Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones • Hacker News Board

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#11

Post by chasil » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 3:56 AM UTC

I would find it so deeply enjoyable to see the homes of Verizon management equipped with paddlocks on their bathroom doors, refrigerators, garages, etc.

It would be my pleasure to announce to them that the terms of service dictate that the padlocks would never be removed, but the new subscription fees would be announced shortly.

It would be delicious to see such a delightful revenge sink deep into their lives.

Until such time, enjoy our esteem, you scoundrels!

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#12

Post by fuckinpuppers » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:02 AM UTC

Another thing this administration reverted. It never ends.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#13

Post by charles_f » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:07 AM UTC

shadowpho wrote: post #8

PearlRiver wrote: post #4

Just buy your own phone. A midrange Samsung is like 350 eurodollars these days.

Some of devices automatically lock once used on a carrier network

If you buy them unattached? First time I hear of that, do you have an example or source?

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#14

Post by kcb » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:07 AM UTC

bandrami wrote: post #10

Having lived in a lot of countries over the past couple of decades, I can say this is absolutely something Americans do completely wrong. Just buy your phone at full price. The "free" phones cost significantly more than a full price phone.

My monthly plan payment would not go down if I brought my own phone.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#15

Post by bandrami » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:10 AM UTC

kcb wrote: post #14

bandrami wrote: post #10

Having lived in a lot of countries over the past couple of decades, I can say this is absolutely something Americans do completely wrong. Just buy your phone at full price. The "free" phones cost significantly more than a full price phone.

My monthly plan payment would not go down if I brought my own phone.

Your particular plan might not but there are BYOD plans that are significantly cheaper than anything you'll get on contract

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#16

Post by JaggedJax » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:12 AM UTC

kcb wrote: post #14

bandrami wrote: post #10

Having lived in a lot of countries over the past couple of decades, I can say this is absolutely something Americans do completely wrong. Just buy your phone at full price. The "free" phones cost significantly more than a full price phone.

My monthly plan payment would not go down if I brought my own phone.

There are plans available where that is the case. So the solution would be to switch plans or carriers to one that doesn't bundle the phone price in.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#17

Post by OkGoDoIt » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:12 AM UTC

shadowpho wrote: post #8

PearlRiver wrote: post #4

Just buy your own phone. A midrange Samsung is like 350 eurodollars these days.

Some of devices automatically lock once used on a carrier network

I don’t believe that’s true. Locking is entirely something done by carriers for promotionally-priced phones attached to active phone plans.

Can you point me to anywhere documenting your claim? That would definitely be a new low if true, but I really don’t think that’s how it works.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#18

Post by mullingitover » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:12 AM UTC

Buy your own phone like everyone’s saying, but also use an MVNO instead of setting money on fire paying the major carriers. The better MVNOs even have multiple carriers and allow you to switch at any time.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#19

Post by jdelman » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:15 AM UTC

I’m switching to T-Mobile.

Re: Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones

#20

Post by paxys » Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 4:22 AM UTC

kcb wrote: post #14

bandrami wrote: post #10

Having lived in a lot of countries over the past couple of decades, I can say this is absolutely something Americans do completely wrong. Just buy your phone at full price. The "free" phones cost significantly more than a full price phone.

My monthly plan payment would not go down if I brought my own phone.

You sure about that? Look up Visible, Mint Mobile, Total Wireless, US Mobile, Tello... Same carrier networks, same quality of service. You can even pay a bit extra for prioritized data and other fancy features. You can get basic unlimited plans for $15-30 and premium plans in the $30-50 range vs $100+ at the big carriers. The only difference is that you aren't paying for your "free" phone.