Executive summary: T-Mobile USA told me it won't void the warranty if your MDA gets unlocked in some other fashion than a provided unlock code. :shock:
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I received this email today from T-mobile USA after asking a week and a half ago for the unlock code on my MDA:
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, we are unable to process your request at this time because we were unsuccessful in obtaining an unlock code for the given IMEI. We have made every attempt to obtain the unlock code for this device. Our only suggestion is contact customer care and request a handset replacement through our handset exchange program by calling customer care at 1-800-937-8997.
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This is such a cop-out. I finally got through to a person who told me, yes thats your only option. I finally told her, look, "I can take this phone to a local store and get it unlocked in two minutes." :wink: "If the phone happens to become unlocked without your intervention, will it void the warranty?"
She very quietly said, "No, it won't void the warranty at all." Then she went on to "note my account" that she had stated that an independent unlock would not void the warranty.
It was a very weird conversation. She said that my other option was to put in another unlock request and wait 14 more days. I politely declined.
I doubt they would honor any warranty any more than they honored my request for an unlock code. Yeah, I know that the phone somehow :roll: already got unlocked, but it would be nice to have the code in case they ever did an over-the-air re-locking as I seem to recall A-T'n-T doing to their mMode customers. Their brand is ALL over the [email protected] phone too, they MUST have a database of the unlock codes. I cannot for the life of me figure out why they are playing games... I know there are T-mo customer service folk on this board, any of you care to comment about this lunacy?
Anyway, T-mo and Cingular are the only games in town for airtime but I very much doubt I'll ever buy another phone from a carrier after that customer non-service experience. Much better to buy an unlocked phone elsewhere than deal with that B.S.!!!
Hi,
I bought a T-Mobile locked HTC Sensation from the ebay. I wanted to get it unlocked from T-Mobile, but they will provide me the unlocking code for the mobile, unless I have an activated line from them. I found the following from the T-Mobile website, and need somebody who is a T-Mobile USA customer to help me out with this. If you are willing to help, send me a PM. I will send you the IMIE number, which could be used to get the unlocking code from T-Mobile.
SIM Unlock Code
For information on the SIM Unlock Code, refer to the following:
If you purchased a wireless phone from T-Mobile, your phone has been programmed with a SIM lock which will prevent the phone from operating with other compatible wireless telephone carrier’s services. If you wish to use the phone with the service of another wireless telephone carrier, you must enter a numeric SIM Unlock Code to unlock the phone.
For customers with a T-Mobile Postpaid Plan, T-Mobile will provide the SIM Unlock Code upon request to eligible customers, provided the requesting customer has a minimum of 40 days of active service with T-Mobile.
For customers with a T-Mobile Prepaid Plan, T-Mobile will provide the SIM Unlock Code upon request to eligible customers, provided the requesting customer has a minimum of 60 days of active service with T-Mobile and either a Prepaid Plan account balance of at least $10.00 or a prior refill within the last 30 days.
T-Mobile will provide the SIM Unlock Code upon request to eligible former customers, provided that T-Mobile has such code or can obtain it from the manufacturer.
You may request the SIM Unlock Code for your phone, together with instructions for entering the code, by calling T-Mobile customer care at 1-800-937-8997.
i dont know if they do it but have you try calling htc? also i think there are sites that sell the unlock codes.
I tried for the past week to unlock via T-Mobile. Complete waste of my time. Too many wasted hours on the phone with them. And I WAS eligible!
I ended up buying mine for $25 from htcimeiunlock.com received it 10 minutes later and all was well.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Also, HTC will not give it either. I tried that too
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
cdstewart said:
I tried for the past week to unlock via T-Mobile. Complete waste of my time. Too many wasted hours on the phone with them. And I WAS eligible!
I ended up buying mine for $25 from htcimeiunlock.com received it 10 minutes later and all was well.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
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why did you have problems? this week i solicited the unlock code for my hd2 and got the code the next day.
cdstewart said:
I tried for the past week to unlock via T-Mobile. Complete waste of my time. Too many wasted hours on the phone with them. And I WAS eligible!
I ended up buying mine for $25 from htcimeiunlock.com received it 10 minutes later and all was well.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
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I called them and were willing to give the unlock code if I had an active line with them. I have read other stories on forums where they have shared this code. The extract that have posted is also from their website !!
swapniljain said:
I called them and were willing to give the unlock code if I had an active line with them. I have read other stories on forums where they have shared this code. The extract that have posted is also from their website !!
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I work in tech care myself and would like to clear something up. T-Mobile does not have unlock codes, period. IF you are eligible (must have an account obviously), your IMEI and account info gets sent to an unlock team, and they get the code directly from the manufacturer. It's not like they have the code ready and said "Go F yourself" lol.
What reason do they have to unlock a phone that is so new they obviously did not recuperate their subsidy yet and for someone who hasn't paid a dime worth of fees.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
fschambe said:
What reason do they have to unlock a phone that is so new they obviously did not recuperate their subsidy yet and for someone who hasn't paid a dime worth of fees.
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Not everyone has purchases their phones on contract. Some people buy them outright... and prefer them sim unlocked for traveling with.
I am one of those few people who do just that. T-mobile told me that I need to wait 60 days between time of purchase and sim unlock... Or I could get it done by a third party, usually $25 to do. Google "sim unlock htc sensation"
@stoneyjonez : Ok.. got you. Can you tell me if they would give me the unlock code if a person with a T-Mobile account ( long standing ) and asked them for the unlock code ? Obviously that person wouldnt have bought the phone directly from them
cellunlocker . net I recommend currently only 19.99 for unlock code and takes up to 3 hours
In the past I tried to get a Motorola ROKR E8 unlocked through them. I was eligible and they said they would submit something to whoever they have to submit it to. I tried 3 times and never heard back from anyone. Phone was never unlocked :-(
I would just go online and pay for one, you get way better service that way. Its not like $25 is a big spend compared to the retail cost of the phone your unlocking.
Thanks for all your responses folks !! In my opinion its a bit dodgy to send money to anybody on the net. I have read too many stories where the money is gone but no unlock code. But I can take the recommendations given by others and buy from a reliable service..
Usually yes...if you give your imei to a T-mobile customer they will give them the unlock code for it.
Here is what happened when I sold my Vibrant after buying my new Sensation: I requested the unlock code from t-mo, they replied in 24 hours that the phone would not be unlocked due to it not being the current phone on the network for my account. (I then unlocked the Vibrant by rooting it and using an unlock method via adb)
So I am guessing that a t-mo customer would not be able to help out, since the phone would not be on the network.
From what I have read on the internet, if you tell them that you are travelling internationally and would like to use a local sim, they give you the unlock code. Also, see my first post where I have posted the rules specified on the T-Mob website for requesting a unlock code and the guidelines they use for qualification of a customer.
i use my sensation on the network and so i called in to request my unlock code..they did all the button pushing on their side and said i will get an email within 72 hours with the unlock stuff...will post when i get it or what i get.
lezouave said:
Here is what happened when I sold my Vibrant after buying my new Sensation: I requested the unlock code from t-mo, they replied in 24 hours that the phone would not be unlocked due to it not being the current phone on the network for my account. (I then unlocked the Vibrant by rooting it and using an unlock method via adb)
So I am guessing that a t-mo customer would not be able to help out, since the phone would not be on the network.
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my current phone in the network is the sensation and i asked for the code of the hd2 and they gave it to me. and i didnt have to lie. i told them the truth, that i bought the sensation and was going to give the hd2 to my girlfriend and because she is in another company i needed the code so she can use the phone.
i guess it just depends if you get a good rep.by the way i did it via the costumer care online chat. i saved the transcript here it is.
Thanks for your detailed response.. Anybody willing to give it a shot with for my phone with T-Mobile ?
sorry man. i dont want to risk into getting in trouble. i bet others here are thinking the same. so guess your only option is to pay for it online. do good search for a reliable site.
Can someone explain me how many private business on the web can sell unlock codes generate by a computer almost instantly simply from a website request ?
What do they have that devs from xda dont have ?
First of all, those unlock codes are NEVER instant. If they say they will deliver instantly, they are lying. A couple hours at the least is how long they'll send you a code.
Second, any legit SIM unlocking place has some sort of license from whatever carrier the phones they unlock is locked to. (((((((They rely the carriers for unlock codes.)))))))
I don't really trust the sites, they seem very fishy, but if you go to a local cell shop, they will have a poster saying something like "official tmobile seller," so they can unlock any tmobile phone. eBay sellers will also have something like this on their listing.
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
I just wanted to share that I unlocked my UK Orange One XL on eBay.
UK based seller and item no 150986220113
Firstly I read reviews and saw positive international feedback so I went for it. I received my unlock code via email within minutes on a Saturday evening, even though order confirmation states to expect item in 3-4 days.
The best part is it's dirt cheap compared to other unlocking services, ONLY £2.49!
I am not affiliated with seller in any way, just wanted to share this here so others can save some $$ while breaking from carrier chains
While researching this I couldn't find any free methods yet BTW!
I was able to call AT&T and request my unlock. The phone was about 6 months old on contract and I hadn't called them before for such a request. Not sure if it matters. Also I wasn't an international carrier either, not sure how much that matters.
I'm glad you were able to get a successful code for next to nothing
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I went thru a variety of hoops to get my one xl unlocked, and wife's x+.
AT&T said no-can-do until the contract expires (which, we always renew, typically early, so does that mean no forever??) on the FIRST phone call.
bought a code of ebay which didn't work. paid cellunlocker.net $15 and didn't work.
called ATT and asked for PUK code, then PIN code, and was given both.
worked.
Hi there ! Bought one of these phones from ebay.co.uk and wanted to unlock it before it arrives by IMEI. A friend told me that the O2 ones already come sim unlocked... is this true?
Many thanks!!!
jopa7 said:
Hi there ! Bought one of these phones from ebay.co.uk and wanted to unlock it before it arrives by IMEI. A friend told me that the O2 ones already come sim unlocked... is this true?
Many thanks!!!
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That's not true, they are locked to O2 network. Fill in a form here: https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset Unlocking Form and wait. It took them one day to supply me with an unlock code.
Thank you very much. Already received it and, as you told, it's locked. I'm not living in UK and bought the phone on ebay to use overseas. The link you provided it's for 02 contract customers, no? Do you know any reliable unlock code provider? Cheers
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Well, most likely the person who sold you the phone is an O2 contract customer. You could ask that person to request an unlock code for you as it would be free of charge. Another option is to get O2 Pay & Go sim card and doing it yourself. See this: http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI...ef(User):str(Mobile),CASE=ref(unlockmymobile) which might be tricky if you're not in the UK I don't know of any reliable unlock sites, but they usually charge a fortune for this.
This thread describes the situation I was in, in case anyone stumbles on it later.
I tried via the O2 online chat to get the phone unlocked. They said that I could not unlock it because they could only supply an unlock code if the phone had been used for 12 months on O2 and their records showed that this particular phone had only been used for three months. So, it looked like I would have to get a UK O2 SIM and use it for nine months. That is not easy if you live in Australia. However there is a site called Travelgear that sells O2 SIMs and lets you charge them up with 20 pounds of credit. So, I did that, and installed the SIM with a view to seeing out the 9 months, perhaps sending a text every so often and topping up each month. After installing the SIM I received a text from O2 saying I had 100MB of data to use. In trying to work out the status of the phone account I pressed an O2 shortcut on the front screen which opened up an app which when I pressed on the "My O2" button, opened up the web browser, which would not let me log into any information. Then, I thought I would ask O2 again to unlock via their online support form. Unsurprisingly, they responded that they could not but surprisingly, they said that the reason was that I did not have the necessary 15 pounds of credit. I queried that because I thought I should have 20 pounds. Ha ha! While it is 100MB, it is 6 pounds per MB if you are roaming in Australia! The brief attempt to check my account status had wiped out my credit. Gosh how I laughed.
Anyway, in parallel with all of this I tried an unlocking site called gsmliberty. They said they would need to go to a "second level database" at an additional charge and I said no thanks I will have a refund, which they promptly gave without fuss. Then I tried CellUnlockerPro. First time, they said the servers were down, which I thought was just an excuse for not being able to get the unlock code as gsmliberty had not been able to, so I asked for a refund and they too gave it to me promptly. About a week later CellUnlockerPro emailed to say the server was up so I thought nothing to be lost and gave it a shot. I put in the wrong IMEI but again CellUnlockerPro gave me a refund because I spotted the mistake early. I tried again and lo! they gave me an unlock code which worked.
So, moral of this sad story seems to be that if you are in Australia, do not waste money trying to get the free unlock out of O2, just spend the 30 USD that CellUnlockerPro charges.