Note for NYS: Apparently all Long Island stores are not eligible for this offer as they don't have the appropriate licensing with T-Mobile. Must go to an NYC store.
Folks not receiving verification text from BestBuy - Opt for text messages from BestBuy by sending 'HELP' to numbers - 332211 and 22891 (do both). You should receive verification text on the next try
Additional Info that may help
Q: Do we have to pick a plan from Best Buy for T-Mobile if we are not a current customer?
Ans: You don't have to pick a post paid T-Mobile plan from Best Buy to get this deal. You can sign up for the plan anywhere and have it active before trading in your device at Best Buy.
Q: Can we cancel the plan immediately out of the store?
Ans: If you cancel the plan immediately out of the store then you won't be able to unlock the phone because you are no longer with T-Mobile.
Q: Can we unlock by messaging T-Force?
Ans: Yes, you can. But, you have to be with T-Mobile and wait times are long. People had success unlocking anywhere between 3 days to 40 days after getting the iPhone 13. T-Force can override the system after 30 days.
Q: Do we wait 40 days with service or without service?
Ans: With service, of course. Otherwise you are no longer with T-Mobile and why would they unlock the phone?
Q: Do they accept phones with a lightly cracked front or back?
Ans: Cracked front or back. Totally depends on the rep helping you but more than likely it won't fly.
Q. Can I insert a SIM card from a different carrier other than Tmobile?
Ans: Due to Flex Policy, the device is locked to the first sim card inserted.
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If you get the message "We're sorry, there was an issue processing your request. Please try again later." when trying to validate your T-Mobile account, try the follow procedure below. It seems to help some users but not all YMMV!.
Go to your T-Mobile account and turn OFF every block for "chargeable" things including sms, downloads, etc. If they are already OFF toggle them ON and OFF just to clear the system of residual blocks. You CAN leave scam block ON. Then send "HELP" (without quotes) text message from each of your mobile no. that you are trying to upgrade to 22891, 332211 and 66803. Wait 30 minutes after completing everything above and try again. If it does not work, you might an account that has employee discounts or something else.
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Almost instant unlock process via ATT (AT&T) SIM card (as reported by multiple users)
Note: The iPhone 13 must not be be activated with T-Mobile sim card at Best Buy by the rep in order to use this ATT unlock trick! It needs to be in brand new, inactivated state.
You don't need to be a current ATT subscriber to use the ATT unlock portal as mentioned below.
- Get an ATT sim card.
You can go to a local Apple store and ask for a new ATT sim card. Users reported: I visited my local Apple store and asked for an AT&T not activated SIM card. They ordered one on their iPad and a few minutes later they handed it to me. They didn't ask for any personal or iPhone information.
You can also order one for $2 plus tax from the Microsoft store if you don't have an Apple store nearby or it's not worth the gas: https:// www. microsoft.com/en-us/d/at-t-sim-card/8n0scjxn845k
(Remove spaces!) - Put the SIM card into your new Best Buy iPhone and go through the activation process and connect to WIFI. The iPhone will then state under settings that it's carrier locked.
- Go to the ATT unlock page: https:// www. att. com/deviceunlock/unlockstep1
(Copy, paste and remove spaces as we don't want to send a lot of slickdeals referrers to this page) - Select "No" for "Are you an AT&T wireless customer?"
- Enter the IMEI into the field. You can get the IMEA under settings or dial *#06# on your iPhone to bring up device information.
- Go to the next step and enter your personal information. The email needs to be valid as ATT will send a confirmation email to this address.
- If everything is correct, wait for the confirmation email and click on the link to confirm the request. Note: Use it within 24 hours or ATT will cancel your request.
Users reported that the "No SIM restrictions" info under "Carrier Lock" appeared within 60 seconds after clicking on "confirm your unlock request".
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Once you get the email, click on the link to confirm the unlock. It should be unlocked within a minute
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I can confirm that the ATT sim card unlock trick worked for my 3 Best Buy iPhone mini 13. I used an unactivated (new) prepaid AT&T SIM card when I started the iPhone and then proceeded to unlock via the portal.
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Top Comments
Good luck!
Jon
6,472 Comments
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I enter my phone number and last 4 of my Tax Id and it errors out. I confirmed I'm entering the correct information. I even tried with my SSN but still got the error
"Something's wrong. The phone number and last 4 of SSN combination you entered doesn't match carrier records. Please try again."
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I am the account holder but the phone is for my wife who is on my plan. Can she pick up the phone without me present. I assume once i log in to the cart and authenticate and buy the phone I am no longer needed?
How long does Best Buy give you to pick up the phone once it's in? Right now its backordered and it says December 17th estimated. But i will be travelling a lot in December so we may not be around once Best Buy is ready for us. Might take us a week or two get to the right store as we will be travelling to and from Florida often in December. If they tell me estimated pickup date is Dec 17th, I could technically get it on the 22nd but can't get it sooner as I won't be in the state. What happens if they get the phone faster, do i have to get it faster?
One more question, when does this deal expire? If I buy the phone to pick up in Florida for example with an estimated Dec 17th date, if my local Best Buy in NY has stock can I do the pickup in NY and get the same deal, even if the deal is then expired?
TIA.
Q2: even I got December 17 as estimated but had one available lot sooner and they gave me a month to pick it up.
Then 90 days is what some one mentioned int his thread that folks should retrain the service with Tmobile before bailing out to be in their good books. Again, this is another unknown where Tmobile will for take any action against the violators, if so , will it be user block via ssn or device blacklist via IMEI.
I am the account holder but the phone is for my wife who is on my plan. Can she pick up the phone without me present. I assume once i log in to the cart and authenticate and buy the phone I am no longer needed?
How long does Best Buy give you to pick up the phone once it's in? Right now its backordered and it says December 17th estimated. But i will be travelling a lot in December so we may not be around once Best Buy is ready for us. Might take us a week or two get to the right store as we will be travelling to and from Florida often in December. If they tell me estimated pickup date is Dec 17th, I could technically get it on the 22nd but can't get it sooner as I won't be in the state. What happens if they get the phone faster, do i have to get it faster?
One more question, when does this deal expire? If I buy the phone to pick up in Florida for example with an estimated Dec 17th date, if my local Best Buy in NY has stock can I do the pickup in NY and get the same deal, even if the deal is then expired?
TIA.
I think best buy allows 7 days to pickup once it becomes available. My order which was placed on Nov 21st for 13 pro max was initially showing pickup date of December 17th , but it become available on November 24th. There is a high chance that your device will available sooner than what is shown.
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Q2: even I got December 17 as estimated but had one available lot sooner and they gave me a month to pick it up.
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