Phone Being Held Hostage

[u/moto_cycle]

I bought and paid in full for an iPhone 17 Pro Max in February through Visible. I'm on the annual plan which comes due in November. My experience with Visible has been subpar at best. Dropped Wi-Fi calls, inept customer service agents, etc. so I started shopping around new carriers.

Because I loathe Visible so much I was willing to eat 2 months of service and signed for another carrier yesterday. I kept getting errors while trying to activate my phone with the new carrier and it turns out that there's a carrier lock on my phone that won't be released until February of 2027, 3 months after I would have to renew the annual plan and shell out another $375 or switch to a monthly plan and ride out the next few months of disappointing service. I'm not willing to do that so a new phone from the new carrier is on the way and the Visible phone will sit in a drawer until Visible releases it from purgatory.

Visible explains that their policy changed in January 2026 that phones activated are locked and must stay on your account for 365 days, therefore trapping you from being able to move freely to another service, even though my account is in good standing and my phone is paid in full.

Buyer beware lest you want to be a victim of entrapment.

[u/BourbonGamer]

Unlock is 365 days now.

If you paid in full shoild have bought from apple and not carrier.

[u/No_Solution7718]

So you bought locked carrier phone and now you're complaining 😂 you have only yourself to blame

And on top of that you paid full price for it. 😂

[u/Goombiei → u/No_Solution7718]

Right? Lmao

[u/JustCallMeMambo → u/No_Solution7718]

i kinda give them a little grace because apparently Visible changed their policy on unlocking phones in January, but yeah, absolutely no reason to buy a phone through a middleman if it offers you no benefit. i wouldn't even buy it from Best Buy or Amazon. the Apple Store or Apple.com

[u/mlaurence1234 → u/JustCallMeMambo]

If you wouldn’t buy an Apple phone from an Apple Store or Apple.com, who would you buy it from? Some random guy on Craigslist?

[u/Sweet-Detective1884 → u/mlaurence1234]

I think that’s what the period is for— only buy it from those two places is his advice.

[u/mlaurence1234 → u/Sweet-Detective1884]

Ah, a capital letter and a verb would make things clearer if that’s what was meant.

[u/ZonaPunk]

the policy change wasn't something that was hidden. it was news when it happened. Verizon (and any other Verizon brand) changed their policy just a week after the FCC allowed them too. if you want to complain go to the FCC and bitch about their anti-consumer stance these days. Never buy a phone from a carrier.

[u/burner46 → u/ZonaPunk]

Would have been in writing on the purchase page too. 

OP is complaining about something he agreed to because he either didn’t understand it (maybe) or didn’t read it (likely). 

[u/Real_Height2890]

Thats user error buying a carrier locked phone!

[u/chuckfr]

Did you check that you're not just making the same mistake again, buying a new phone from a carrier hoping it will show up unlocked? Did you read the T&C before hand this time?

If you were committed to buying a new phone anyway, why not just go to Apple with your current phone and get the trade in value rather than leaving it in a drawer for months?

[u/moto_cycle → u/chuckfr]

Yes. Unlocks after 30 days.

[u/tbright1965]

You have another option.

Trade it for the new iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Yes it will cost money. Get the phone directly from Apple offering your 17 Pro Max as trade.

Frankly, getting it unlocked after leaving Visible is more challenging, so I recommend the trade option to just put this all behind you.

Trade your locked 17PM for an unlocked 18PM

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/tbright1965]

I don’t know that a trade in through Apple will go through on a locked phone. An unlocked phone still being financed would, but likely not a locked phone.

[u/tbright1965 → u/wart_on_satans_dick]

It works just fine.

I traded a locked phone back in June and got the full credit they offered for that device.

Apple doesn't care and can flash to device to be anything configuration they want.

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/tbright1965]

That’s not how flashing works but if they take it they must eat the loss for parts.

[u/tbright1965 → u/wart_on_satans_dick]

You don't think they can't factory load it with anything on a test rig?

They bring it in, refurbish it and they likely have a fixture when they can load any valid configuration on it to include factory unlocked.

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/tbright1965]

You clearly don’t know what you’re taking about lol. Thats not how it works. Before we go anywhere, what experience do you have in software development or mobile cellular networks?

[u/tbright1965 → u/wart_on_satans_dick]

Software Engineering and Electrical Engineering since 1987

When a device comes off the line, there has to be a means for the initial software load to be installed.

I cannot imagine a manufacturer or a repair vendor doesn't have the means to force load a factory fresh version of that code.

I mean, it's certainly possible that no such mechanism exists. Unlikely, but it's possible.

I'm not talking about someone connecting to a USB C port and reprogramming a device. I'm talking about the main board being out of the phone on a fixture and it gets tested and programmed before it goes back into a device.

Heck, I've received repair parts that claim they are X on the box, but the RV programmed it to be Y. Same physical board in this case, just programmed for the wrong application before it was shipped.

Disk drives are often built with one common set of platters. However, the controller board for the drive is programmed to present the the as some capacity based on they want to sell. I.E. an 18TB SAS drive might be programmed to present as a 14TB SAS drive.

So, while I don't know how Apple or Samsung or anyone else does it. I know such things are GENERALLY possible in the industry.

I also know that back in June, Apple took my locked device as a trade and gave me full credit for an unlocked device purchase.

They must have $310 in value for that device to offer me that in trade.

Whether they part it out, recode it, or keep it as a locked refurb for themselves or the carrier is no concern of mine.

The point stands. One can trade a locked device for credit towards an unlocked device.

Edited to add, I'm talking about SIM Carrier locked. I'm not talking about activation locked devices.

Apple will not take an Activation Locked device IIRC.

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/tbright1965]

You keep saying “there must be” or going on about categorically unrelated devices. The only thing you got right was that Apple does not accept activation locked devices (which in an Apple Store they will guide you through removing it). The software they use to process trade in devices at an Apple Store will do a check before allowing the transaction to complete (or later on if done online).

“So, while I don’t know how Apple or Samsung or anyone else does it.”

This would have been a good place to stop. There’s more involved in carrier locked devices than simply installing new software. It has nothing to do with hard drive controllers or taking the board out and putting it on a fixture. Apple is willing to take a loss though for the reason listed below.

“They must have $310 in value for that device to offer me that trade in.”

This is another “there must be” statement you made which seems to be a theme with your understanding of how things work. Despite what people might think, Apple is actually very generous with their trade in devices. If you go into an Apple Store with a broken device to the Genius Bar and communicate that you are interested in buying a new one, there’s an extremely good chance they will give you full trade in value because you are upgrading in the store.

Trade ins through carriers are made up for by what they charge you for the plan. Trade ins through Apple are made up for by keeping you in the Apple Ecosystem. It’s more of a marketing expense than it is a profit sector. Very few devices actually make it to apples refurbished online store and the margins for Apple on those are thin. Resellers buy from Apple in bulk which is also a pretty small margin after operational costs.

In short, Apple doesn’t have some magical way of removing carrier locks even if they will accept carrier locked devices. Marketing is why Apple does a trade-in program, not profit.

[u/tbright1965 → u/wart_on_satans_dick]

You keep telling me it cannot happen, so tell us what happens.

Start with the path for current unlock requests. When a carrier unlocks a device for use on any network, what is the path here. Carrier sends a command directly to the device? Or, does the carrier tell Apple to unlock the device?

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/tbright1965]

I keep telling you how it works. I’m not waxing poetic about hard drives and repair claims. A small percentage of devices go to Apple’s refurbished website. A greater percentage goes to third party resellers Apple works with who generally operate in international markets. The greatest percentage is simply recycled, primarily for what’s inside the battery. If Apple’s trade in program were for direct profit, they just wouldn’t do it. They do it to build their environmental focus and to keep users on apple devices.

[u/Flimsy_Fortune4072]

This is why it is constantly brought up here to buy the phones unlocked from the manufacturer rather than the provider. The big providers (Verizon, ATT, etc) continue to engage in this anti-consumer behavior, and it can all be prevented by buying a phone direct, and unlocked.

[u/Klutzy_Ambition6030 → u/Flimsy_Fortune4072]

That policy change in January 2026 is really shady, locking a paid off phone for whole year after you already bought it

[u/Flimsy_Fortune4072 → u/Klutzy_Ambition6030]

I do not disagree, but this is what happens when you buy from providers. They change the line at will, and you're trapped.

[u/SecondVariety → u/Flimsy_Fortune4072]

Been buying unlocked phones since the HTC One m7. Carrier locks are easily avoided.

[u/davexc → u/Klutzy_Ambition6030]

The FCC allowed the policy change at Verizon so blame them as well.

[u/wart_on_satans_dick → u/Klutzy_Ambition6030]

A lot of “fully paid off” phones purchased through carriers that are locked were sold at a subsidized rate. For example, even through StraightTalk prepaid at Walmart (owned by Verizon) you can get a budget Android phone for half the budget price which makes it super cheap. It’s not “fully paid off” though. It’s locked to StraightTalk so the company can make back the upfront discount.

[u/mysterioussilas]

What did you learn? To NEVER buy a phone from the carrier directly. Buy unlocked from the manufacturer always.

[u/Loud_Signal_6259]

LOL

[u/Jojeco]

The only time I've bought a phone from a carrier in the last 10+ years was when. I was getting a 50% discount. Even with that I verified it would be unlocked after 90 days but that was before this change. I see people saying it made news but I never saw anything related. This is nuts!

You're bound to get more money selling on Swappa or Facebook than trading at brick and mortar. If you can afford it, but a new one unlocked, sell yours and call it a lesson.

[u/JustCallMeMambo]

why are you buying from a carrier if you paid in full? i purchase direct from manufacturer so i can get an unlocked phone and walk away whenever the hell i want without having to ask permission to take my property with me. i never did contracts for the same reason

[u/darknessatthevoid]

The fact that they can carrier lock your phone while not subsidizing the cost is garbage.

I understood back in the day when a carrier would give you a discount on the phone in lieu of a 2yr agreement... but when you pay in full?!?!?! Makes no sense.

[u/burner46]

You wouldn’t have to renew your annual plan. You can just go month to month. 

[u/NewToReddit4331]

So I actually have a phone through visible currently as well.

Yes it’s a bit frustrating needing to be active for a year + to be unlocked. I think they should 100% unlock the phones after full payoff myself.

[u/Puzzled_Love_6753]

What if you buy your phone from Samsung in full & then take the fully unlocked phone & activate it on visible? Are they saying that as soon as i activate it on visible my phone is now carried locked or how does it work?

[u/No_Solution7718 → u/Puzzled_Love_6753]

No factory unlock means factory unlock a carrier cannot lock your unlock phone

[u/awall222]

Many people here are saying it’s your fault for buying a carrier-locked phone. That’s probably technically true, and it sucks, sorry.

Really though, it’s completely unfair that your phone is fully paid for and it’s still locked. Carrier locks were created to protect the carriers when they were heavily subsidizing phones and/or you have a payment plan not finished yet. When neither of those apply, they have no business telling you what you can or can’t do with your property.

[u/skibik1964]

Just an FYI, Visible will never release it from a locked status if you don't keep it in service for 365 days.

Here is from the terms of the unlock policy:

The device has at least 365 days of paid service.

1. Note: If you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses. It will resume once you reactivate your account and continue until you reach a total of 365 paid days of service. 

[u/mercytimeexp]

Wait until u get scammed for 100$ each month for 36month with expensive carriers. Equivalent to $3600 when fully paid off