company's Bull****. Pretty sure this is my last LG product ever.
Decided to try again using Chat.
So annoyed with LG and TMO right now I may sell the phone and buy a Nexus 6p and Foo to all LG products in the future.
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
Masaker514 said:
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it.
All I can say is that after the quality control debacle of the G4, you'd have to be a fool to buy a G5. I know I won't
Barsky said:
Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
Barsky said:
It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah. Well, I am just trying to have it work being totally legit. It has nothing to do with rooting and romming, that much know as the problem existed right out of the box from them. Also, before the repair, the app work 100% rooted or not.
duplicate. my bad.
I always wonder why that button says Edit/Delete, but you can never delete them. :laugh:
Well, I just ordered a Nexus 6p with Project Fi. If I like it I will port my tmo number to it and be done with LG....since fi uses tmo, I will simply be done dealing with them directly.
Not sure I see any downsides to this
Hah, decided to make one last attempt with LG tech support, this time via email. Besides explaining to them why their initial reply was wrong, I also told them I have pretty much given up on future LG purchases and that I have a nexus 6p on the way to replace this phone. Just got another reply and supposedly he is kicking it up to his manager. We will see what happens, but I am not raising my expectations. Nothing says I can't cancel the nexus 6p.
I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
pete4k said:
I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat as you
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
pete4k said:
I'm in peculiar situation: I bought my T-mo S8 direct from Samsung, paid in full, so now whom do I go to unlock my SIM? People from Canada received unlock code together with copy of bill, but I can't find anything on mine, any suggestions? Of course I want to do it as painless as possible and I want to ask here before calling customer service and waste few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the same situation. From my understanding of past and present TMo devices, the account has to be in good standing (EIP/equipment paid off) AND your device needs to have 40 or 45 days (someone correct me) of continuous usage on TMo network before you can request the Device App unlock = carrier unlock.
So just wait until then
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
As I suspected, I called Samsung to unlock my phone, they told me to call T-mo, called T-mo, they told me to call Samsung, wasted already 1 hour on this.
escabar said:
I am in the same situation. From my understanding of past and present TMo devices, the account has to be in good standing (EIP/equipment paid off) AND your device needs to have 40 or 45 days (someone correct me) of continuous usage on TMo network before you can request the Device App unlock = carrier unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 40 days, that is I was told by CS. After that you use "Device unlock" app on your phone and choose permanent unlock.
Same techniques for S6 and S7 and it worked for me.
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
pete4k said:
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
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That is T-Mobile branded phone, and that is their rules, sorry for that. What you can do, before going on the trip, on that app/ choose Temporary unlock, it's good for 30 days and you can have it up to 5 times in a year.
pete4k said:
First of all I'm leaving on a trip in 20 days, second, the phone is paid in full now, not in 40, third I didn't buy it from T-mo so most likely they wont have any record of it. It's total BS and should be illegal, in Canada Samsung sends unlock code with the phone., but I guess here consumers have no protection. Last time I'm buying carrier phone. This whole locking of the phones is leftover from carrier subsidies and should not exist outside of those plans, if they still taking place. And a funny thing is I have no intention of leaving T-mo anyway and there are services to unlock phone for money. I remember some law about phone getting unlocked when paid I read about few years ago, but can't get any details now.
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You can call T-Mobile and let them know that you are travelling out of the country on ___ date and ask for an unlock code for a long time customer. It has worked for me in the past if you get the right rep.
mrbear01 said:
You can call T-Mobile and let them know that you are travelling out of the country on ___ date and ask for an unlock code for a long time customer. It has worked for me in the past if you get the right rep.
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I have the same problem, I bought the phone from Samsung.com and there was no option to purchase an unlocked phone. I am traveling in two days for a few weeks and I called Tmobile several times trying to at least get a temporary unlock and even that cannot be done. They said it has to be on their network for 40 days. I even called Samsung and they said all the unlock codes are sent to Tmobile and only they can unlock it due to the stupid Device Unlock app. You cannot unlock it even if you have the code, only the app can unlock it. If I didn't like the S8 so much I would have switched to the iPhone 7. Absolutely ridiculous!!!
I still don't understand how T-mo will know the phone you purchased direct from Samsung is paid for and should not have SIM locked to begin with.
I have the same problem with my S8. Bough it directly from Samsung. I contacted Samsung and they told me that I need contact tmobile; contact tmobile and they told me that my phone does not show in their system as a tmobile phone because I did not buy it from them. I need my phone unlock so when I travel overseas I can use a local sime card. I don't want to wait until 40-45 days go able to unlock my phone and then not be able to return it to Samsung. There some unlock services charging $50.00 plus to unlock it. I don't want to expend more money, since this phone is already very expensive.
kindongo said:
I have the same problem with my S8. Bough it directly from Samsung. I contacted Samsung and they told me that I need contact tmobile; contact tmobile and they told me that my phone does not show in their system as a tmobile phone because I did not buy it from them. I need my phone unlock so when I travel overseas I can use a local sime card. I don't want to wait until 40-45 days go able to unlock my phone and then not be able to return it to Samsung. There some unlock services charging $50.00 plus to unlock it. I don't want to expend more money, since this phone is already very expensive.
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It's not even about money, this should be illegal. This whole business of locking the SIM card is left over from contract subsidized phones and I could perfectly understand that phone belonged to phone company and you just leased it until end of contract. Now I praise T-mo for getting rid of this practice and changing whole industry, so now at least you know what are you paying for and how much. But now SIM locking shouldn't even happen anymore: if phone is stolen/unpaid for, blacklist IMEI and also you can unlock SIM for the fee, even if it is stolen, so what purpose this SIM locking serves? Canada gets unlock code with the phone.
Anybody had any luck getting the phone unlock.?I waited too long to return the phone, now I'm stuck with it.
http://www.cellunlocker.net/t-mobile-device-unlock-app.php
the service is expensive $130 dls for the unlock
kindongo said:
Anybody had any luck getting the phone unlock.?I waited too long to return the phone, now I'm stuck with it.
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I was in the same boat as you. Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. Your IMEI number needs to be added to their "device distribution inventory system" and needs to be submitted to their highest level tech support, this allows the Device Unlock app think your phone came from T-mobile's inventory and will let the app unlock your phone.
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
"I am right there with you. It definitely makes things harder on both sides since the phone isn't technically bought from us, even though it is branded a T-Mobile phone and our system rejects any IMEI that didn't come from our inventory. None the less, we're all about giving you full access to what is yours. Teams are currently working on a process update that'll make things a lot more seamless, but in the meantime we've got this work around! I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!"
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and was greeted with "Unlock Approved: Mobile Device is permanently unlocked"
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.
INGHUGO said:
http://www.cellunlocker.net/t-mobile-device-unlock-app.php
the service is expensive $130 dls for the unlock
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Did this work for you and were you able to successfully unlock ?
no,unfortunately it couldn't be unlocked because cellunlock no longer have access to their server ,I had to have a contract and wait the 40 days that are the requirement so I can release it
I dont think anybody has now. nearly all the sites i checked unlocking tmobile does not seems to be available.
fragg3d said:
I was in the same boat as you. Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. Your IMEI number needs to be added to their "device distribution inventory system" and needs to be submitted to their highest level tech support, this allows the Device Unlock app think your phone came from T-mobile's inventory and will let the app unlock your phone.
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
"I am right there with you. It definitely makes things harder on both sides since the phone isn't technically bought from us, even though it is branded a T-Mobile phone and our system rejects any IMEI that didn't come from our inventory. None the less, we're all about giving you full access to what is yours. Teams are currently working on a process update that'll make things a lot more seamless, but in the meantime we've got this work around! I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!"
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and was greeted with "Unlock Approved: Mobile Device is permanently unlocked"
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.
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Thanks, I will try that
Hi guys, anyone know of a good method to unlock a locked T-mobile Note 5 that was bought from e-Bay? I've been using t-mobile for years, but I don't know if the 40 days of use method will work since I didn't buy my previous/current Note 5 (unlocked) from t-mobile. My new Note 5 is factory locked, and I don't think the unlock code method some third party sellers sell will work with it.
Any info?
It doesnt matter if you bought the device from Tmo or not you may have to get service for at least 40 days. and after that last payment with 40 days in mind the unlocker app will work....I went thru that with the Lg v10 when it first came out and i got it from swappa. But i dont know off hand if things have changed or not since then but third party unlockers couldnt do it then. Thats one reason i quit buying devices from tmo and having to mess with that app but after 40 days made the payment on the 42nd day and the app worked fine.....
KennyLG123 said:
It doesnt matter if you bought the device from Tmo or not you may have to get service for at least 40 days. and after that last payment with 40 days in mind the unlocker app will work....I went thru that with the Lg v10 when it first came out and i got it from swappa. But i dont know off hand if things have changed or not since then but third party unlockers couldnt do it then. Thats one reason i quit buying devices from tmo and having to mess with that app but after 40 days made the payment on the 42nd day and the app worked fine.....
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Thanks for the info. As far as I've read there used to be more options in the past:
-People would flash a MetroPCS Rom to their Note 5's in order to prompt to enter an unlocking code they would buy from a third party seller.
-People would unlock the phone through the T-mobile app regardless of where they bought the phone from, after a 40 day service under t-mobile, and have the phone fully paid if they bought it through t-mobile (used to be a whole year in the old old days). Also, some people reported being able to unlock after only 4 days of use under a t-mobile line, and requesting help from t-mobile. However IF the phone was stolen, or the previous owner had pending payments, the phone would get flagged by t-mobile, and other issues would appear to prevent you from unlocking, which is why it's risky to buy used phones off not so reputable sources like eBay.
- Some people or third party sellers would offer a server based unlock that was either free or paid by donation. I read that they needed root, but would use a "ping pong" type of temporary root that would not trip Knox, which sounds amazing, but I doubt people are still doing that since a lot of users ar moving on from the Note 5 by now.
thenetvines said:
Thanks for the info. As far as I've read there used to be more options in the past:
-People would flash a MetroPCS Rom to their Note 5's in order to prompt to enter an unlocking code they would buy from a third party seller.
-People would unlock the phone through the T-mobile app regardless of where they bought the phone from, after a 40 day service under t-mobile, and have the phone fully paid if they bought it through t-mobile (used to be a whole year in the old old days). Also, some people reported being able to unlock after only 4 days of use under a t-mobile line, and requesting help from t-mobile. However IF the phone was stolen, or the previous owner had pending payments, the phone would get flagged by t-mobile, and other issues would appear to prevent you from unlocking, which is why it's risky to buy used phones off not so reputable sources like eBay.
- Some people or third party sellers would offer a server based unlock that was either free or paid by donation. I read that they needed root, but would use a "ping pong" type of temporary root that would not trip Knox, which sounds amazing, but I doubt people are still doing that since a lot of users ar moving on from the Note 5 by now.
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I wasnt getting nowhere talking to tmo but went ahead and got the service with them just to unlock the device. But after that i started buying international devices, which was better since tmo is allowing bootloader lock and i prefer the exynos chips anyhow over snapdragon.
Hey, I was able to easily unlock my phone through T-mobile for free and really quick.
I bought a genuine T-mobile locked Note 5 from eBay, fearing it maybe a fake, since they still sell so many fake phones out there.
I tried the unlocking app on my SM-920T, and it said my device wasn't eligible. I called T-mobile, and a lady told me that she wouldn't know how to unlock my device past the unlocking app, so I asked her to transfer me to a tech guy, and she did.
The tech guy looked up my IMEI number, and realized it wasn't a stolen phone, or a used phone under someone's account left with a debt, so he said that was good so far, and he tried his first "unlock method" to no success... I don't know what that method was, but then he said he'd try a second method (probably server based), and he was successful. He told me to wait anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours, and try the unlocking app.
I tried the unlocking app right away, and it worked. Overall, it took less than 5 minutes talking to T-mobile to unlock permanently.
I did this in Florida, US, with a refurbished phone that seems to be legit. I don't know how this method will vary under other circumstances.
thenetvines said:
Hey, I was able to easily unlock my phone through T-mobile for free and really quick.
I bought a genuine T-mobile locked Note 5 from eBay, fearing it maybe a fake, since they still sell so many fake phones out there.
I tried the unlocking app on my SM-920T, and it said my device wasn't eligible. I called T-mobile, and a lady told me that she wouldn't know how to unlock my device past the unlocking app, so I asked her to transfer me to a tech guy, and she did.
The tech guy looked up my IMEI number, and realized it wasn't a stolen phone, or a used phone under someone's account left with a debt, so he said that was good so far, and he tried his first "unlock method" to no success... I don't know what that method was, but then he said he'd try a second method (probably server based), and he was successful. He told me to wait anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours, and try the unlocking app.
I tried the unlocking app right away, and it worked. Overall, it took less than 5 minutes talking to T-mobile to unlock permanently.
I did this in Florida, US, with a refurbished phone that seems to be legit. I don't know how this method will vary under other circumstances.
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Im glad you didnt go thru the crap most of us had to do with tmo unlock app...
KennyLG123 said:
Im glad you didnt go thru the crap most of us had to do with tmo unlock app...
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Hey man, just to let you know, it is even EASIER to unlock phones through T-mobile now, and for free!!! All you have to do is leave a message about it on T-Mobile's Facebook support, and leave them your IMEI.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE NOT USING THE PHONE ON T-MOBILE
NO CONTRACT OR DAYS OF USE WITH THEM REQUIRED
THEY USUALLY RESPOND IN MINUTES
NO CHARGE WHATSOEVER
IF YOU ARE IN THE US, EVEN THE SIM CARD ON TMOBILE SHOULD BE FREE IF YOU NEED IT, JUST DON'T GO TO A SHADY SMALL T-MOBILE SHOP OWNED BY A THIRD PARTY, GO TO THE BIG STORES.