Can Verizon Lock your phone from other carrier uses?

[MatixMovies]

I went into the metro pcs store and tried to hook up the note 3 from Verizon he told me that if I did not have my two year contract paid off through Verizon that the note 3 would be locked and he would not be able to hook it up. Has anyone heard of this? He said that because of the two year contract Verizon has something in the phone where if you don't pay it off and they can completely lock the phone?!?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[dpham00]

Yes they can and probably will lock the phone, if you don't fulfill your 2 year contract or pay etf. It is to ensure that people don't get a subsidized phone and jump ship without paying etf.

In reality, Verizon can only block usage on their network, however, carriers share blacklist, so in reality, it is metropcs not allowing you to activate the blacklisted phone.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 4

 

[MatixMovies]

No MetroPCS just told me that if it's not paid off then Verizon can lock it

Sent from my QMV7B using Tapatalk

 

[dpham00]

Basically, yes they can lock it if it isn't paid off. You can either pay it off my fulfilling the 2 year contract or by paying etf

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 4

 

[Almeuit]

As dpham said you have to pay the ETF or fulfill the contract. If you don't the phone will be blacklisted and not usable on any carrier.

 

[anon(5061193)]

And Verizon should lock it out. Just pay the bill and you will be OK.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[MatixMovies]

What is ETF?

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[alxarambula]

Early termination fee

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[sulla1965]

EtF's are not really that bad. Since you get to keep the phone afterwards which you could then sell to recoup a chunk of the ETF fee. Certainly not the ideal situation to be in but it makes biting the bullet on a ETF at least somewhat palatable