Verizon makes customers wait 35 days to unlock fully paid-off phones

Here’s something that might frustrate anyone trying to switch carriers — Verizon now makes you wait 35 days to unlock your fully paid-off phone. And honestly, that’s a pretty long delay. According to Jon Brodkin writing for Ars Technica, if you pay off your device plan online, through the app, or even over the phone, you’re looking at over a month before you can switch networks. The only way to get an immediate unlock? Visiting a Verizon store in person and paying it off there. Now, here’s where it gets interesting — this new rule applies even if you’ve already paid in full, just because you didn’t pay at a Verizon store. So what does this mean for you? It’s a clear move to keep customers locked in longer, even after they’ve paid off their devices. As Brodkin points out, this policy shift could make switching carriers more of a hassle than it should be — and that’s something to watch for in the wireless world.