What do carriers do with returned phones?

The carriers then try to refurbish and resell your old phone, or they will recycle them through their recycling partners.

Do you have to unlock a phone to sell it?

You’ll also want to unlock your iPhone before selling it. A locked phone can only work on a certain carrier’s network, and buyers may want to use your device with a different service. If you can’t unlock your phone, it’s not the end of the world.

How hard is it to unlock a phone?

The difficulty of unlocking a phone can vary from carrier to carrier, and what is a straightforward process with one can be a pain with another. Depending on who you’re with, unlocking your phone can turn out to be a laborious process that requires several phone calls and hours of work — or it can be extremely simple.

Can I return a phone I just bought from AT?

If your device was purchased at an AT retail, you may return it to any AT retail store during the return and exchange period. Your refund for a return will be made through the original payment method (credit, debit, check, etc.) and may take up to two months.

What happens if you don’t send your phone back to Verizon?

What happens to my instant credit if I don’t send my old trade-in device back? If we don’t receive your trade-in device for which you received instant credit during your transaction within 30 days, you’ll see a chargeback on your next bill for the instant credit given.

What is AT buyer’s remorse policy?

AT Returns If the phone or device you purchased does not meet your expectations, return it by mail within 14 days from the date the equipment was shipped. Refunds are applied using the original payment method. Any rebate associated with returned equipment is voided.

What happens if you don’t return a phone to AT?

What happens if you don’t return your defective device in time. If you have: AT Wireless: We’ll bill you the full replacement value for the device. AT PREPAIDSM: We won’t credit your card for the return.

What is Verizon return policy?

You may return or exchange wireless devices and accessories purchased from Verizon within 30 days of purchase. Returning merchandise does not terminate your service, so you’ll need to contact us if you want to cancel your line. A $50 restocking fee applies to any return or exchange of a wireless device*.

Can I leave Verizon if I still owe on my phone?

NOTE: If there is an outstanding Device Payment Agreement, you can pay off the remaining balance of your device on our Pay off your device page or it will appear on your next bill after the cancellation.

Should you switch carriers if you owe money on your phone?

As you can see, there are a lot of deals and incentives for switching, regardless of whether you owe money on your phone or not. The bottom line is this: you’ll have to pay if you owe on your device. The big four carriers will often pay your ETF and usually the remaining value of the device as a trade-in.

Why do insurance companies buy refurbished phones?

Insurance companies in the US are a big buyer of refurbished cell phones because if someone claims on their insurance policy for a lost or broken cell phone they are often supplied a refurbished device that has come from one of our buyers. Samsungs in particular seem to be the main type of phone that gets resold back into the US, as Travis explains

Why do I still owe money to my old carrier?

If you owe money to your old carrier, chances are it’s because you’re still paying off your phone with them. You see, actual plan contracts are a thing of the past—all that’s left are those pesky device installment plans. The easiest way to figure out what you owe is to give your current carrier a call, or log into your account dashboard.

Can you take your phone with you to another carrier?

The problem is, no one carrier has quite worked out how it works in practice. Now, thanks to some hard work and elbow grease by an industry association, cell carriers from Wednesday are now required to unlock compatible devices, allowing you to take your device to any other carrier — even a rival.