Phone unlock refused: what to do
The carrier refuses to unlock a device you paid off.
Have this ready
- proof the device is paid off
- IMEI
- the carrier's unlock policy
Steps for any company
Check the carrier's unlock policy for the waiting period and payment conditions.
Request the unlock through the carrier's unlock page. Save the request number.
If refused although you meet the policy, escalate in writing and then to the FCC.
A company playbook below replaces these generic steps with the company’s own forms, phone numbers and deadlines.
Company playbooks
No company has its own playbook for this issue yet. Use the steps above with the company’s contacts: find the company.
Guides
Let your AI agent handle this
Escalate Anything is a free, open-source MCP server for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI, Codex and other AI apps. Your agent gets this playbook, keeps a case log with reference numbers and follow-up dates, and drafts each message for you to approve.
1. Set it up (needs uv):
uvx escalate-anything setup2. Ask your agent:
[company] will not unlock my paid-off phone. Use Escalate Anything to get it unlocked.Source code, other install options and the Claude Code plugin