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Sprint - Ring Around the Unlock Cell Phone Rosy

Motorola V555 Cell Phone for International Travel - Complaint
Review by LaserDean on 2012-10-14
Rating: StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty Star
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA -- A few years ago I purchased through Sprint-Nextel a phone that I could use when traveling internationally. I used it two times before we moved to Indiana, where my home location dictated I had to get another provider, which ended up being Verizon as it was the only one that worked dependably at my home location. I recently retired and we intend to begin traveling a few times a year out of the country again. I called Sprint and was told "that phone (V555) was sold as an "unlocked phone", and would work on any GSM Network. I ordered an International SIM card and voila! It asked me for a "subsidy code" (an unlock code). I called back, talked to endless people at Sprint, eventually got a guy in the International who eventually found an "expired" unlock code, but told me I had two choices: 1) open a Sprint account and reactivate (with charges, of course) or 2) take my phone to a Sprint Retail Store, give them the "MSN number" he created for me, and they would "unlock the phone". I called my local Sprint Store, they told me they were "not comfortable doing that", so I went to Indianapolis, where I was quickly told "we don't do this at this store", by the manager. They suggested I drive across town to the Sprint Service and Repair Store". After a 20 minute drive, I waited for 15 minutes for some techy guy to tell me the same thing. I told my story to Mr. Techy, and then the store manager, who promptly agreed with Mr. Techy that "they have no way to do this." I spent countless hours on the phone with various Sprint people, drove about 50 miles (and back) to their Stores, only tofind out the $150 phone I purchased from Sprint would not - or could not be unlocked. In no case, was there ANY offer of sympathy, let alone, an offer to seek an answer to my dilemma by calling the International Department who set this fiasco in motion. Never, Never, Never again with Sprint.
Comments:
Posted by Vinnie11 on 2012-10-14:
These carriers will NEVER unlock their phones no matter how much of a run around they give you. Even with international phones, they still want you to be a Sprint customer and benefit from your usage every month but with this phone, it can ONLY be used outside the US so I don't get their hesitance. You CAN unlock it by Googling Sprint V555 unlock but you use those services at your own risk. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not but it isn't expensive and the phone is useless to you as is.
Posted by onlooker on 2012-10-15:
There are often kiosks at Malls where someone can unlock a phone for you....again not everyone will do, and it is done at your own risk.

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