Unlocking iPhone 6 from Boost Mobile

[Applejuiced]

I filled a bbb complaint against AT&T that was giving me the run around for over 2 weeks and wouldn't unlock my iphone even though etf was removed and final bill paid in full.
Someone from corporate contacted me within a day and unlocked my iphone instantly after I was chasing them and had called customer service 100 times and wasted hours arguing with them on the phone.
Try their site below:
https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started

 

[electronicsguy]

I feel bad for OP. Would a threat to complain to the Better Business Bureau do anything? A threat to get a lawyer? How can you just toss customers around from rep to rep until they just quit? Bad business.
[doublepost=1461299343][/doublepost]
Haha, so true!

The "BBB" - hahahaha. ROTFL... no really ROTFL. Show me a single instance where an individual's complaint to BBB has resultted in anything against their own paying members.

 

[Channan]

The "BBB" - hahahaha. ROTFL... no really ROTFL. Show me a single instance where an individual's complaint to BBB has resultted in anything against their own paying members.

The comment above yours.

 

[bufffilm]

The "BBB" - hahahaha. ROTFL... no really ROTFL. Show me a single instance where an individual's complaint to BBB has resultted in anything against their own paying members.

Worth a shot...certainly nothing lost from the attempt. Even if it only works 10% of the time, that's still something.

Somethings you just have to keep plugging away...

 

[huff825]

File a complaint with the Attorney General's office in your state. They will then contact legal from BM. They will then try to resolve your issue. Attorneys General are pretty good about looking out for consumers. I had an issue with Verizon that went on for months. I finally made a complaint to the AG office and was contacted quickly by a rep from Verizon who quickly rectified my situation. It also helped that I had very good proof of their error, recorded phone calls with reps who lied, told me they would fix the error but did not, etc. All carriers and service folks start with no and wait to be forced into doing the right thing. Good luck!

 

[Toshnyoko]

your best strategy would be:

1) google a little bit and find a form that you can fill out. then give up ( AT&T has a webform)

2) file a formal FCC complaint against your carrier. specify your account number, telephone number, device number and any names of people you have spoken too. boost will see the FCC complaint lodged against them and bend over and assist you, because they do not want the FCC to get involved.

anytime i filed a complaint against t-mobile, someone from executive / legal department got back to me and assisted me

my recent problem was they weren't giving me the 200 mb of free data i was promised. i had no idea what the heck was going on. i filed a FCC complaint. instant results. learned that free ipad plans are registered to the original IMEI.


if the fcc complaint does not get your the unlock, then you could sue in small claims or arbitration

have you actually tried powering down and inserting a different sim ? reddit says the process is supposed to be automatic. on iPhones, you have no idea your phone is even unlocked, unless you actually tried to insert a new sim or erased the iPhone and restored, i believe


the fcc is the place to go. recently they heavily fined trac phone / straight talk etc etc because of their unfair unlocking polices

yes, i've inserted active t-mobile/at&t sims, restarted my phone, but still get that msg saying 'sim not valid'.
i've filed complaint with BBB. it's telling me the process will take 4-5 weeks if not sooner.
not sure if this'll work.
i will try FCC.
thanks for advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[Applejuiced]

yes, i've inserted active t-mobile/at&t sims, restarted my phone, but still get that msg saying 'sim not valid'.
i've filed complaint with BBB. it's telling me the process will take 4-5 weeks if not sooner.
not sure if this'll work.
i will try FCC.
thanks for advice. I really appreciate it.

Bbb might tell you it can take up to that long but that's not the case usually businesses respond within days.
Get the fcc involved Also and keep us posted.
Good luck bud.

 

[Toshnyoko]

Just found the solution to this madness!!!
Thanks to some of your suggestions, I decided to file a complaint to the FCC "and" the Better Business Bureau.
And within a few days I received a call from Sprint Corp. office offering to unlock my phone!
Sprint contacted Boost and asked them to DSU my iPhone.
Sprint contacted me within a day or so to tell me that my phone has been unlocked.
To make sure I inserted a SIM from another carrier and it worked!!!
For anyone that is experiencing the similar situation as I am, I strongly suggest you try the above method.
Please let me know how it goes!
With strength in numbers I believe we can overcome Boost Mobile's shady tactics!!!!!

 

[Applejuiced]

That's awesome man.
It sucks that we have to get the big guns out and get the government to scare these big corps into doing the right thing.
It shouldn't be that hard to provide good service to your customers instead of giving them the run around.
I'm glad it worked out in the end.

 

[Tofupunch]

Just found the solution to this madness!!!
Thanks to some of your suggestions, I decided to file a complaint to the FCC "and" the Better Business Bureau.
And within a few days I received a call from Sprint Corp. office offering to unlock my phone!
Sprint contacted Boost and asked them to DSU my iPhone.
Sprint contacted me within a day or so to tell me that my phone has been unlocked.
To make sure I inserted a SIM from another carrier and it worked!!!
For anyone that is experiencing the similar situation as I am, I strongly suggest you try the above method.
Please let me know how it goes!
With strength in numbers I believe we can overcome Boost Mobile's shady tactics!!!!!

Yeah that is too bad that one has to go to all these lengths to get some customer service. It boggles the mind how Boost is still in existence or how some heavy measures have not already been taken against them. Either way, glad you won your battle!

 

[verdi1987]

I know the original post is several months old, but for two hours this morning I was on the phone with Boost Mobile trying to get my iPhone 6 unlocked per their DSU policy. The phone has been active for a year and is eligible. I had to call several times and was bounced around between different agents. Boost claims they keep getting an error when trying to unlock the phone and they have to escalate the issue to a “Global Subject Matter Expert” (sounds made up, right?); and it will take 24-48 hours for resolution. I spoke with a supervisor who reiterated that claim. I felt like they were unwilling to unlock it because they knew I would be transferring the line to another carrier.

 

[eyoungren]

I know the original post is several months old, but for two hours this morning I was on the phone with Boost Mobile trying to get my iPhone 6 unlocked per their DSU policy. The phone has been active for a year and is eligible. I had to call several times and was bounced around between different agents. Boost claims they keep getting an error when trying to unlock the phone and they have to escalate the issue to a “Global Subject Matter Expert” (sounds made up, right?); and it will take 24-48 hours for resolution. I spoke with a supervisor who reiterated that claim. I felt like they were unwilling to unlock it because they knew I would be transferring the line to another carrier.

SMH!

The only errors they are going to get is trying to send it. No carrier does the actual unlocking. So if they are claiming they will unlock it and then having an issue - they're lying.

The carrier's part of the process is simply to submit the IMEI to Apple. Apple takes care of the rest. The IMEI is inserted in the unlock database, iTunes server issues a new activation ticket, your phone checks in with Apple, new ticket is applied - bingo, you're unlocked.

So, anything they are trying to say about them actually unlocking it for you is BS.

 

[Toshnyoko]

I know the original post is several months old, but for two hours this morning I was on the phone with Boost Mobile trying to get my iPhone 6 unlocked per their DSU policy. The phone has been active for a year and is eligible. I had to call several times and was bounced around between different agents. Boost claims they keep getting an error when trying to unlock the phone and they have to escalate the issue to a “Global Subject Matter Expert” (sounds made up, right?); and it will take 24-48 hours for resolution. I spoke with a supervisor who reiterated that claim. I felt like they were unwilling to unlock it because they knew I would be transferring the line to another carrier.

[doublepost=1476988018][/doublepost]I feel your pain. been there, done that.
BM will not cooperate. trust me!
file report with BBB.
Sprint Corp office will contact you and help you within couple of days.
Hope this helps. wish you the best.

 

[verdi1987]

I got my phone unlocked by Boost Mobile this morning. The agent said the error the agents were receiving yesterday when trying to submit the unlock request showed that the phone was reported lost or stolen. That is not the case, as I am the original owner of the device and never reported it lost or stolen (nor did any of the public IMEI/MEID databases report it as blacklisted).

Why was the agent today able to get that information whereas several agents yesterday could not? I am highly skeptical of their insistence that they could not unlock it.

Once the agent today “fixed” the incorrect lost/stolen status, the unlock went through.

Stay away from Boost.
[doublepost=1476989793][/doublepost]

[doublepost=1476988018][/doublepost]I feel your pain. been there, done that.
BM will not cooperate. trust me!
file report with BBB.
Sprint Corp office will contact you and help you within couple of days.
Hope this helps. wish you the best.

Yesterday, I did file a report with the BBB (based on your earlier posts).

 

[Tom082551]

yes, all paid for.
i meet the requirements for unlocking.
they even told me I am eligible.

are you suggesting, I contact Sprint for unlocking?

[doublepost=1486570124][/doublepost]I just spent countless hours talking to Boost trying to get them to unlock my iphone 6s Plus!
The final answer from them was that my phone has to be 1 year from date of purchase before they will unlock the phone!
It is a computer generated process that cannot be circumvented, nor overwritten!!!

 

[eyoungren]

[doublepost=1486570124][/doublepost]
I just spent countless hours talking to Boost trying to get them to unlock my iphone 6s Plus!
The final answer from them was that my phone has to be 1 year from date of purchase before they will unlock the phone!
It is a computer generated process that cannot be circumvented, nor overwritten!!!

The 'law' that former President Obama signed only requires that a carrier unlock a device after you (the customer) have met the carrier determined requirements for the unlock.

The 'law' allows the carriers to specify their own, individual, requirements as well as declare 'technical' reasons to DENY an unlock. For T-Mobile, it's 40 days of active service. Sprint is 50 days. Apparently Boost Mobile is one year. Sounds unreasonable, but I haven't checked their unlock policy lately so it's possible. Particularly if it was a contract you signed.

It applies though, even if you have paid full price for your device.

Lots of people misinterpret the 'law' to mean NOW!!! But it doesn't, if you haven't meant their requirements.

 

[Applejuiced]

Just sell it as is and walk away from it.

 

[uma184]

Boost Mobile isn't actually the only ones who do that.
I had to go trough the same with Cricket Wireless last year, which unlocked my iphone after a FCC complaint.

Now I'm going through the same with Boost Mobile. And the excuses, they are just ridiculous. One rep told me to visit the closest Apple Store to request an unlock code, because, "that's how the unlocking process is done".
I'm pretty sure, that none of this "subsidiaries" will unlock anything for you unless you complain to FCC.
I'm amazed how they get away with it. Perhaps if a lot of people complaint, FCC will take appropriate measures, but for now, clearly there's a pattern in their action.

As suggested in one of the previous posts, vote with your dollars. Saving a $100 or so on a phone, doesn't justify a crappy service and having something you are legally eligible for, being denied by the carrier.

P.S. I'm pretty sure that those who start these threads, have looked at the unlocking policy carefully and made sure they are qualified.

 

[Applejuiced]

Boost Mobile isn't actually the only ones who do that.
I had to go trough the same with Cricket Wireless last year, which unlocked my iphone after a FCC complaint.

Now I'm going through the same with Boost Mobile. And the excuses, they are just ridiculous. One rep told me to visit the closest Apple Store to request an unlock code, because, "that's how the unlocking process is done".
I'm pretty sure, that none of this "subsidiaries" will unlock anything for you unless you complain to FCC.
I'm amazed how they get away with it. Perhaps if a lot of people complaint, FCC will take appropriate measures, but for now, clearly there's a pattern in their action.

As suggested in one of the previous posts, vote with your dollars. Saving a $100 or so on a phone, doesn't justify a crappy service and having something you are legally eligible for, being denied by the carrier.

P.S. I'm pretty sure that those who start these threads, have looked at the unlocking policy carefully and made sure they are qualified.

Yes but unfortunately you have to follow each company's unlock requirements.
Or just skip all the headaches and pay for a 3rd party imei unlock.
It's easier, faster and cheaper than having service with boost for a year.
I'm waiting for my SE to arrive Friday.

 

[uma184]

Yes but unfortunately you have to follow each company's unlock requirements.
Or just skip all the headaches and pay for a 3rd party imei unlock.
It's easier, faster and cheaper than having service with boost for a year.
I'm waiting for my SE to arrive Friday.

The thing is, that they don't unlock even if you meet the eligibility requirements. And the only way to get the phone unlocked for free is by complaining to FCC.

I'm trying to get my wife's iphone 6 unlocked, which was purchased on boost's website. The phone and the account was active for more than a year. The first CS rep told to visit an apple store. The 2nd one, said that the phone is too old. Both confirmed that the phone is eligible, though.
This awaits me with my iphone 6S in a couple of months when my iphone is eligible. I'm just going to skip the CS part and file the complaint with FCC.

 

[eyoungren]

P.S. I'm pretty sure that those who start these threads, have looked at the unlocking policy carefully and made sure they are qualified.

You'd be surprised how many of those careful, qualified people believe that the law Obama signed means instant gratification.

The reality is that the carriers can get away with it because the 'law' has so many loopholes it's more of a suggestion than an actual law. The carriers are allowed to set the policy of how and when as well as determine 'technological' difficulties to permanently prevent an unlock.

 

[uma184]

You'd be surprised how many of those careful, qualified people believe that the law Obama signed means instant gratification.

The reality is that the carriers can get away with it because the 'law' has so many loopholes it's more of a suggestion than an actual law. The carriers are allowed to set the policy of how and when as well as determine 'technological' difficulties to permanently prevent an unlock.

Fair enough! I'm not a lawyer, but reading the unlock policy from Boost, I can see how one can interpret it in various ways.
For those who are really eligible, the FCC route is still a valid option, though. I hope this helps everyone who runs into the same problem with Boost or any other carrier.

 

[Applejuiced]

The thing is, that they don't unlock even if you meet the eligibility requirements. And the only way to get the phone unlocked for free is by complaining to FCC.

I'm trying to get my wife's iphone 6 unlocked, which was purchased on boost's website. The phone and the account was active for more than a year. The first CS rep told to visit an apple store. The 2nd one, said that the phone is too old. Both confirmed that the phone is eligible, though.
This awaits me with my iphone 6S in a couple of months when my iphone is eligible. I'm just going to skip the CS part and file the complaint with FCC.

That's pretty messed up if they don't ever unlock their devices.
By US law they have to if you followed their requirements and it's not under contract and fully paid off.
I hate when carriers pull shady moves like that.
You can pay $30-40 and avoid all the back and forth you know. Just go to swiftunlocks and buy an unlock.

 

[Septembersrain]

I used to work for Boost Mobile. You'll have a really hard time. I had a hard time even getting them to use replacement devices warrantied through Apple onto their service. An ugly mess, that.

I never recommend this company, or Sprint. Any of their subsidiaries really. Even our customer service helpline for reps was horrible. Untrained, not knowledgeable, and really unhelpful. I hated how hard it made my job when I knew the customer deserved better...

 

[uma184]

An update on my FCC complaint against Boost Mobile:
02/21 - complaint filed
02/22 - FCC responded that they served the ticket on Boost mobile for its review and response.
02/23 - Sprint agent called and said they will unlock the phone within 72 hours. The agent said that "their system was showing that the phone is ineligible", but she confirmed that it actually is.
02/25 - Inserted a non-Sprint sim and confirmed that the phone is unlocked.