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DROID 3 does not unlock, expensive paperweight

Can anyone offer any help?

I had purchased a DROID3 (MEID: A000002C4AE281) off-contract at full retail price and called into Verizon International Service to obtain a GSM unlock code prior to leaving Boston.

However, after inserting the foreign SIM card and entering the code (****3432) obtained from Verizon outside of the U.S. of A, the phone returns a message saying "Phone is subsidy locked. Please contact Service Provider. Only emergency calls are allowed."

We have a good standing service with two lines (# ending with ****** 6540) on Verizon and now this DROID3 is a expensive non-roaming paperweight that only works on WiFi. = (

Please if someone could shed a hint on what is going on. I wouldn't even mind shipping this phone back for inspection, however I won't be back stateside for another good 3 months. I really hope to get this phone working while travelling so that I could make use of its nimble keyboard for the emails.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers

Comments

silver6055

leeks wrote:
Can anyone offer any help?

I had purchased a DROID3 (MEID: ) off-contract at full retail price and called into Verizon International Service to obtain a GSM unlock code prior to leaving Boston.

However, after inserting the foreign SIM card and entering the code (****3432) obtained from Verizon outside of the U.S. of A, the phone returns a message saying "Phone is subsidy locked. Please contact Service Provider. Only emergency calls are allowed."

We have a good standing service with two lines (# ending with ****** 6540) on Verizon and now this DROID3 is a expensive non-roaming paperweight that only works on WiFi. = (

Please if someone could shed a hint on what is going on. I wouldn't even mind shipping this phone back for inspection, however I won't be back stateside for another good 3 months. I really hope to get this phone working while travelling so that I could make use of its nimble keyboard for the emails.

Thank you for your time.
Cheers

This is peer-to-peer rather than talking to VZ employees, so no point in posting MEIDs etc! I would phone global services again (collect, +1 908 559 4899, or you may have got a toll-free card with your phone) and ask them to check the lock code again. Sometimes they will give you two or more codes and you have to try them all. If they entered your MEID incorrectly for example, the code will be wrong.

This just sounds like a bad unlock code rather than something wrong with the phone.

A good way to avoid this (too late for you I know, but maybe your next phone!) is to borrow an AT&T or T-mobile SIM while in the US. These SIMs won't "work" in the US, but they will prompt for the subsidy code so you can verify, or otherwise, that the code given works. (You can do this with your foreign SIM in a future phone for that matter, even if it has expired) Sometimes reps tell you that you need to be outside the US to unlock, this is just not true.

leeks

Guess I would have to call the global hotline then.

Thing that frustrates me is that, I have put in all the effort to make sure I got everything checked before I left. And yet, the unlock code previously provided doesn't work.

i) went into a Verizon stall to get the staff to call Global Support for the unlock code.

ii) brought in a foriegn SIM card to try and was told that "oh, you would have to be outside of the U.S since Verizon won't let the card "roam" on AT&T or T-Mob. (and now being told that it's bull****)

iii) told to try again when overseas, and now, an expensive paperweight and no official response from any employee that might be in the forum. Almost as if they just want to turn a blind eye.

I'm utterly disappointed right now. Instead of punching in the unlock code and using the local telco prepaid SIM, i had to go all the way out to get a new phone alongside the prepaid SIM. There is no added convenience having a so-called Global phone anymore.

But I guess I still have to drag my feet/other phone to call Verizon AGAIN to get another code that might/may/hopefully make this phone more than just a paperweight.

= (

mdram4x4

i always thought they woudnt unlock a phone until you have had it for 60 days

regardless of how old your account it

silver6055

leeks wrote:
Guess I would have to call the global hotline then.

Thing that frustrates me is that, I have put in all the effort to make sure I got everything checked before I left. And yet, the unlock code previously provided doesn't work.

i) went into a Verizon stall to get the staff to call Global Support for the unlock code.
ii) brought in a foriegn SIM card to try and was told that "oh, you would have to be outside of the U.S since Verizon won't let the card "roam" on AT&T or T-Mob. (and now being told that it's bull****)
iii) told to try again when overseas, and now, an expensive paperweight and no official response from any employee that might be in the forum. Almost as if they just want to turn a blind eye.

I'm utterly disappointed right now. Instead of punching in the unlock code and using the local telco prepaid SIM, i had to go all the way out to get a new phone alongside the prepaid SIM. There is no added convenience having a so-called Global phone anymore.

But I guess I still have to drag my feet/other phone to call Verizon AGAIN to get another code that might/may/hopefully make this phone more than just a paperweight.

= (

Yes, not good. To be fair on ii). You could test the unlock code (which is very important, as you now know!) but you couldn't test to see if you can get it to work But they really shouldn't say that.

Now that you have bought another phone I guess it doesn't matter, but you could also get them to activate the Vodafone SIM for emergencies.

But yes, it sounds like you did all the right things, and got screwed.....

silver6055

mdram4x4 wrote:
i always thought they woudnt unlock a phone until you have had it for 60 days
regardless of how old your account it

No, just service on the line for 60 days. The rules posted on these forums before:

* The phone being unlocked must be active on a Verizon Wireless line of service.
* The line of service must be active at least 60 days.
* The line of service must be in good standing for the past 60 days.
* Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months.

See post 7 on: http://community.vzw.com/t5/DROID-DROID-2-by-Motorola/Unlocking-Droid-2-Global/m-p/461632

by a VzW employee.

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