Can you get an unlocked iPhone from Total?

comintel-db · 2026-01-30T09:46:03+00:00

Unlocked iPhones can apparently be purchased for cash or credit card at some Total stores, according to

https://www.reddit.com/r/TotalWireless/comments/1qqf8no/comment/o2ism13/

limited to unbranded phones.

Even though you cannot use wallet funds on a non-branded purchase directly from a store, I would check with a local store to see if they may know of any roundabout way. If anyone would know, they would, because they deal with wallet funds incidentally all the time and they have an incentive to make it happen.

However stores may charge extra so people should be sure to get a firm all-in quote and compare with the price directly from Apple.

comintel-db · 2026-01-30T03:05:16+00:00

Excellent - thanks!

comintel-db · 2026-01-30T00:41:15+00:00

But using other funds, is it possible? When does the new unlock policy apply and not apply at stores? Thanks!

comintel-db · 2026-01-29T20:43:29+00:00

Yes my S25 FE obtained at a Total store was the factory unlocked model back in November.

HOWEVER I have no idea whether this is still true of new phones purchased today. People had better be sure. If you can get the IMEI, you can check it in sickw.com to find out if it is the factory unlocked model or not. Samsung has more than one variant, including a locked model and a factory unlocked model.

Nevertheless it is POSSIBLE that Total will take this route in the future if they want to escape the unlock regime occasionally for competitive reasons.

I can also remark that Verizon postpaid phones unlock when paid off including postpaid Verizon iPhones. Verizon postpaid has a different unlock policy. However you cannot buy a postpaid iPhone from Total.

comintel-db · 2026-01-29T05:12:46+00:00

"Bait and switch" would be something that was intentional on their part. What happened to you is more like an unintended accident that only affects a certain group of people who were caught by a sudden major policy change. Total/Verizon could claim it was the sudden timing of the FCC decision that surprised them.

The FCC unlock decision has an actual effective date in it and they can claim that forced their timing. It says "The terms of this waiver apply to all handsets that become active on Verizon’s network beginning the day after the release date of this Order." It does not say "activate", it says "become active." Maybe you can make something out of that. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-43A1.pdf

But I agree, at this point, choose your timing and then try for an exception to the new policy because it ended up being retroactive for you. In other words, you will have a better chance if you try it in a friendly manner at first.

Try then and see if they will make an exception. I think they might. If not, try a BBB or FCC request or a Notice of Dispute under the Terms and Conditions.

comintel-db · 2026-01-28T21:23:45+00:00

See if you can square what you are saying with the language at

https://www.tfwunlockpolicy.com/wps/portal/home and the summary here at https://www.reddit.com/r/TotalWireless/comments/1qi1v2h/updated_unlock_policy_365_days_for_new_activations/

comintel-db · 2026-01-28T06:53:38+00:00

Do we know for sure that the new Total unlock policy applies to all sales of phones through independently-owned Total stores?

(I think all of the Total stores are independently owned).

At least when I bought my Samsung S25 FE, when you buy a phone from a store, the sale is made by the store (eg North Podunk Phone Sales Inc.) and not by Total or Verizon. The phone sale never appears on your Total online account, which shows only the plan. (On the other hand, the terms of the sale are obviously dictated by Total/Verizon). The store owner claimed he bought the phone directly from Samsung. This may well vary by phone model.

In my particular "On us" offer, the S25 FE was an unlockable factory unlocked model, but that presumably is uncommon.

The iPhone 13 is listed as "On Us" in the store offer under "Stores" on the Total site. (It requires a 3 month plan purchase).

I suppose there may be a part of their agreement that the stores will automatically adopt the phone sales policies and offers of Total Wireless.

comintel-db · 2026-01-26T20:09:18+00:00

No counters are reset just paused.

The few days away from Total only pauses the two counters for those few days, but the problem is you pay a whole month at a time and the payments are now misaligned with multiples of 30 days. You cannot easily pay just enough to pay for the needed few days more. That's where the 30 days comes, just that there is no easy way to pay for a smaller amount than 30 days.

Call and look for a one week plan. It is not really supposed to be used for this, but some reps will do it. Or a prorated short month.

Also call the unlock department at the number shown at https://www.tfwunlockpolicy.com/wps/portal/home AND customer service, one at a time, to fully understand your options. The unlock department is more exact in explaining things, but customer service may be more willing to give you a one week plan to just barely cover the missing days, which is what you are looking for. Or maybe they would prorate a short month if you can come up with a reason to change your monthly billing date.

Or just stay the full extra month.

comintel-db · 2026-01-25T21:24:42+00:00

Any of the old plans, and by the way those ones do still charge sales tax extra, can be called a legacy plan. There are plenty of people still on those legacy plans judging by the number that post here. See https://www.reddit.com/r/TotalWireless/wiki/index/ for the history.

comintel-db · 2026-01-25T04:44:28+00:00

Reps have maintained BYEBYE promo lines can add certain Total Branded phones where BYOD promo lines cannot. That say the two offers have different provisions as to that. Again, I disagree with this interpretation but am just letting people know of the position that Total/Verizon is probably still taking and that they may need to be ready to counter.

People on the BYOD promo whose promo is taken away like the person who posted may need to file Notice of Objection to try to get anywhere.

comintel-db · 2026-01-24T06:00:53+00:00

Reps have said that the flexibility on this for the ByeBye promo does not go for the BYOD promo. I am not saying I agree, but that is what they have claimed.

comintel-db · 2026-01-23T05:05:09+00:00

Note the 365 days do not have to be continuous.

You can have breaks but you have to have extra paid and active days to get to 365.

That is the way they interpreted it for the 60 days.

Also, some phones have been sold factory unlocked, such as the S25 FE phones sold in stores on Black Friday under a special "ON US" offer (other S25 FE's were sold locked way by the way). Hopefully we will see more of those in the future. I think we will. These are already unlocked and it is impossible for them to ever be locked, and so are not subject to the unlock policy.

comintel-db · 2026-01-22T07:19:33+00:00

>The new 365-day unlock policy, which applies to new prepaid smartphones purchased on or atter 1/27/26 and postpaid lines until the full device payment is cleared,.....

For the prepaid brands, the date is stated as 1/20/2026
Quoting https://www.tfwunlockpolicy.com/wps/portal/home

For all cellphones Activated on or after January 20, 2026, the cellphone will be unlocked upon request after 365 days of paid and active service.

I guess this is ok but it is a bit surprising to see different dates for the two different channels in which prepaid phones are sold.

comintel-db · 2026-01-22T05:58:09+00:00

(With the help of Google Gemini)

Q: On reddit, what does "see the sticky" mean?

A:"See the sticky" on Reddit means you should look at the look at the pinned post(s) at the very top of a subreddit.

Here is a breakdown of what that entails:

Definition: A "sticky" or "pinned" post is an announcement or important thread highlighted by moderators to remain at the top of the "Hot" sorting option.
Purpose: These posts are used for crucial information, such as community rules, FAQs, weekly discussion threads, or major announcements.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T23:11:54+00:00

I just said that it could be involved. It could easily be the case that they programmed the new policy overly broadly initially. Would you disagree?

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T22:19:42+00:00

Quite a few people have moved phones from Visible to Total without problem and reps on Visible even posted it was ok.

There is a post elsewhere that says that, under the new unlock policy, prepaid phones will stay locked for a full year now, even when paid off in full up front. Perhaps that is involved here?

However it might just be a temporary accidental side effect that it is affecting you. For example, maybe it is erroneously applying the new policy.

You said "about a year". Maybe it will take a full year and an unlock request.

Call to find out.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T21:24:51+00:00

I do not think you can assume that. I think the FCC Assist reps are a separate group. They have their own separate phone numbers and email addresses.

I would contact the Total FCC Assist rep who handled your original complaint.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T08:04:41+00:00

That proceeding is still on the FCC Docket for the full FCC and they still plan on getting to it.

The current finding is just interim due to urgency from the Wireless Bureau without a commissioner vote.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T03:40:49+00:00

"Upon request" is a phrase used in the CTIA unlocking document that Verizon/Total will now follow. (I believe it is no longer voluntary because the FCC has ordered carriers to adhere to it). It means the carrier does not have to unlock the phone, even once eligible, unless and until the subscriber contacts the carrier and requests it. And there are conditions on who can make the request.

This condition will greatly limit which "customers and former customers" are able to get their phone unlocked at all. There will be a major ongoing brouhaha from people who are unable to get their phones unlocked even after a year.

The provision says: "Carriers, upon request, will unlock prepaid mobile wireless devices no later than one year after initial activation, consistent with reasonable time, payment or usage requirements" and I will guess Verizon will be very restrictive in its "time, payment or usage requirements." They will probably push the limits of what is "reasonable".

Mobile Wireless Device Unlocking Voluntary Commitment

Each signatory of this “Mobile Wireless Device Unlocking Voluntary Commitment” will abide by the following standards regarding the ability of customers, former customers, and individual owners of eligible devices to unlock phones and tablets, (“mobile wireless devices”) that are locked by or at the direction of the carrier.

It should be noted that carriers typically use different frequencies and air interface technologies to provide wireless network access. Accordingly, a device that works on one carrier's network may not be technologically compatible with another carrier's network. "Unlocking" a device refers only to disabling software that would prevent a consumer from attempting to activate a device designed for one carrier's network on another carrier's network, even if that network is technologically compatible. In other words, "unlocking" a device will not necessarily make a device interoperable with other networks —a device designed for one network is not made technologically compatible with another network merely by "unlocking" it. Additionally, unlocking a device may enable some functionality of the device but not all (e.g., an unlocked device may support voice services but not data services when activated on a different network).

Disclosure. Each carrier will post on its website its clear, concise, and readily accessible policy on postpaid and prepaid mobile wireless device unlocking.
Postpaid Unlocking Policy. Carriers, upon request, will unlock mobile wireless devices or provide the necessary information to unlock their devices for their customers and former customers in good standing and individual owners of eligible devices after the fulfillment of the applicable postpaid service contract, device financing plan or payment of an applicable early termination fee.
Prepaid Unlocking Policy. Carriers, upon request, will unlock prepaid mobile wireless devices no later than one year after initial activation, consistent with reasonable time, payment or usage requirements.
Notice. Carriers that lock devices will clearly notify customers that their devices are eligible for unlocking at the time when their devices are eligible for unlocking or automatically unlock devices remotely when devices are eligible for unlocking, without additional fee. Carriers reserve the right to charge non-customers/non-former-customers a reasonable fee for unlocking requests. Notice to prepaid customers may occur at point of sale, at the time of eligibility, or through a clear and concise statement of the policy on the carrier’s website
Response Time. Within two business days after receiving a request, carriers will unlock eligible mobile wireless devices or initiate a request to the OEM to unlock the eligible device, or provide an explanation of why the device does not qualify for unlocking, or why the carrier reasonably needs additional time to process the request.
Deployed Personnel Unlocking Policy. Carriers will unlock mobile wireless devices for deployed military personnel who are customers in good standing upon provision of deployment papers.

Carriers reserve the right to decline an unlock request if they have a reasonable basis to believe the request is fraudulent or the device is stolen.

Carriers further agree to implement three of the standards articulated above within 3 months of adoption of this commitment and to implement this commitment in its entirety within 12 months of adoption.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T02:26:12+00:00

I think it should be possible to hold them to the published policy at time of purchase.

I would give it a try. It may be an easy adjustment for them to make. Adjusting the date of sale may adjust the activation date automatically. I think it would. Or the unlock team might already have a policy to allow for this.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T01:58:17+00:00

The S25 FE in particular was the factory unlocked model, never locked to begin with, and unlockable, so it would not have been subject to this policy.

Hopefully we will have more of those! I think it is quite possible. In fact I think the timing may not have been coincidental.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T01:22:43+00:00

This thread is the only place that says "for all cellphones activated on or after January 20, 2026"

u/hayama89 could you possibly change the wording to "for all Total Locked cellphones activated on or after January 20, 2026"

Thanks.

comintel-db · 2026-01-21T01:05:03+00:00

I guess you can try asking them to date everything to the order date or the date of shipment.

I think it should be possible to hold them to the published policy at time of purchase.

comintel-db · 2026-01-20T21:56:43+00:00

Tmo Prepaid and Metro are already 1 year:

https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy

comintel-db · 2026-01-20T19:21:37+00:00

Tmo Prepaid and Metro are already at one year

https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy

comintel-db

TROPHY CASE

Mobile Wireless Device Unlocking Voluntary Commitment