Verizon's prepaid services add a 365-day wait to unlock phones

"It's been just one week since Verizon got permission to lift its 60-day phone unlocking period, and the carrier is already making changes to its policy. Now, Verizon says customers who activate a phone on one of its sub-brands, including Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, and Total Wireless, will have to pay for service for 365 days before switching their phone to a different network, as spotted earlier by Droidlife."

"In addition to the longer lock period, Verizon will also require customers to request that their phone be unlocked, instead of doing it automatically. Visible's policy states that "if you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses." It adds that your progress will "resume once you reactivate your account and continue" until you pay for one year of service."

Verizon received permission to lift a 60-day phone unlocking period tied to its spectrum purchase and TracFone deal. Customers who activate phones on Verizon sub-brands Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, and Total Wireless must now pay for service for 365 days before switching those phones to a different network. Verizon will require customers to request a phone unlock rather than unlocking automatically. Visible's policy states that progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses if customers stop paying for service and resumes once the account is reactivated until one year of service has been paid.

Read at The Verge