Verizon Asks FCC to Change Current 60-Day Unlock Rule | What That Means for Tracfone Customers
If you’ve bought a Tracfone recently and planned to unlock it after 60 days, there might be some changes coming your way. Verizon, which owns Tracfone, is asking the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for permission to ditch the rule that requires them to unlock phones after two months.
Currently, Tracfone customers benefit from one of the more consumer-friendly unlock policies in the wireless industry. Once you activate your phone, it’s automatically unlocked after 60 days of consecutive use with a paid plan—no fees, and typically no additional steps required. But Verizon wants to change that. They’re asking the FCC for a waiver so they can keep phones locked for longer, just like most other carriers who often make customers wait six months or more.
Some of the popular Tracfone locked devices include the Moto G Power 2025, Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, and others. These phones are offered by Tracfone at subsidized prices and can even be found from some retailers with airtime bundles. These devices are also available factory unlocked, but that typically means a higher price, and no airtime bundles.
Verizon claims that the 60-day rule is making it easier for scammers to grab cheap phones and resell them overseas before the company recoups its costs. In fact, they say they lost hundreds of millions of dollars last year alone because of this. And Verizon is suggesting that keeping the phones locked longer would help prevent this. But the current policy already requires that phones be active and on a paid plan for at least 60 days.
The 60-day unlocking rule didn’t come out of nowhere. Verizon agreed to it when it bought Tracfone back in 2021, along with a number of other rules meant to help protect consumers. In exchange, they got FCC approval for the deal. So for Tracfone customers, this wasn’t just a perk, it was a promise. Now, Verizon is trying to undo that promise, and the FCC’s recent leadership changes may give them a shot.
If the FCC grants Verizon’s request, new Tracfone customers might be stuck with locked phones for much longer, limiting their ability to switch carriers or resell their devices. For people who count on prepaid flexibility, that might be a big deal.
While the FCC has not responded to the request, this could be an important change for anyone thinking about picking up a Tracfone in the near future. If you are planning to get a new device and may also want to switch providers, consider going with a factory unlocked phone.
For those who don't plan to switch away from Tracfone anytime soon, these developments shouldn't cause any major changes. And yet, this is a little concerning for Verizon to be pushing towards removing a policy that was beneficial for consumers.
We will continue to update as more information becomes available.
Join us over on Facebook for the latest news and posts or send us a message for more direct help questions.
If you are new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide!
If you're shopping around for other plans, take a look at the Best Alternatives to Tracfone.
Take a look at some of our recent posts, including a Guide for Making your Airtime Last Longer and Everything you Need to Know about Data Cards.
And don't miss out on the best Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales!
Thanks for visiting!
No comments :
Post a Comment