US Cellular can't unlock my S4

[AC Question]

I decided to let my wife use the phone and went to my local US Cellular office to have it unlocked so I could use Straight Talk, as with my personal unlocked phone.

First thing they told me was sometimes these phones can be unlocked, sometimes not. And wouldn't you know it, my could not be unlocked. They didn't say much other than it couldn't be seen by their computers. She did try a couple different "toolboxes", but none would work.

I thought it was strange that they never even asked for any info on myself, or paperwork showing it was my phone. Not that that would matter anyway.

My question is, Is there anything else I can do in this situation to get my phone unlocked? I know there are sites out there that will give you an unlock code, but will it be any more effective than the US Cell office that already tried? I am a DIY kinda guy, with super slight tech and rooting capabilities. willing to give this a try on my own if I can find a fairly foolproof way.

 

[gvndeb60]

I decided to let my wife use the phone and went to my local US Cellular office to have it unlocked so I could use Straight Talk, as with my personal unlocked phone.

First thing they told me was sometimes these phones can be unlocked, sometimes not. And wouldn't you know it, my could not be unlocked. They didn't say much other than it couldn't be seen by their computers. She did try a couple different "toolboxes", but none would work.

I thought it was strange that they never even asked for any info on myself, or paperwork showing it was my phone. Not that that would matter anyway.

My question is, Is there anything else I can do in this situation to get my phone unlocked? I know there are sites out there that will give you an unlock code, but will it be any more effective than the US Cell office that already tried? I am a DIY kinda guy, with super slight tech and rooting capabilities. willing to give this a try on my own if I can find a fairly foolproof way.

Per their own policy here (https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...wireless-device-unlocking.html&token=FRt76hZj) the S4 is eligible to be unlocked. Doesn't say sometimes, it says it is eligible, no fine print. I would ask for a manager, and if they can't unlock yours, I would ask them to swap it for one that is unlocked.

 

[iowabucks]

I didn't buy it at the local Us Cell office. I got it online from the US Cell website. Would that make a difference in them wanting to swap it?

 

[AlphaTango414]

It shouldn't matter.

 

[iowabucks]

Another US Cellular office told me it shows it's already network unlocked. I never had anything done to it, unless the other office got it to work.

But they told me that by going to another compatible carrier it may work, maybe not. The last phone they saw that said network unlocked did not work for that customer.

I wanted to jump to Straight Talk, at $45 a month, for my wife. But I could also do a prepaid through US Cellular for $48 a month. ST has more data, but my wife would would use next to none anyway.

So I wonder if I should go the safe route and do US Cells prepaid, rather than possibly wasting $60 for activation and SIM card on ST?