For T-mobile plans, trade in Apple iPhone and save up to $975 on iPhone 13s or other brands

rattlingabhi

Nov 11, 2021

1,943 Posts

Joined Nov 2015

Nov 11, 2021

1,943 Posts

Hi All - I am looking for some information . I purchased the iPhone 13 mini by upgrading a line on my account and traded in an IPhone mini. At the time of activation I requested the sales person to not open the box and activate the line as I plan to give it as a gift and would use my existing SIM card. The sales person obliged and did not open the box and checked me out just by scanning the phone. However upon leaving she mentioned to ensure I put the same number T-Mobile Sim so it is locked to T-Mobile , if I put any other network sim it will get locked to that network . Since the phone was switched not switched on and T-Mobile sim inserted at the time of activation is it safe to assume that the phone is unlocked ? I plan to give this phone for someone to use in India and want to make sure the phone is unlocked . Any suggestions or inputs ?

1

manfromnowhere

Nov 11, 2021

2,857 Posts

Joined Dec 2009

Nov 11, 2021

manfromnowhere

Nov 11, 2021

2,857 Posts

Quote from rattlingabhi

:

Hi All - I am looking for some information . I purchased the iPhone 13 mini by upgrading a line on my account and traded in an IPhone mini. At the time of activation I requested the sales person to not open the box and activate the line as I plan to give it as a gift and would use my existing SIM card. The sales person obliged and did not open the box and checked me out just by scanning the phone. However upon leaving she mentioned to ensure I put the same number T-Mobile Sim so it is locked to T-Mobile , if I put any other network sim it will get locked to that network . Since the phone was switched not switched on and T-Mobile sim inserted at the time of activation is it safe to assume that the phone is unlocked ? I plan to give this phone for someone to use in India and want to make sure the phone is unlocked . Any suggestions or inputs ?

No. The phone is not unlocked and needs to be a activated with a US SIM, which it is then locked to. It's best to lock it to T-Mobile and request an unlock, then send it to India.

1

joogle

Nov 11, 2021

9,259 Posts

Joined Sep 2004

Nov 11, 2021

joogle

Nov 11, 2021

9,259 Posts

Just so everyone knows out of box phone is locked if you put a different sim it won't work or accept it you will get a message saying it

theguyhasnoname

Nov 11, 2021

124 Posts

Joined Nov 2016

Nov 11, 2021

theguyhasnoname

Nov 11, 2021

124 Posts

How long does it take for tforce to unlock the phone? I raised a request 3 days ago and according to tforce it's unlocked but I still can't use other SIM cards.

Also, I noticed in app, under my line when I try to check the unlock status it says "the device is not in our system". Any one exp this?

selvaspk

Nov 11, 2021

2,318 Posts

Joined Oct 2013

Nov 11, 2021

selvaspk

Nov 11, 2021

2,318 Posts

Got the phone yesterday new in box. Bestbuy guys just scanned imei, product code and sim code from package and gave it to me. When I inserted other sim att, it didn't take and asked to insert correct sim. Displayed a message saying its locked to network and insert correct sim. How could they lock without phone connecting to network?

I am already with T-mobile, so no issues on there. But I got mint sim to be activated by this 15th. Anyone had success on requesting unlock from T-mobile by calling them? Or tweet within 2 days?

hhhh

Nov 11, 2021

102 Posts

Joined Dec 2010

Nov 11, 2021

hhhh

Nov 11, 2021

102 Posts

Quote from selvaspk

:

Got the phone yesterday new in box. Bestbuy guys just scanned imei, product code and sim code from package and gave it to me. When I inserted other sim att, it didn't take and asked to insert correct sim. Displayed a message saying its locked to network and insert correct sim. How could they lock without phone connecting to network?

I am already with T-mobile, so no issues on there. But I got mint sim to be activated by this 15th. Anyone had success on requesting unlock from T-mobile by calling them? Or tweet within 2 days?

It took about 2 days but one of my request unlocked within an hour.

1

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

Joined Apr 2004

Nov 11, 2021

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

I traded in my locked iphone xr for the trade in 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I saw a charge amount of $200 on my bestbuy credit card. I called up bestbuy and they said because my phone was not unlocked they are charging me back. They said the promotion does not apply to locked phones.

Anyone has similar issues?

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Joined Sep 2016

Nov 11, 2021

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Quote from Amigo13

:

How long does it take for tforce to unlock the phone? I raised a request 3 days ago and according to tforce it's unlocked but I still can't use other SIM cards.

Also, I noticed in app, under my line when I try to check the unlock status it says "the device is not in our system". Any one exp this?

Did you activate the phone and then requested for unlock or without opening the box you have requested for unlock??

If you have not opened and activated tuen its not gonna get unlocked irrespective of how many times you raise a unlock request.

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Joined Sep 2016

Nov 11, 2021

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Quote from dhishi

:

I traded in my locked iphone xr for the trade in 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I saw a charge amount of $200 on my bestbuy credit card. I called up bestbuy and they said because my phone was not unlocked they are charging me back. They said the promotion does not apply to locked phones.

Anyone has similar issues?

I dont think so it should happen that way. Maybe some other issue. I bet 75% of the people traded locked phones, if they back charge the credits cards then its gonna cause a havoc.. people will go crazy. Also btw in the list to select the carrier also has unlocked option, so maybe you selected that and traded a locked device. If you are trading locked device from verizon, sprint, tmo, att you have to select that.

1

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Joined Sep 2016

Nov 11, 2021

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Quote from selvaspk

:

Got the phone yesterday new in box. Bestbuy guys just scanned imei, product code and sim code from package and gave it to me. When I inserted other sim att, it didn't take and asked to insert correct sim. Displayed a message saying its locked to network and insert correct sim. How could they lock without phone connecting to network?

I am already with T-mobile, so no issues on there. But I got mint sim to be activated by this 15th. Anyone had success on requesting unlock from T-mobile by calling them? Or tweet within 2 days?

To get it unlocked asap. Better first activate the phone with the tmo sim and immediately raise a unlock request to tforce. It will get unlocked within 2-3 days max. So you will be good to go before the 15th.

1

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Joined Sep 2016

Nov 11, 2021

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Quote from Costmore

:

Edited my post, I ordered on October 30. 128gb silver pro max

Thanks, looks like sierra blue is taking time and rest other colors are flowing in fast. Even i found couple silver pro maxes in my local stores in random days.

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

Joined Apr 2004

Nov 11, 2021

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

Quote from VidyaG9025

:

I dont think so it should happen that way. Maybe some other issue. I bet 75% of the people traded locked phones, if they back charge the credits cards then its gonna cause a havoc.. people will go crazy. Also btw in the list to select the carrier also has unlocked option, so maybe you selected that and traded a locked device. If you are trading locked device from verizon, sprint, tmo, att you have to select that.

You might be right as my device is locked to total wireless and I selected unlocked device since it is none of the carriers.

jh95

Nov 11, 2021

59 Posts

Joined Jan 2017

Nov 11, 2021

jh95

Nov 11, 2021

59 Posts

I just reached out to T-Force via Twitter 3 days after activating the new phone. Even though phone is paid in full, I was told I must wait until I have 40 days of active service before the phone will be unlocked.

1

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Joined Sep 2016

Nov 11, 2021

VidyaG9025

Nov 11, 2021

2,296 Posts

Quote from dhishi

:

You might be right as my device is locked to total wireless and I selected unlocked device since it is none of the carriers.

So for mvno you have to select relevant carriers like for total wireless you should have selected Verizon.

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

Joined Apr 2004

Nov 11, 2021

dhishi

Nov 11, 2021

2,893 Posts

Quote from VidyaG9025

:

So for mvno you have to select relevant carriers like for total wireless you should have selected Verizon.

Good point. Also note when you pick the device they take a photo of your driving license and you have to sign the agreement for the trade in device. So it is going to be a difficult battle to contest the $200 back charge. At least they are nice enough not to charge the entire amount of $420 for the trade in.

Last edited by dhishi November 11, 2021 at 06:29 AM.

Apple iPhone 13 Upgrade/Trade-In Offer for T-Mobile for New/Existing Customers

Up to $975 Off

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