tech
Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones
Verizon changed prepaid brands’ policy a week after FCC waived unlocking rule.
TL;DR
- TracFone now requires phones to be active and paid for 365 days before unlocking, upon customer request.
- This policy change follows an FCC waiver that removed Verizon's obligation to automatically unlock phones after 60 days.
- The new 365-day lock period applies to TracFone and its associated brands like Straight Talk, Net10 Wireless, and others.
- Verizon's Visible prepaid brand also implemented a 365-day paid service requirement for unlocking.
- Customers who purchased phones before the policy update are still eligible for unlocks after 60 days.
- Verizon and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr claim longer lock periods deter fraud.
- Consumer groups argue against the longer locks, stating they reduce device reuse, increase e-waste, and harm competition.
- AT&T offers 60-day unlocks for paid-off postpaid phones and 6-month unlocks for prepaid phones.
- T-Mobile offers 40-day unlocks for paid-off postpaid phones and 365-day unlocks for prepaid phones.
- The FCC rejected a request to limit Verizon's lock period to 180 days, indicating an industry-wide approach is under consideration.