• Direct Unlocks

Direct Unlocks

Overview

Direct Unlocks has a rating of 3.29 stars from 1,387 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Direct Unlocks most frequently mention great service, new phone, and sim card. Direct Unlocks ranks 6th among Unlocked Phones sites.

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company responds to reviews, but usually not within the first month

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 56%
Positive
380
Neutral
25
Negative
274

Instant Feedback

22,051 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 (1,387)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

premium service (43) credit note (47) eligibility check (35)
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 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 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
Customer Service R. – 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 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
Customer Service R. – 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 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
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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
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Quality
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 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
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Thumbnail of user jodys349
Customer Service R. – 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 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
Customer Service R. – 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 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 anthonyr1453
1 review
4 helpful votes
August 19th, 2022
Verified purchase

They lead you on however many times you let them with no results. Initially they lead you to believe they're going to unlock your phone within a couple of days so you make the payment and they tell you it's only 99%, so you want another the final payment so you give him another payment then they ask for another payment after that they're liars and scammers that's it

Thumbnail of user dorianb36
1 review
1 helpful vote
September 26th, 2022
Verified purchase

This page is a scam. They take money from you they don't offer you any service and then they don't answer you anymore. No refund money wasted and taken to sit and for two months that they do not unlock my phone and do not give me any more money...

Service
Value
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Thumbnail of user trevorj98
1 review
1 helpful vote
May 14th, 2022
Verified purchase

Paid £23.99 to find out they wanted another £20.13. The site also says will be done in 6 hours, till you make your purchase then they tell you 48 hours.

Tip for consumers:
Look elsewhere

Products used:
Phone Unlock

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user lisaj568
1 review
1 helpful vote
April 13th, 2020
Verified purchase
• Updated review

It does work just they don't tell you there's a double payment required making it over £50 with I think is a rip off but you either pay both or lose some if not all of your money

Reason I chose this business:

I thought it would be instant and simple and cheap

Reason I chose this product:

Available at the time

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Very simple let's hope it's all quosha
February 28th, 2020
Verified site experience
• Previous review
Thumbnail of user johnr5277
1 review
12 helpful votes
August 26th, 2022
Verified purchase

Website offers to unlock your phone in 48 hrs, i paid around $90.00 it's been a month and nothing, the fake timer keeps loading at 99% and stays there, I've emailed a couple of times with same exact reply (probably a script). This site is a fraud.

Tip for consumers:
This website is a scam

Products used:
Scam

Thumbnail of user madharau
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 6th, 2022

I made the second final payment 3 months ago and still nothing has happened. The tracking meter has been saying 99% complete for months. When I emailed them about it they replied that the expected timeframe is 7-10 days (well overdue) and that they will only chase it up if the meter reaches 100% and it's still not unlocked.

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user seamusr6
1 review
2 helpful votes
August 23rd, 2022

Poor service with no customer service, paid over £50, was told maximum timeframe was 10 working days, the tracker stopped at 99% complete, I made contact once the 10 working days had pass and no response, this was over a week ago, I have tried to get in contact everyday since and haven't received one response, scam

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Value
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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
Customer Service R. – 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 muhammads326
1 review
2 helpful votes
June 14th, 2022

I don't know who people give them 4.2 star rating. I give money 2 times. First they charge 20£ for eligibility check which is can be checking free on 24imeicheck.com then 33 or more 30£ for unlock in 2 working days. When you give them money nothing happens in order tracking.no body helps you. Your whole money gone nothing happens. They big scammers of the world.don't be fool by them.

Products used:
s20 FE T-mobile unlock service

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Value
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Thumbnail of user jamesm7664
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 21st, 2022

I paid it's been 2 months and nothing has changed these people are scammers do not fall for the good reviews

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Value
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Thumbnail of user mxolisin2
1 review
5 helpful votes
July 7th, 2022

It's a scam, once they take your money they give weak excuses, stay away... I'd honestly recommend other guys, not these pathetic whimps

Products used:
They didn't provide

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user tarekh21
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 29th, 2022
Verified purchase

They charged me $29.97 and then charged $38.
I was thinking this is still legit because it was widely recommended on the Internet.

Long story short, I put the request in late November 2021 right after Black Friday, and right now we are in March 29 2022 and the phone is still unlocked and the Support response is a bogus reply that they use with everybody.

Only at one point they wanted proof this was not stolen and I sent them the receipts, screen shot of the IMEI #, picture of the phone showing the IMEI number on hand and they did not reply to me since then.

Save your money and look elsewhere.

I would not recommend using Direct Unlocks.

Tip for consumers:
I would not recommend using DirectUnlocks

Products used:
Unlocking of iPhone 12 mini.

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user az128
1 review
14 helpful votes
January 23rd, 2020

I was not clearly informed of the requirement for an additional payment other than the one I already made to unlock my phone.
I am seeking a full refund for being mislead by Direct Unlocks when purchasing services. I can see from reviews that I am not the first to be mislead.
I have also reported this to Trading standards as the ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 and 3.3 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation), 3.17 (Prices), and 3.22 (Prices)

Thumbnail of user kirbyw20
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 22nd, 2022

Hi All:

The above website site is a scam website. I emailed my phone's IME to them on 7/4/2022 and requested them to unlock for me and paid for the stage of payment. The unlocking fee is one and half the cost of the phone. I waited for 5 days and did a follow email and not reply. On 22/4/2022 I emailed them and requested a refund. I believe they will not email me.; Please just be careful they just scam your money
I wonder where can I report and not to get other to step into this scam company

Tip for consumers:
Just becareful

Products used:
none

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user bobd860
1 review
3 helpful votes
April 23rd, 2022

They don't clearly tell you that you are paying for an pre-eligibility check upfront... Btw mine is still in process on the pre-check but I was able to switch carriers. Can't wait to see if they tell me I'm eligible to pay the next few when it was ready. I recommend the unlocking company! Much cheaper and up front!

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Thumbnail of user jodys349
Customer Service R.
Usually responds not within the first month

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