AT&T Lies To Customers About Subsidy Unlocking

[davistld01]

I just got off the phone with an AT&T CS rep, after asking her for a subsidary unlocking code for my 8310...something that has never been a problem before. She informed me that it would take 10-15 working days to have it sent to me (strange...it has always been instant before)...and that she had to warn me that if I unlocked my phone, I might have some serious problems with my phone in the future. But, she never would elaborate as to what the "problems" might consist of.

When I told her that I had used many unlocked phones in the past with AT&T service...she told me that I might have problems with service and call quality if I unlocked the phone.

I must call BS on this propaganda!!!

Obviously, to curb the number of people unlocking their phones and selling them, or using them with other providers...AT&T has made their service people tell this total fabrication to their customers. How messed up is that?

[juwaack68]

Moved to R&R.

Sounds like the rep is just telling you that to spread doom and gloom and try to keep their customers.

[NJBlackBerry]

So not too long ago AT&T would NEVER unlock a phone.
And it is a SUBSIDY unlock, not a subsidiary unlock.
Uninformed reps are not all that uncommon, are they?

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by davistld01

I just got off the phone with an AT&T CS rep, after asking her for a subsidary unlocking code for my 8310...something that has never been a problem before. She informed me that it would take 10-15 working days to have it sent to me (strange...it has always been instant before)...and that she had to warn me that if I unlocked my phone, I might have some serious problems with my phone in the future. But, she never would elaborate as to what the "problems" might consist of.

When I told her that I had used many unlocked phones in the past with AT&T service...she told me that I might have problems with service and call quality if I unlocked the phone.

I must call BS on this propaganda!!!

Obviously, to curb the number of people unlocking their phones and selling them, or using them with other providers...AT&T has made their service people tell this total fabrication to their customers. How messed up is that?

So, you spoke to one uninformed, less-than-stellar customer service rep... and concluded that all of AT&T is evil and they're spreading propaganda?

Seriously... grow up.

[cjcarbone]

Anytime i have gotten a subsidy unlock from ATT, they always say it can take up to xx days. And have always received the email from them the next day, if not within a few hours.


Are they gonna unlock your phone? Then does it really matter that they said it was gonna take xx days?

[ezrunner]

Originally Posted by cjcarbone

Anytime i have gotten a subsidy unlock from ATT, they always say it can take up to xx days. And have always received the email from them the next day, if not within a few hours.


Are they gonna unlock your phone? Then does it really matter that they said it was gonna take xx days?

in the service industry this is called setting the expectation!

if they said it will take 1 day and it took 2 weeks one would be much more unhappy however if the say 5 days and you get it in 1 bam they are awesome its a catch 22!!

cj not blasting you just informing the OP

[ezrunner]

"When I told her that I had used many unlocked phones in the past with AT&T service...she told me that I might have problems with service and call quality if I unlocked the phone."

when using an unlocked phone from another carrier they won't guarantee service and generally if you are having service issues and they know you have a device from another carrier regardless of what may be at fault the unlocked device gets blamed. just the way it is

[davistld01]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

So, you spoke to one uninformed, less-than-stellar customer service rep... and concluded that all of AT&T is evil and they're spreading propaganda?

Seriously... grow up.

I'm very grown up, thank you.

Yeah, maybe it's an overreaction...and I'm not calling AT&T "evil".

But, why would a customer service rep say something like that if she hadn't been coached to say it? It isn't a case of her being misinformed, but a case of her being told what to say. I guess I was disappointed more than anything else.

[juwaack68]

Originally Posted by davistld01

It isn't a case of her being misinformed, but a case of her being told what to say.

You hit the nail right on the head.

[ezrunner]

x2 what the Lady said ^^^

[ndub33]

Originally Posted by ezrunner

"When I told her that I had used many unlocked phones in the past with AT&T service...she told me that I might have problems with service and call quality if I unlocked the phone."

when using an unlocked phone from another carrier they won't guarantee service and generally if you are having service issues and they know you have a device from another carrier regardless of what may be at fault the unlocked device gets blamed. just the way it is

It's also a nice forewarning to not expect warranty support for a handset from another carrier...

[tel-x.com]

Originally Posted by davistld01

.

I'm not calling AT&T "evil".

.

I would!
or rather call cough..cough "cingular" evil, you can change the name all you like, still cingular and there will never be good ol AT&T again!

I know thats off topic but I had to let that one out

[jibi]

FWIW, when I need to get my phones unlocked by AT&T, our rep has to contact a regional VP to authorize the unlock. We have a very large account with them and a lot of buying power (and market power), but you have to jump through less hoops for something that is fairly quick to process. Feel lucky

[Sith_Apprentice]

Originally Posted by ndub33

It's also a nice forewarning to not expect warranty support for a handset from another carrier...

unlocking a phone voids the warranty from the manufacturer. and if you want the unlock faster, you can pay for it. ShapelessBB runs the website at the bottom of my sig, and usually has codes within hours.

[cjcarbone]

Originally Posted by ezrunner

in the service industry this is called setting the expectation!

if they said it will take 1 day and it took 2 weeks one would be much more unhappy however if the say 5 days and you get it in 1 bam they are awesome its a catch 22!!

cj not blasting you just informing the OP

Thats exactly what i was getting at, just in less words., i was in a little bit of a rush.

Also to the OP, i reread my post, i apologize, it came off a little rude, and that wasn't my intent.

[conmetal]

all depends on how informed the rep is. I have unlocked about 8 different phones ranging from Blackjacks to Curves, and have had different results nearly each time.

I received the code instantly with 2 blackjacks and 2 curves.
I was rejected numerous times, however called right back to get another rep online who helped me out.
It took two weeks to receive one via email for my 8800.
Received it within 24hrs on three occasions via phone.

It almost seems as if it is up to the service rep's discretion as to how easily you obtain the code.

BTW, I'm not an AT&T wireless subscriber. However they do rape me on the regular for home phone, broadband and satellite service.

[ezrunner]

time to get the unlock code depends if it is in the database at that time or if they have to go and request the unlock code