• Direct Unlocks

Direct Unlocks

Overview

Direct Unlocks has a rating of 3.12 stars from 1,307 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Direct Unlocks most frequently mention great service, sim card, and new phone. Direct Unlocks ranks 5th among Unlocked Phones sites.

  • Service
    467
  • Value
    387
  • Shipping
    299
  • Returns
    282
  • Quality
    748

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 53.4%
Positive
337
Neutral
25
Negative
269

Instant Feedback

22,057 reviews

350
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • You will receive email that you have to pay more for premium service (that they don't have.).
  • It even took more than 14 days to do it, but it failed and is just giving a fxxking useless credit note.
How would you rate Direct Unlocks?
Top Positive Review

“Wonderfully Done!”

Bruce H.
4/15/24

Initially, I had reservations due to the considerable amount of negative feedback concerning locked devices. However, the positivity and reassurance provided by Direct Unlocks' team were instrumental in my decision to proceed with the service. Their team maintained an optimistic attitude throughout the process, which was greatly appreciated, especially considering the possibility of failure. I am pleased to report that the unlocking was successful, and my device is now functioning flawlessly with my preferred service provider. Thank you once again for your dedication and excellent customer service.

Top Critical Review

“Awful Experience/Scam”

Victor D.
3/5/24

This is a scam. Please don't waste your time or money by visiting this site. Nowhere on their advertising page does it mention that you will be charged an additional $50.00 to complete the service. When I asked for a refund, they hit me with some nonsense about agreeing to the terms on the checkout page. I am extremely disappointed at this slick way of tricking people into spending some initial money upfront while charging you an additional fee to complete the full service.

Reviews (1,307)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

premium service (43) credit note (47) eligibility check (35)
Thumbnail of user bruceh1215
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 15th, 2024
Verified purchase

Initially, I had reservations due to the considerable amount of negative feedback concerning locked devices. However, the positivity and reassurance provided by Direct Unlocks' team were instrumental in my decision to proceed with the service.

Their team maintained an optimistic attitude throughout the process, which was greatly appreciated, especially considering the possibility of failure. I am pleased to report that the unlocking was successful, and my device is now functioning flawlessly with my preferred service provider.

Thank you once again for your dedication and excellent customer service.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user victordemmons
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 5th, 2024

This is a scam. Please don't waste your time or money by visiting this site. Nowhere on their advertising page does it mention that you will be charged an additional $50.00 to complete the service. When I asked for a refund, they hit me with some nonsense about agreeing to the terms on the checkout page.

I am extremely disappointed at this slick way of tricking people into spending some initial money upfront while charging you an additional fee to complete the full service.

Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I'm really sorry to hear about the confusion and disappointment you've experienced with the additional charge. I can understand how frustrating unexpected costs can be.

To clarify, the eligibility check is a separate process that is necessary to determine if the phone can be unlocked, and this cost is incurred at the beginning of the service. If the phone is eligible for unlocking, there is an additional unlocking payment required to complete the service, as outlined on the checkout page before you complete your purchase.

We always aim to be transparent and provide all the relevant information upfront, so our customers can make informed decisions before proceeding with any service. If there's anything further I can do to assist you and improve your experience, please let us know. We value your patronage and are committed to ensuring your satisfaction.

Best regards,
Charlotte

Thumbnail of user ryanr1294
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 6th, 2024
Verified purchase

Thought at first "oh gee look another rip off site". Had to pay 2 different fees THEN wanted 200 for the premium unlock! But faster and BETTER than expected my iPhone 14 was unlocked without any hassle at all! (To be fair the phone was under contract & still a win)! Worth every penny! 🚀🔥

Thumbnail of user coltonp45
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 15th, 2024

This company is the biggest scam ignore all them fake reviews you'll wait 7 days to get a letter saying they can't unlock it and you'll only get $80 in credit they won't even give you a refund after lying about their services not to mention they charge you $30 then $50 after you pay the $30 so if you decide to cancel you just got scammed out of $30 this company should be shut down and every single employee should be sued down to their last penny.

Products used:
Absolutely nothing

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello Colton,

I'm truly sorry to hear about the disappointment with the service you've experienced. It's never our intention to leave you feeling this way. We strive to be transparent with our process, which includes an Eligibility Check at $28.99, and if eligible, a further Standard Unlock fee of $50.00. These steps are outlined on our checkout page and are part of ensuring we provide the right service for your needs.

Regarding your order status of "Hard-Locked," I understand this is frustrating. According to our "Refund Policy," hard-locked phones, by the carrier, do not qualify for a refund but we do issue a credit note as outlined:

"Any unlocks which come back as Hard-Locked by the network will be refunded in the form of a Credit Note, due to the amount of work required in attempting to perform this unlock."

I can confirm that since you've paid for both the Eligibility Check and the Standard Unlock, you have been issued a credit note, which can be used against a different service in the future. While a cash refund isn't possible in this scenario, the credit note is our way of acknowledging the situation and still offering value for the services rendered.

I'd like to encourage you to continue the process and use your credit note for any of our other services that may benefit you. If there's anything specific I can assist you with, or if you have further inquiries, do feel free to reach out. We truly value your business and the opportunity to make this right for you.

Warm regards,
Charlotte

Thumbnail of user mg762
1 review
5 helpful votes
April 27th, 2020
Verified purchase

Good service but it costed me almost 80£+ to get my iPhone7 unlocked... that's almost the price of a brand new phone. Also, you don't know how much you need to pay up-front which is very annoying... so overall I have mixed feelings

Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user briana509
1 review
50 helpful votes
June 12th, 2020

Don't trust these cowboys especially Luke, they will charge you £23 after you have paid that they will then ask you for more money. After a week they will tell you unlock overdue and refuse to refund your money. Its s complete scam. I have today reported them.to trading standards and waychdog
They checks they claim to do its all a sham. I am filing multiple complaints against them. You took £53 from so simply unlock.or refund. SCAMMERS

Thumbnail of user melissaq104
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
April 13th, 2024
Verified purchase

I was skeptical at best when I found Direct Unlocks via a Google search, my bank even flagged the purchase as suspicious... But I took the risk anyway, and could not be happier! Took a few days to get my schedule to align with the technician from India, but once connected it took him less than 10 minutes to get my Verizon phone unlocked and working on the Total Wireless Sim. Was a little pricey for the live technician service, but still saved me from having to buy the same phone from Total for $499...

Thumbnail of user jameso1739
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 15th, 2024
Verified purchase

No inicio fiquei um pouco preocupado com a credibilidade, pois tive que efetuar dois pagamentos sem ter uma garantia. Mas a Direct Unlocks foi me atualizando do andamento do processo de desbloqueio, passo a passo. E realmente cumpriram com o prometido, estou com meu IPhno 11 desbloqueado. Estou muito feliz, e com certeza quem precisar dos serviços da Direct Unlocks podem realizar com a maior tranquilidade. Nota 1000!

Thumbnail of user ryr2
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 20th, 2022

They were unable to help me with the phone unlock, even up to today, February 8,2022, but they were able to refund me the second payment at my request. I would say avoid using them if your phone is locked to Xfinity, as it appears to be an issue with that service provider.

Former Review Title: Highly Dissatisfied So Far

Placed an order for an unlock on December 15,2021 - I paid the initial payment and the follow up one, figuring it was worth it if the process was taken care of as fast as all these other reviews said. As of today, January 21,2022, my phone is still not unlocked. They're very responsive to emails (so far) and I've been emailing them every couple of weeks, so even if the response is just 'we're chasing them' at least it's -a- response?

I don't know what the problem is and can't seem to get a good answer. It might be an xfinity problem? Is it because I ordered the week before Christmas?

My hackles are raising a bit, for lack of a better way to put it, as the website seems to just display a static 'progress at 99%' message instead of updating dynamically with time passed or progress based on something external, and the support email says that 'once it reaches 100% they'll give it priority'. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for the time being, but I'm getting frustrated.

Thumbnail of user yassira4
1 review
15 helpful votes
October 22nd, 2021
Verified purchase

I purchased an unlock from this company which estimated delivery in 6 days, it is now 68 days with no delivery. I have been trying to reach them many times, i only get same automated response every time. I requested refund As per their refund policy, i only get automated response. After several attempts to get a status of my purchase, they dont even reply with automated response anymore. Once they receive payment, don't expect much from them. Not fair at all!

Tip for consumers:
They do not provide refund, not even per their refund policy!

Thumbnail of user dgelpin
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 1st, 2024

The website is vague abd full of hidden fees. They won't allow you to pay with credit and make you pay with debit so that it's harder to get your money back from your bank. 100% scam, fraud and extortion. The average unlock, from them, is over $200. They made me pay $28.99, $50, then tried to make me pay $193. It's not worth it.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user derekj215
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 3rd, 2024

Their terms and service agreement is not clear. They have a small fee that they pull you in with where they say they are unlocking the phone, but afterward, once you are on the hook, there is an additional MUCH larger fee they charge to actually do the unlock. The first one was a "unlock checkup" to see if your phone was eligible to use their service. Then, they make you wait a few weeks for the unlock only to tell you that your phone is actually unlock-able. In addition, their refund is actually only a credit to use on their site. Absolutely dishonest "service".

Tip for consumers:
All the positive reviews that constantly pop up on the bottom as you are on the site seem a little suspect.

Products used:
Attempted a phone unlock, which they made me wait on, then basically said "oops, I guess it doesn't work".

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello Derek,

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your feedback. It's essential to hear about all of our customers' experiences, positive or otherwise, as it helps us to ensure our service is as clear and transparent as possible.

I understand you're frustrated with the process and fees associated with our unlocking service. Our goal is certainly not to mislead our customers, and we strive to be upfront about all potential costs. The initial fee you paid was for an Eligibility Check to ensure your iPhone SE could be unlocked from StraightTalk USA. Once an iPhone is confirmed as eligible, the second payment is for the actual Standard Unlock. Details of these two stages and their costs are provided before any payment is taken, as outlined on the checkout page.

Our terms make it clear that the Eligibility Check is non-refundable, as it is a service that is conducted immediately upon payment. However, we do understand that the unlocking process can sometimes be prolonged and may not result in a successful unlock for phones that are found to be "Hard-Locked."

Regarding your phone's "Hard-Locked" status, as per our policy, standard services that fail because the phone is hard-locked by the network will be refunded in the form of a Credit Note, as reflected in the policy statement:

"7.5 Any unlocks which come back as Hard-Locked by the network will be refunded in the form of a Credit Note, due to the amount of work required in attempting to perform this unlock."

While I can't offer a monetary refund, you do have a credit note that can be used against different services on our site in the future. We value your business and would be keen to resolve any issue with your current phone or help unlock a different device when you're ready.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. My goal is to ensure that your experience with us ends on a positive note.

Warm regards,
Charlotte

Thumbnail of user raymondl700
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 20th, 2024
Verified purchase

Direct Unlocks got my A13 phone SIM unlocked by Samsung's remote service. I was surprised that it got done rather quickly and without a hitch. Definitely will recommend and use again in the near future. Very pleased with the end result.

Thumbnail of user ryanr1298
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 27th, 2024
Verified purchase

My phone was unlocked 6 days earlier than quoted. Very easy very helpful. I will definitely use them again in the future.

Thumbnail of user stones20
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 2nd, 2023
Verified purchase

I thought it would take less time, but they did have it finished in less than 24 hours even when the retailer kept giving me issues. I appreciate their existence. Thank you

Reason I chose this business:

Needed a phone unlocked

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user rnbmusic0
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 7th, 2024

Cant get money back. They wanted 260€ to unlock. Support is an AI chat bot. No human is available. This scammers need to be sued! Every site is full of fake reviews! Attached you see the bot admitting its an AI.

Tip for consumers:
I'd like to sue the company :)

Products used:
Unlocking a IMEI carrier locked iPhone 12 but did not work with the scam company

Service
Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello Fabio,

I’m sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with our service thus far, and I appreciate your feedback. I understand you’re concerned about the cost and the support experience, and I'm here to ensure we address your concerns thoroughly.

Regarding the additional payment of €260 for the unlocking service, I want to clarify that unlocking an iPhone, particularly from certain networks, can sometimes require a more complex process, which we refer to as the Premium Service. This service may be necessary if your device didn't meet specific criteria outlined during the Eligibility Check, as noted during the checkout process.

I see you have paid €5.99 for the Eligibility Check, which is the initial step in our unlocking process to ensure your iPhone is suitable for unlocking. The Eligibility Check fee helps to cover the costs of the various checks we perform, including ensuring the phone is not reported lost or stolen, checking the correct network, and determining phone status, among others. As per our terms, this fee cannot be refunded, as detailed in the terms and conditions section 7.3.

Your current status indicates that we are awaiting your decision to proceed with the Unlocking Payment to move forward with completing your iPhone unlock. If you decide to go through with the unlocking process, our team will guide you every step of the way. While it is true that we rely on automated systems to manage initial customer inquiries efficiently, please be assured that we also have a dedicated team ready to help you with more complex issues or specific concerns.

We aim to resolve all customer issues to their satisfaction, and I would like to help elevate your experience with us. I encourage you to continue the unlocking process, as this would be the best way to get the result you need for your iPhone 12. If you have any questions or if there's anything specific you would like to discuss, please let us know.

Kind Regards,
Charlotte

Thumbnail of user trentp65
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

Best unlocking service ever! And only took a few days! Very pleased with my purchase now I can use my new iPhone 15 on any carrier!😎

Reason I chose this business:

Friend told me about them

Reason I chose this product:

Make my phone more valuable

Quality
Thumbnail of user lauraa803
3 reviews
7 helpful votes
October 20th, 2021
Verified purchase

Don't purchase! They are a bunch of liars.
They offer the service for £19.99 (but that's without VAT) and AFTER making the payment, they ask you for another payment of £32.90 (+VAT), saying that the first one was to run 'some checks' (=lie).
Why would anyone pay more than £63 for a service that you can get for £15? They know that, and that's the reason why they don't tell you the total cost until you've made the 1st payment.
They are just trying to take advantage of people. Shame on you!

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user williamg3338
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 13th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Phone locked out after a factory reset. Pay about 100 to unlock with their service and what do you know only after getting my 100 do they 'uncover' it will need another 300. I gave it up and the phone was unlocked but it felt quite bad how they could not 'know' this upfront and just be honest then. In the end it worked out but leaving a bad taste in my mouth and let my experience serve as a warning to you. The money and big words they throw around up front to hook you may be followed by having to follow with significant more money to get there.

Reason I chose this business:

Recommended by a friend.

Reason I chose this product:

What a stupid question. What do you think.

Quality
Not sure if it was unlocked
February 7th, 2024
Verified site experience
• Previous review

Not sure if it was unlocked. So give 3 stars for lack of clarity

Thumbnail of user arshaks2
1 review
8 helpful votes
August 23rd, 2022

I have been waiting for about 3 months to get my phone unlocked from this website and every time I try to contact them, they send me an automated email ignoring my request for a refund. The website promises to unlock your phone within 10 business days, it's been about 3 months. They take your money and longer with their automated emails clearly showing that they are never gonna take a responsibility for the failure to u lock and refund for the unsuccessful service. This is a shady SCAM website and need to be reported to the authorities!

Tip for consumers:
Stay Away

Products used:
Phone Unlock Servise

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user fernandom428
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 9th, 2024
Verified purchase

The process was very easy, they keep you updated it almost daily until your device is unlocked. Great overall experience.

Thumbnail of user hollyb293
1 review
10 helpful votes
September 30th, 2020

Well, it's been 28 days since I paid the initial fee and all I've gotten was an excuse as to why they 'can't unlock my phone'. I understand that sometimes there may be an issue with a carrier but taking the initial fee under the pretence that that was all I'd have to pay, is shady business. I've seen them flag other peoples reviews on many sites, so I won't be shocked if mine is, as well. I'll be requesting a refund in 2 days.

Thumbnail of user tashi
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 5th, 2024
Verified purchase

It was the most terrifying horrible service you could ask for they say how quick they can get unlocking for your phone is a lie. You have to wait 40 hours for them to find your unlocking software to unlock your phone. Absolutely appalling. Absolutely not recommended to anyone I could go to London and come back and they still not unlocked my phone Their excuses you have to wait the full 40 hours for them to receive or get you the locking software. The cost was out of the roof, not worth every penny.

Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello Tash Islam,

I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. We aim to be transparent about our service delivery times, and as outlined in our terms, timeframes stated are based on previous unlocks and are guidelines. I understand waiting can be frustrating, and I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Regarding costs, our pricing and the two-step payment process are detailed on the checkout page prior to purchase. To clarify, you have paid £23.99 for the Eligibility Check and £46 for the Standard Unlock for your Galaxy S23 Ultra from Open Europe. Your order status shows "Unlock Complete," which means your unlocking codes have been provided.

If your phone doesn't prompt for an unlocking code, a Remote USB unlock would be the next step to help resolve the issue. We are committed to helping you through this process and ensuring you can use your phone as intended.

Please do reach out if there's anything specific we can assist you with or if you'd like guidance on using the unlock codes or proceeding with a Remote USB unlock.

Warm regards,
Charlotte

Thumbnail of user trevinh2
1 review
13 helpful votes
June 21st, 2020

Terrible service and scam. I've been waiting for an iPhone 8 unlock for 6 months and nothing. Even when you email support, you get an automated message that doesn't change no matter what you write to them. They tell you the same thing the directions say with no further explanation. Don't believe any reviews.

Thumbnail of user fabrizioc22
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 22nd, 2024

They charge you 2 times. They dont unlock your cell. Just after 10 days says its imposible to do it and give you a credit note. There is nobody in the other side. All the aswers are made from chatgtp. Dont waste your money with this company. They are fraud and scam

Tip for consumers:
there is nobody in the other side. the use chatgpt to answer everything

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S. – Direct Unlocks Rep

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. I'm truly sorry to hear about the disappointment you've experienced with the unlocking process. I understand how frustrating it must be to encounter delays and to feel unheard.

Please know that we value your feedback, and our aim is to always improve the customer experience. According to our terms, all payments and processes, including the Eligibility Check and Unlocking Payment, are clearly outlined on the checkout page before purchase (1.1,7.3). We understand the inconvenience of waiting, and we are committed to making the process as transparent as possible.

I would love the chance to look into your case further and assist you towards a resolution. As I don’t have your order details such as the IMEI, I kindly ask that you provide this information or use the Live Support on your tracking page where our team will be ready to help resolve the issues you're facing.

Your experience is important to us, and we are here to help guide you through the unlocking journey. We appreciate your patience and hope to turn this experience into a positive one.

Best regards,
Charlotte

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Thumbnail of user jodys349
Jody S.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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3.1
1,307 reviews
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