GSM Sim Carrier Unlock Service
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an unlock cost and how long does it take?
Prices vary for unlocking services anywhere from $20 and up. The wait time for unlocks also vary anywhere from a few hours to a few days and on rare occasion a few weeks. Once we send the request for an unlock code we have no control over the time it will take to finish. Our vendors do provide us with an estimated time frame which is what we pass along to our customers but sometimes it can take a little longer than the original estimated time given.
What does unlocking mean?
GSM sim carrier unlocking means we can have your phone unlocked to work with any GSM sim carrier worldwide. For instance, you purchase a brand new device from AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Cricket etc. your device is locked to that sim carrier only. Lets say you have an AT&T iPhone and you try to swap your sim card to a T-Mobile sim instead, it will not work. Most cell phone carriers lock their device to stop you from going to another carrier. We are here to help you free your device.
What are the potential advantages of unlocking my cell phone?
The main advantage for getting your cell phone unlocked is to use with another carrier. If you are traveling abroad and want to bring your device with you instead of purchasing another phone is what most people looking for an unlock need. Or if you are trying to resale your device, it will bring a greater value to the buyer and possibly raise your device value as well.
Do you do the unlocks yourself?
No, we do not do the actual unlock. All of our unlocks go through a thrid party company who does the unlock for us. We send them our customers device information and they do the unlock for us. Once finished, they email us the results and we forward the results to you. We do not give out any personal information except your device IMEI number to our vendor which is required to do the unlock.
What if my unlock does not work
If your unlock does not work simply call or email us for troubleshooting. By purchasing our unlocking service you automatically agree to our terms of service below.
Should I find out if my phone is blacklisted or reported lost/stolen before I purchased an unlock?
Absolutely. If your device is blacklisted or reported lost/stolen before or after you purchase an unlock from us, we will not issues you a refund. All unlocking services are final sale. By purchasing an unlock with us you automatically agree to the terms of service below.
You can find the status of your device here: http://checkesnfree.com
Ocean iPhone Repair is in no way affiliated with checkesnfree.com. We hold no responsibility for any incorrect information that might occur from using checkesnfree.com.
Could I pay for the unlock after it finishes?
Unfortunately all unlocks must be paid up front before we can send a request for it. Once we send an unlock request, it is final and we cannot stop the procedure once processed. We would however issue a full refund if for any reason your device gets rejected or unapproved for an unlock.
What if I am still under contract with my current provider?
If you are still under contract most times we can still unlock your device. There is a catch to this procedure though. Let's say we unlock your device that is financed and still in contract with your carrier and after the unlock you decide to switch carriers and not fulfill your contract obligation by paying off your device. Your carrier can still legally blacklist your phones IMEI to not work with any of the cell phone providers in the U.S Even if it was unlocked. Your financed device still belongs to your carrier until you pay it off in full.
Our most popular question, DO YOU UNLOCK AN ICLOUD LOCKED IPHONE?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Although there are a handful of customers out there who honestly just forgot their icloud information, and we can only suggest going into an apple store for help, the vast majority who call us for icloud unlocking service either found the phone or stole it. This is the honest truth, we don't mind saying it. We believe apple did an excellent job at securing our apple devices with the icloud activation lock feature that we will never offer the service even if it did become available.
Unlocking Disclaimer
Terms of Service:
February 11, 2015, President Obama signed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act into law just before the weekend, making it perfectly legal to unlock your phone, freeing it up to be used on any compatible network. Unlocking was made illegal via the Digital Millennium Copyright Act last year, and over the past month, the new law which would change all that made its way through the Senate and Congress, before reaching the President's desk on Friday.
All this came about in an interesting way. It began with a petition created by a digital rights activist being put up on the White House's We The People website, where ideas are put forward for the government to consider, requesting a change to the relevant section of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. More than 114,000 people ended up signing the petition, and the huge response prompted the FCC to work with Congress, networks, and the government to come up with a solution. Once signed, the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act became the first We The People petition to bring about a legislative change.
What does it mean to you? It doesn't stop phones from being locked, but it does mean you're free to unlock them and choose another network if you want. Also, it makes it legal to look for phone unlocking services if you can't do it yourself.
The change is expected to have "a real impact," according to a post on whitehouse.gov, where it's described as "a win for American consumers, a win for wireless competition, and an example of democracy at its best." It's great news, so let's hope another decision in the future doesn't reverse all the hard work. In the meantime, if you want to unlock your phone, feel free to do so – legally.
OceaniPhoneRepair.com will not be responsible for unlocking any device that may have been reported lost or stolen (blacklisted IMEI) before, during or after the unlock has been placed. OceaniPhoneRepair will not issue any refunds for this matter. Unlocking a device that gets blacklisted will stop your phones service from working indefinitely.
