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Levites7

Q: Factory unlocked Iphone 4s is locked?

Here's the thing. I purchased a used iPhone 4s on ebay, with its description that it was factory unlocked. However when the phone arrived, and I tested it with another sim; it didn't work. It says that it doesn't support the carrier/sim. So I get back to the seller and asked her about it. She told me that she got her description from the box of the phone which she scanned through her iPad. True to her word, I scanned the imei bar code and it says that it was "factory unlocked".

 

The seller didn't tell me anything about locking her phone with her carrier (at & t), or if she is in any sort of contract. She just said that right after she bought it from the apple store, she went to AT & T, and told them to connect her phone to them.  What could've happened? Is the phone locked to ATT? We have already requested for the unlock of the phone and as others experienced, it is taking long. Is there any way to restore the phone's factory unlocked setting? Can Apple help me with this?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

PS. I tried restoring and backing up and even updating the phone several times through iTunes, and as you have guessed, nothing happened.

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 19, 2014 12:17 PM

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Q: Factory unlocked Iphone 4s is locked?

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  • by Rojmer,

    Rojmer Rojmer Mar 19, 2014 2:12 PM in response to Levites7
    Level 4 (1,524 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 19, 2014 2:12 PM in response to Levites7

    Generally AT&T will respond that the applicant does not qualify for the iPhone to be unlocked but I don't know how long they take.  I can tell you that if the seller did not have a contract with AT&T for the iPhone that has run the minmimum time required by them or if the seller has not paid full price to AT&T for the iPhone, it will be very difficult for her to qualify for the unlock, but you'll never know until they reply.

  • by FelipeV,

    FelipeV FelipeV Mar 19, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Levites7
    Level 5 (6,868 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 19, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Levites7

    Ask the seller how much she paid for the phone originally. That will give you a clue as to whether it is locked or not. You best bet is to call Apple Support./Care. They are the only ones who can tell you if the phone is unlocked or not. Scanning boxes or checking on IMEI sites is a waste of time and leads to speculation. But I bet the phone is locked as the other SIM did not work.

    Levites7 wrote:

     

    One more question, does ATT respond to the requests whether it is approved or not?

    If the customer is in good standing and the original contract commitment was honored by the customer, there is no reason why the unlock should not proceed. They will tell her when she requests the unlock, whther she qualifies or not.

  • by Levites7,

    Levites7 Levites7 Mar 19, 2014 2:32 PM in response to Rojmer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 2:32 PM in response to Rojmer

    thanks!

  • by Levites7,

    Levites7 Levites7 Mar 19, 2014 2:33 PM in response to FelipeV
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 2:33 PM in response to FelipeV

    thanks. Yeah, I think asking the price may also help.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Mar 19, 2014 2:35 PM in response to Levites7
    Level 9 (56,295 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2014 2:35 PM in response to Levites7

    Honestly, I wouldn't waste my time. Tell the seller you want a refund. If they refuse, file a claim with ebay. The phone was misrepresented as being unlocked. They lied, plain and simple. Get your money back and buy an unlocked phone from a legitimate source.

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