
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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But bonus was that the 128GB he tried to ring me up and activate was a demo, and then the only other phone in stock was 256GB, so he gave it to me for the same price.
Invoice says 128 and is correctly priced.
I ordered S21 Ultra for wifey with it.
$200 mastercard after 3 months of service (-$55)
And right now you also get free airpods pro.
It automatically unlocks after 60 days, I soft unlocked mine in the meantime.
Looks like I can't do the best buy promo because my account is a biz one. Even though it's running off a social. Sigh. $500 trade in loss from my XS Max. 😕
Also try a variation of your name if you've had credit problems in the past.
Looks like the run the name through some sort of collections agency DB.
I had a derogatory mark mistakenly applied by TWC to my credit and then reversed by the bureaus, but sprint would always instantly deny my requests, even though I have great credit score and history. I later found out they do collections through the same agency.
Thank you! I might have to try this out. How did you find out about the derogatory remark?
On a side note, for those of you on grandfathered T-Mobile family plans who have no plans to leave. The $200/yr Best Buy Total Tech service plan is so worth it to get, it'll cover the Apple Care+ for all Apple devices purchased from Best Buy for 2 years as long as you keep Total Tech every year.
We got Total Tech for discounts on TV mounting and checking out one of our appliances, but ended up loving it for the Apple Care+. LOL!!!
Also, unless I missed it I don't see where you say whether you did your process entirely in store or if you did the initial ordering online..?
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Any ideas ?
Will using Paypal Key trigger the $25 off $250 bonus or no?
Picked up my last trade in today using Sams Club 12 Mini order. Traded in for Starlight iPhone 13 for a total $500 including tax and cost of the 12 Mini. Very quickly unlocked via ATT method and it should sell pretty quick. Some awesome people in this thread and I appreciate y'all.
My tax if I do it online is a random $43.xx which I can't figure out: the sales tax rate here is 7.25%. The 13 regular (non pro) costs 799, the 12 mini trade is 630, 799-630=169, so it should have shown taxes at $58 if it was the full amount on the 799 phone, or only $12 if it was only on the 169 difference, but instead it shows online as $43 in tax..?
My tax in NC if I do it online is a random $43.xx which I can't figure out: the sales tax rate here is 7.25%. The 13 regular (non pro) costs 799, the 12 mini trade is 630, 799-630=169, so it should have shown taxes at $58 if it was the full amount on the 799 phone, or only $12 if it was only on the 169 difference, but instead it shows online as $43 in tax..?
I did one trade in store, total $400 trade value, paid 1100-400= $700x tax rate.
Another online order was taxed on $1100
May b BB is trying to fix this whole thing
I ordered S21 Ultra for wifey with it.
(1) insert a non-TMO SIM card or
(2) fully reset the iphone
I had them confirm this twice.
Since I did not have another nano-sim card, I did do a full phone reset. Before the reset the phone was still showing "SIM locked" restriction, after the phone reset, immediately after initial set up, Settings > About > Carrier Lock now shows "No SIM restrictions"
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
(1) insert a non-TMO SIM card or
(2) fully reset the iphone
I had them confirm this twice.
Since I did not have another nano-sim card, I did do a full phone reset. Before the reset the phone was still showing "SIM locked" restriction, after the phone reset, immediately after initial set up, Settings > About > Carrier Lock now shows "No SIM restrictions"
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