Verizon’s 35‑Day Unlock Delay: Why Fully Paid Phones Can Still Be Stuck on the Network

Background

Carrier locking has been a flash point in the U.S. wireless market for more than a decade. When a phone is “locked,” it can’t accept another carrier’s SIM or eSIM until an unlock flag is set on the device (for Apple devices this happens through Apple’s activation servers; on many Android models it’s handled by the carrier or manufacturer). Unlocking matters for three big reasons:

• Switching: You can’t move your existing device to a rival network if it’s still locked.
• Travel: A locked device won’t accept a foreign carrier’s local SIM/eSIM, pushing you toward pricier carrier roaming.
• Resale: Locked phones are less valuable and harder to sell.

The legal and policy landscape is a patchwork:

• In 2014, Congress passed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, which made it legal for consumers (and third parties they authorize) to unlock phones, but it didn’t force carriers to unlock on any particular timeline.
• The CTIA wireless association adopted a voluntary “Consumer Code” pledge under which participating carriers would unlock eligible devices, typically within two business days of eligibility. Each carrier defines “eligibility,” and there’s leeway for fraud prevention.
• Verizon is a special case. Because it uses 700 MHz C‑Block spectrum subject to FCC open‑access conditions, its LTE-era devices were historically sold unlocked. In 2019, with the FCC’s blessing, Verizon instituted a 60‑day lock on new activations, arguing it needed a limited window to deter theft and identity‑fraud rings. After 60 days, Verizon has said it automatically unlocks devices in most circumstances.

The modern wrinkle is financing. Most U.S. phone buyers get devices on 24–36 month installment plans. A single customer can finish payments early, walk away, or try to switch carriers mid-contract—scenarios that collide with unlock policies and fraud controls.

What happened

Ars Technica reports that Verizon has added a new catch to its unlocking rules: when customers pay off a device online, Verizon won’t unlock the phone for 35 days after that payoff. In other words, even when the balance hits zero, the network lock doesn’t immediately clear if the payoff was processed through Verizon’s website or app.

Why would this exist? Carriers routinely point to fraud and payment risk:

• Fraud rings sometimes open lines with stolen identities, grab high‑end phones on installment, immediately pay the device off using compromised payment methods, request an unlock, and resell the phones abroad. When the payment gets reversed weeks later, the phones are long gone.
• Electronic payments can be reversed or disputed. ACH payments have return windows; credit card chargebacks can happen weeks after the transaction. A holding period narrows that arbitrage window.

The new 35‑day delay appears to be an anti‑fraud buffer targeted at online payoffs—the very channel most exposed to card‑not‑present risk and automated abuse. While Verizon has used a 60‑day initial lock for several years, this is a separate timer that begins when you clear your balance online.

What this means in practical terms depends on your timeline:

• If your phone is less than 60 days old, paying it off early online won’t get you unlocked sooner—and the 35‑day buffer may even push you a few days past the 60‑day mark before the lock clears.
• If your phone is more than 60 days old, it should already be unlocked under Verizon’s longstanding policy. In that common case, the new 35‑day rule won’t matter.
• The customers most affected are those who buy a new device, realize they need to switch or travel internationally within a few weeks, and try to “solve it” by paying off the phone online. Under the new rule, they may still be stuck waiting.

There may be workarounds in specific situations. Some customers report that paying off a device in a physical Verizon store or calling support can lead to faster unlocks—likely because in-person payments reduce fraud risk and certain back‑office checks can be performed immediately. But that’s not a guaranteed policy outcome, and results vary.

Context: How this compares to other carriers

• T‑Mobile: For most postpaid lines, T‑Mobile devices become eligible for unlock 40 days after activation, provided the balance is paid and the account is in good standing. iPhones typically unlock shortly after eligibility, while many Android phones have an in‑device “Device Unlock” tool. T‑Mobile does not publicly impose a 35‑day post‑payoff buffer, though it still requires minimum service time.
• AT&T: AT&T requires at least 60 days of service and a fully paid device for postpaid unlocks. Customers submit an online request and, when eligible, devices are usually unlocked within roughly two business days. No additional 35‑day waiting period is published for online payoffs.
• Verizon: 60‑day automatic unlock after activation, with exceptions for fraud, theft, or other flags. The new twist is the 35‑day hold after an online payoff—an extra clock that mainly bites customers under the 60‑day threshold who are trying to accelerate an unlock.

In short: Verizon’s base lock window (60 days) is longer than T‑Mobile’s (40 days), and its new 35‑day online‑payoff rule can extend the effective wait for certain customers. AT&T’s 60‑day service requirement is similar in duration but typically doesn’t include a separate post‑payoff hold.

Consumer impact and use cases

The 35‑day delay sounds like a small footnote, but it can compound headaches in common scenarios:

• International travel on a new phone: If you bought a Verizon phone two or three weeks before an overseas trip, you can’t just pay off online and immediately pop in a local eSIM. You may be waiting through your flight—and for a month after your payoff date.
• Last‑minute switchers: If you’re mid‑billing cycle and decide to port to another carrier, your phone’s lock status can derail the move. Paying off online won’t immediately free the device if you’re still within the initial lock window.
• Resale value: Many buyers on secondary markets filter for “factory unlocked” devices. A 35‑day delay may postpone a private sale or lower the offer you receive if you can’t demonstrate that the device is unlocked.
• Multi‑line households: Families juggling upgrades and trade‑ins may discover that one child’s brand‑new device can’t be used with a different carrier for weeks—even though the parents cleared the balance the same day.

Why carriers care: the fraud math

The modern phone supply chain is a magnet for abuse because the hardware has high resale value, works globally, and is easy to fence. Fraudsters exploit weak points:

• Takeover or synthetic IDs: A bad actor gains access to an account (or creates a plausible fake one), finances expensive phones, pays off quickly with stolen payment credentials, requests unlocks, and flips the devices.
• Rapid port‑outs: Once a number moves and the device is out of the original carrier’s orbit, recovering it is difficult.
• Chargebacks and ACH returns: Payment reversals often happen weeks after the transaction, giving criminals a head start.

Locks and hold periods shower real customers with friction, but carriers argue that without them, the cost of fraud would flow into everyone’s bill. The question is where to draw the line between “reasonable safeguard” and “anti‑competitive roadblock.”

What you can do if you’re caught by the 35‑day rule

• Plan before you buy: If you know you’ll travel or may switch carriers within two months, consider buying an unlocked phone directly from Apple, Google, Samsung, or a big‑box retailer—and activate it with Verizon after the trip. Retail‑purchased devices set to the manufacturer’s “factory unlocked” profile aren’t bound by a carrier’s initial lock when you first power on.
• Ask for exceptions: If you’ve already paid off online and are facing a time‑sensitive trip, call Verizon support or visit a corporate store (not an authorized dealer) to ask whether they can escalate an unlock. Be prepared to show ID, proof of purchase, and payment confirmation.
• Consider a travel workaround: If unlocking isn’t possible in time for your trip, compare Verizon’s roaming packages (e.g., day‑pass options) with renting a pocket Wi‑Fi hotspot, traveling with a secondary unlocked phone, or using messaging over Wi‑Fi.
• If buying used: Always check IMEI status and confirm the phone is already unlocked. For iPhones, you can verify the “Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions” line in Settings > General > About.

Key takeaways

• Verizon now imposes a 35‑day waiting period before unlocking phones that are paid off online.
• The delay primarily affects customers who try to accelerate an unlock inside Verizon’s initial 60‑day lock window.
• The stated industry rationale is fraud prevention, but the result is more friction for legitimate customers who want to switch or use local SIMs while traveling.
• Rival carriers don’t publicly use the same 35‑day post‑payoff hold, though each has minimum service requirements and other guardrails.
• Workarounds may exist via in‑store payoff or support escalation, but outcomes are not guaranteed.

What to watch next

• Regulatory scrutiny: The FCC has previously allowed Verizon’s 60‑day lock as a fraud‑prevention measure. A new, separate 35‑day post‑payoff buffer could invite questions about proportionality and consumer impact, especially for travel use cases.
• CTIA code pressure: The industry’s voluntary unlocking commitment calls for timely unlocking after eligibility. Expect fresh debate over whether prolonged “eligibility” definitions undermine the spirit of that pledge.
• Competitive responses: AT&T and T‑Mobile may emphasize simpler unlock experiences in marketing, nudging Verizon to clarify or pare back delays in some scenarios.
• Apple and Android OEM flows: More transparent, self‑serve unlock status inside device settings—and clearer messaging during activation—could reduce surprises and support calls.
• eSIM‑only future: As Apple continues to sell eSIM‑only iPhones in the U.S., carrier locks have a bigger impact on travel and switching. Pressure may grow for standardized, faster unlock timelines across carriers.

FAQ

Q: I paid off my Verizon phone online. Why is it still locked?
A: Under Verizon’s current policy, phones paid off through its website or app may not be eligible for unlocking until 35 days after payoff. Verizon frames this as an anti‑fraud measure. If timing is critical, contact Verizon support or try paying off in a corporate store to see if an earlier unlock is possible.

Q: Is Verizon allowed to do this?
A: U.S. law makes unlocking legal, but it doesn’t require carriers to unlock immediately upon payoff. The CTIA’s voluntary code calls for prompt unlocking of eligible devices, but carriers define eligibility and may include fraud‑prevention windows. Regulators could revisit whether such delays are reasonable.

Q: How does this relate to Verizon’s 60‑day lock?
A: Verizon typically locks new devices for the first 60 days after activation. Separately, paying off a device online adds a 35‑day unlock delay. If you’re inside the initial 60 days, the 35‑day buffer can push the effective unlock date slightly later than day 60. If you’re already past 60 days, your device should already be unlocked and the 35‑day rule may be moot.

Q: Will AT&T or T‑Mobile make me wait 35 days after payoff?
A: AT&T and T‑Mobile have their own eligibility rules (such as minimum days of service and paid‑off status), but they do not publicly list a blanket 35‑day hold after online payoff. Unlocks usually process within a couple of days once you meet their criteria.

Q: Does eSIM change anything?
A: Not for unlocking. A locked phone can still add and use Verizon eSIMs, but can’t add a non‑Verizon eSIM until it’s unlocked. That’s particularly painful for travelers who rely on eSIM marketplaces for cheap local data abroad.

Q: What if I need an unlocked phone right now for a trip?
A: If you can’t secure an exception from Verizon in time, options include using Verizon’s international roaming, traveling with a secondary unlocked phone, or renting a portable Wi‑Fi hotspot. For future trips, consider buying an unlocked device outright from the manufacturer.

Q: Will paying off in a store unlock my phone immediately?
A: Some customers report faster results after in‑store payoffs or support escalations, but it’s not guaranteed and may depend on verification steps and local policies. If you try this, bring identification and proof of payment.

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Source & original reading: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/verizon-makes-customers-wait-35-days-to-unlock-fully-paid-off-phones/