How to: Unlock your AT&T iPhone without an AT&T Account (with my experience)

Many of us have iPhones that were bought second-hand either from a friend, Craigslist, etc. Ever since AT&T has starting unlocking the iPhones, people have been wondering if you could unlock these second-hand iPhones, and there was no definite answer so therefore I had to try myself.

I called AT&T and after they introduced themselves, they asked for my Wireless Account number (phone number associated with AT&T account). I currently have a plan with T-Mobile, so I said: "Hello, I don't have a Wireless Account number because I don't have a plan with AT&T, but I heard that you guys were unlocking iPhones." After that, the woman said AT&T couldn't unlock it at the moment due to the massive amount of requests, but she will send a request for me. She then asked me for my First and Last Name, my IMEI code, a valid phone number, and a valid email address. I gave her the information and she sent the request and she asked where I got my phone, I responded with Craigslist, and she didn't seem to have a problem with that. Lastly, she opened a case number for me.

Suggestions:
1. Call AT&T by dialing "1-800-331-0500". They will ask you to "Enter the Wireless Phone Number (AT&T Phone Number Account) you are calling about, starting with the area code."
2. Assuming that you don't have an account associated with AT&T, hit the number "0" to talk to a AT&T Rep. If it continues to ask you for a Wireless Phone Number, keep hitting "0" and you will get in eventually.
3. A person will introduce themselves then they will ask for the Wireless Phone Number, this is where you say that you don't have an account with AT&T, but you want to unlock your iPhone. If the person denies you, I would suggest for you to call again, but they allowed me for the first try. Try to be polite.
4. They will tell you about the massive amount of requests, but they will send a request for you. Have your IMEI Code Ready,know what type of iPhone you have, and they will ask for other personal information.
5. They might ask you where you got your iPhone, just tell them..
6. After everything, they will tell you that they filled out a form and sent out the request and you should get an email within 5-7 days. They will also give you a Case Number for a follow up, make sure you get this number down in case. The case number is only needed if they don't send you an email after 10 days, then you should call them and tell them your case number. Because of the large amount of requests they will tell you to wait even longer than 5-7 days, maybe up to 10.

This was my personal experience and hopefully it helps some of you guys out, if you have any questions, I might be able to answer, just ask in the thread.

Well it looked like they didn't check if it was early terminated because I said that I bought it second-hand? But if they do, then oh well, I'm guessing you're out of luck haha.

Iphone 4 lol

I did this and they said without an at&t account they couldn't process the request, gonna try again at 1 am (us 7am)

WOW it worked! I used an alias and said I bought it off of craigslist, and didnt have a number... and Boom! they set up a case # and now my old iPhone 2G is unlocked like my 3GS is! I tried to unlock it a few months ago (it has been soft unlocked on tmobile for a while.. but I wanted a factory unlock), I got it as a backup just incase my 3GS (that's on at&t) bit the dust again, They said that since it had just been activated on my account I couldn't unlock it until next year... It's 5 years old! I said and they said the couldn't do anything about it... After reading this and using my favorite undercover alias... it worked!!! thank you for submitting this!!!

This is what happened to me I said I got it on eBay not craigslist though.

So I am still able to unlock my iPhone 4 by AT&T for free?