Cannot unlock iPhone that was replaced via Apple Care

[thomasy]

In 2014, I had to bring in my original Rogers locked iPhone 5 to an Apple Store for repairs. The Apple Store replaced the phone with a new one that was also locked. Now that I'm ready to unlock the phone, Rogers has no record of the replacement phone's IMEI in the system and therefore cannot unlock it for me. What can I do to get it unlocked?

[thomasy · Accepted solution]

I went to the Apple Store and they printed me a copy of the work order showing the old IMEI and the new replacement IMEI. That did the trick. I showed it to the Rogers store clerk and they registered it into the system. Unlock underway...

[rweather]

I would recommend getting the phone unlocked via a third party retailer

[Dsburfitt]

The replacement phone you receive should come unlocked as well. This is all managed by Apple. If there is an issue, call apple and they will look up the iPhone you had before, see it was unlocked and do the same for your replacement!

[thomasy]

The 3rd party unlock looks kinda sketchy. $75 US or more, and many reviews are mixed.

[thomasy]

When Apple replaced the iPhone in 2014, it was still within the Rogers 2 year contract, so they had to replace it with a similar locked iPhone. Now, it is all paid for, so I want to unlock it, but Rogers cannot unlock the replacement iPhone, since it is a different IMEI number from the original iPhone that was purchased. Do you think I could stop at the Apple Store I had the repairs done at and have them unlock it, or at least register the IMEI into the system, so that Rogers can unlock it?

[sascwatch]

Go to a Rogers store and keep pushing them, I had the same thing happen on an iPhone 5 that got the power button recalled. Apple said it was a Rogers phone while Rogers said it wasn't theirs even tho it was locked to their network. Have the rep call apple and confirm the phone was a warranty replacement, eventually they will call their unlocking team and Rogers will unlock it for their usual fee. 

[thomasy · Accepted solution]

I went to the Apple Store and they printed me a copy of the work order showing the old IMEI and the new replacement IMEI. That did the trick. I showed it to the Rogers store clerk and they registered it into the system. Unlock underway...