reconditioned iPhone 12 month unlock?

**taxmantoo** · 01-05-2022, 09:22 AM

Has anybody activated a refurb since 11-23?

I'm hoping refurbs will unlock the same as new.

**tomseys** · 01-05-2022, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by taxmantoo

Has anybody activated a refurb since 11-23?

I'm hoping refurbs will unlock the same as new.

I activated one on 11/27. New line. I'll let know what happens.

**pitflyer** · 01-05-2022, 11:59 AM

I activated with transfer two lines in mid December. One I refilled afterwards with 90 day service, the other I did not (since it already had more than enough service). I plan to see what my options are in mid February for both lines. If either one doesn't allow me to unlock, I would hope the 'new line' activation will have worked by then for someone else like tomseys, and I'd just port those lines to BYOP and re-activate on new lines.

**peggyrh** · 01-19-2022, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by pitflyer

I activated with transfer two lines in mid December. One I refilled afterwards with 90 day service, the other I did not (since it already had more than enough service). I plan to see what my options are in mid February for both lines. If either one doesn't allow me to unlock, I would hope the 'new line' activation will have worked by then for someone else like tomseys, and I'd just port those lines to BYOP and re-activate on new lines.

I've also activated phones since 11/23, all 3 used carryover minutes but I did add an additional 90 days to 2 of them as well to see if that helps.

What has me most concerned now is that the 2 refurb XR's (just purchased from TW) both show a sim card icon & not a smartphone icon which could mean trouble unlocking. I've activated TW & ST (new) locked phones on TF in the past, they both showed the smartphone icon.

Hope that doesn't mean what I think it means, should know more around the 30th.

**greenhandle** · 01-20-2022, 06:06 AM

peggyrh, that does seem like a concern. I just looked at a TF branded iPhone SE refurb I activated recently, and it shows the expected phone icon in my dashboard.

**hpham** · 01-20-2022, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by greenhandle

peggyrh, that does seem like a concern. I just looked at a TF branded iPhone SE refurb I activated recently, and it shows the expected phone icon in my dashboard.

Peggy used the Total Wireless XRs. Although she did it before with TW and ST phones, perhaps they weren't treated as rebranded this time and treated as BYOP instead.

**peggyrh** · 01-20-2022, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by hpham

Peggy used the Total Wireless XRs. Although she did it before with TW and ST phones, perhaps they weren't treated as rebranded this time and treated as BYOP instead.

That's what I'm afraid of. There are so many variations of what will qualify for unlock or will need support intervention going forward we're going to have a lot of reading to do in the next few weeks.

**pitflyer** · 01-20-2022, 05:29 PM

I took a stab at listing all the various unlock scenarios on another thread and didn't even consider the rebranding one

But I think I will create an unlock data point thread next week so everyone can report in!

**peggyrh** · 01-20-2022, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by pitflyer

I took a stab at listing all the various unlock scenarios on another thread and didn't even consider the rebranding one

But I think I will create an unlock data point thread next week so everyone can report in!

Just checked the ST iphone 12 Mini I activated on TF 11/30, it shows correct smartphone icon so it's not an issue between brands - might be more of an issue with both XR's being TW refurbs & not TF refurbs which was reported to have worked OK.
They "should" still unlock since info can all be verified and they're qualified, I just may have to call unlocking dept and have them do an override. No way their computer system is set up to handle all the exceptions.

**taxmantoo** · 01-21-2022, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by hpham

Peggy used the Total Wireless XRs. Although she did it before with TW and ST phones, perhaps they weren't treated as rebranded this time and treated as BYOP instead.

I bought those last week but I think I ordered from Straight Talk.
Was planning on activating them from inside my TF account the same as I would a refurb bought from TF.
Should I call support and ask for a rebrand instead?

**greenhandle** · 01-21-2022, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by taxmantoo

I bought those last week but I think I ordered from Straight Talk.
Was planning on activating them from inside my TF account the same as I would a refurb bought from TF.
Should I call support and ask for a rebrand instead?

I chatted with TF CSR last week about using a Total branded phone on Tracfone. I did not specify whether it was retail boxed, or a refurb, though. They suggested I should chat back to rebrand the phone when ready to activate it. I recall that we've seen at least one other report that a CSR recommended this. I know that it's worked for lots of folks without requesting rebranding, but with Tracfone companies I'm inclined to not push the boundaries more than necessary.

**taxmantoo** · 01-21-2022, 01:31 PM

I just activated my newest Straight Talk/Total Wireless XR, warranty expires in April. (activation card names both companies)
The other one expires in early March, so it'll be out of warranty before it's unlocked.
My SE refurbs have all been September-November warranty dates, so they've got at least 8 months left.

In my account, the new format that started yesterday, the SIM number is stated and the Device is Unknown with no ESN listed.
I used the ESN to activate it seemingly without issue, but it looks like it converted to a BYOP upon activation.

I guess I need to chat to rebrand.

**taxmantoo** · 01-21-2022, 02:36 PM

I just did a chat to rebrand my XR.
CSR told me that the phone was already Tracfone branded and would unlock in 60 days, but if it does not:

You can have your phone unlocked in 60 days by calling our Business Assurance Department. You will have to speak to a fraud specialist directly. A representative can be reached at 1-888-442-5102. For your convenience, a representative is available Monday-Sunday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:45 P.M. EST.

**NanaC** · 01-21-2022, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by taxmantoo

I just did a chat to rebrand my XR.
CSR told me that the phone was already Tracfone branded and would unlock in 60 days, but if it does not:

You can have your phone unlocked in 60 days by calling our Business Assurance Department. You will have to speak to a fraud specialist directly. A representative can be reached at 1-888-442-5102. For your convenience, a representative is available Monday-Sunday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:45 P.M. EST.

Now that Verizon owns TracFone maybe they consider all phones sold with the TF name and logo the same. Rebranding might be a thing of the past now.

**peggyrh** · 01-21-2022, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by taxmantoo

I just did a chat to rebrand my XR.
CSR told me that the phone was already Tracfone branded and would unlock in 60 days, but if it does not:

You can have your phone unlocked in 60 days by calling our Business Assurance Department. You will have to speak to a fraud specialist directly. A representative can be reached at 1-888-442-5102. For your convenience, a representative is available Monday-Sunday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:45 P.M. EST.

That's the usual Unlocking Dept number listed on the unlocking policy page, I've used it before. Did your refurb XR also show the sim icon instead of the smartphone icon? Thanks for update, at least there's a good possibility of unlock now (though I hate calling in to support).