Verizon Locks Phones With New Unlock Delay

Verizon has introduced a new policy that introduces a 35-day waiting period for postpaid customers seeking to unlock their devices after paying off installment plans. This delay now applies to payments made online, through the My Verizon app, or over the phone, and even at Verizon Authorized Retailers.

Previously, the 35-day security delay was mainly associated with using Verizon gift cards. However, as of February 11, this restriction has been expanded. To bypass this lengthy wait and achieve an immediate unlock, customers must physically visit a Verizon corporate store to pay off their device installment plan.

This new policy affects phones regardless of how long they have been in use, meaning even customers partway through a device financing agreement will face the delay. The company states this is a security measure to prevent fraud, particularly with non-traditional payment methods. Prepaid devices have a separate, simpler policy requiring 365 days of paid service before unlocking.