Anyone ever unlock a phone?

[skogkatt007]

I have to acquire new cell service very soon. I'm thinking Visible. Regardless I have this old poc tracfone made by LG. Stupid thing won't die! And as such I'd rather put off buying a new phone for a while. This thing is carrier locked. There are numerous sites that offer to send you an unlock code. And they want your vitals. Is this a good idea or an outright scam? Should I just contact tracfone and will they give me a code? Or opt for some other weird thing I have laying around? I think I may have several unlocked burner type phones I scrounged on clearance. Several years ago. Maybe 4 - 5 years ago. I don't care a whole lot about 5g (you're not really getting it anyway). And that puts off it turning me into soul less mind controlled drone a while longer.

 

[durableoreo]

No, just have the carrier unlock it. Call the customer service number and make the request.

About the new phone.... Even if you're not trying to keep up with the Jones, you've got to keep up with your favorite people. Reducing the friction in interpersonal communication can really help relating to others, especially those in a different generation. I finally got my father and father-in-law to the point where I can easily send a text and photo, maps/GPS work reliably, and I can help with technical questions. It's a relief to all be on adjacent pages.

 

[skogkatt007]

This stupid thing works. I had the previous model and was real happy unril it slid off the dashboard and out the window. I had a spanish speaking woman sending me voicemails the next day. U said it wasn't worth hiring a translator to retrieve it. Anyway I bought the newer model and it's been an annoyance. Whenever they issue an upgrade chances are real high they changed something that should have been left alone. So I will upgrade before very long (I already had my eyes on a model with a stylus, like having 1 too much to go without).

And I don't use gps and a lot of features that are supposed to make my life easier. There will come a time when they can just put your lights out via satellite. I like it better if they don't know where I'm at.

 

[WobblyHand]

They can geo locate better than you think, even without GPS. And there's homing on transmission if you really want to be paranoid.

GPS can be quite handy to use at times, if for no other reason than to reorient yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.

Unless you are a real bad guy who might be rubbed out because of your nefarious deeds, I wouldn't worry about it. If you were such a person, well, I wouldn't be using a mobile phone at all. Because they can find you...

 

[RJSakowski]

Your carrier is required by law to unlock your phone at no charge to you providing you own it free and clear.

 

[skogkatt007]

All you need these days is a really big mouth to get on their radar. I'm really kidding. I have friends that use gps and it seems at times to do as much harm as good. Whatever. Rigjt now it's just about saving money. I'll buy a new fandangled unit eventually.

 

[WobblyHand]

As RJ said, just call the carrier and have them unlock the phone. That's the easy button.

 

[Jake M]

I have to acquire new cell service very soon. I'm thinking Visible. Regardless I have this old poc tracfone made by LG. Stupid thing won't die! And as such I'd rather put off buying a new phone for a while. This thing is carrier locked. There are numerous sites that offer to send you an unlock code. And they want your vitals. Is this a good idea or an outright scam? Should I just contact tracfone and will they give me a code? Or opt for some other weird thing I have laying around? I think I may have several unlocked burner type phones I scrounged on clearance. Several years ago. Maybe 4 - 5 years ago. I don't care a whole lot about 5g (you're not really getting it anyway). And that puts off it turning me into soul less mind controlled drone a while longer.

Start by calling the service number on your contract. If you're in good standing, have owned (rented) it long enough, they're obligated to unlock it. There ARE caviats to that where they may not be willing to do that... But the worst they can do is say no. That is absolutely, without a doubt, from a standpoint of the "completeness" of the unlock, from a simplicity standpoint on your end, and from a security standpoint of sending off too much information to someone who doesn't need it... If it's available to you, (you have to call to find out), it is unquestionably the best way to go about it.