Telus to Lock New Phones for 60 Days Starting October to Curb Theft
The Canadian carrier will reintroduce temporary carrier locks on new devices, reversing years of unlocked-phone policy, prompting a mixed reddit debate over whether it actually stops theft.
What to know
- Telus will begin locking new phones for up to 60 days starting in October, a partial reversal of Canada's move toward unlocked phones.
- Devices unlock automatically and for free after 60 days unless the account is flagged for fraud or the phone reported stolen; earlier unlock requires ID verification.
- The stated goal is deterring in-store phone theft and resale, but commenters dispute whether a temporary lock meaningfully reduces theft given existing unlocking services and cross-border resale.
- Discussion splits between viewing the policy as reasonable fraud/theft protection and viewing it as an anti-consumer step resembling U.S. carrier locking practices.
The dispute Whether the 60-day carrier lock is an effective, low-friction theft deterrent or a cosmetic, anti-consumer step that mimics U.S. carrier practices without stopping theft. · positions read across 26 posts and comments
The lock is a reasonable, low-cost measure to deter theft since it auto-unlocks free after 60 days.
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“I was super angry until I read the article. Now I’m ok with it. Rage bait. … Doing this to reduce theft. It’s smart.”
Meany12345 · reddit ↗
A temporary lock won't meaningfully stop theft and is really an anti-consumer move copying U.S. carriers.
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“Do you honestly think that carrier locking a phone for 60d will prevent theft? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you.”
TrainAss · reddit ↗
The ID-verification early-unlock process is exploitable through social engineering.
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“Claim your stuff got stolen (hence needing a new phone, and not having ID). But you have “something.” … And this is ignoring places that are just complicit.”
FTownRoad · reddit ↗
The real problem is broader distrust of telecom companies and slow regulators, not this specific policy.
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“We just lived through 20 years of the phone companies being the thieves. I prefer it the way it is now.”
Talinn_Makaren · reddit ↗
Telus Canadian telecom carrierCRTC Canadian telecom regulator
The record 1 articles and posts · last 30 days
What people are saying 24 voices from 1 site · best of 26 · verbatim
- Will the ID-verification process for early unlocks be vulnerable to social-engineering fraud using publicly available personal data?
- Does locking phones domestically do anything to stop stolen devices from being resold or used abroad?
- Aug 14
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I started a job at the Government of Canada. I got a new iPhone as a cellphone. IT sent me the cellphone and it was literally a new iPhone. It was not locked or connected to the Government of Canada system in any way. I could have just “lost” it and sold it as a new iPhone. This is one of the reasons I think the IT department is criminally…
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Any place where you’ve shown ID. People also have their birthday on Facebook. I’ve even seen some on LinkedIn. It’s pretty easy social engineering. Claim your stuff got stolen (hence needing a new phone, and not having ID). But you have “something”. Maybe it’s a letter that has your drivers license number and address on it, so who else would have…
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Soo they’re trying to pull a USA carrier move. Like Verizon with their recent full lock policy. All this is, is anti consumer.
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If you read, you’ll see that I’m defending the consumers who are being taken advantage of. I am happy being slightly inconvenienced if it means an elderly person doesn’t go through a scam. Learn the difference.
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This is why i buy my phones directly from samsung on amazon. I spent 2 afternoons going to phone stores around town and they all acted like its impossible to simply buy a phone without a plan. Saved money and time doing it this way.
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Yeah 😔 At least it doesn't seem to be a terribly reputable or respected news source, so little of value is lost...
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Saying stuff you don't know. I manage a fleet og over 15 000 mobile device. We provide the option of sim or phone for cost. The phone can be joined with BYOD or use simply as a line. Don't go saying stuff you don't know.
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Let's all reflect on a government body taking years to make a decision in a technology field where product lifecycles are measured in months.
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SIM-based phones were locked as well… only recently has the law changed to prevent that practice.
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I brought up a case in a different thread recently of 2 guys caught bringing in out-of-province cans to get the refunds for them in Alberta . They made $769,778 doing this. Their punishment was a fine of $833,778. The money they defrauded the system of, plus an extra $75,000. If we do that to individuals, we should also do that to corporations.
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At least from my experience with USA locked phones, it's 60 days (or whatever time) after the phone is first on the network
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Locked androids are a pain to use Currently using a US locked Google pixel that will unlock in about 6 weeks
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Corporate fines should always be a percentage of gross profit, that way they at least sting and cause shareholders to maybe care
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For those having problem understanding the issue and the suggested resolution, an unlocked phone is one that can be activated by a SIM card (or eSIM) from any operator. That makes it easily transferable in the market. You could steal a phone from Bell and have it activated by Rogers or Telus as a new phone. A locked phone by an operator only works…
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I was super angry until I read the article. Now I’m ok with it. Rage bait. “Devices unlock automatically at 60 days, free, with nothing required from you, so long as the account isn’t flagged for fraud or the phone reported stolen.” Doing this to reduce theft. It’s smart.
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Telus didn't really think about the shareholders apparently, because their stock is absolutely terrible.
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You have a phone already, switch to a carrier that gives you a phone with a new plan. Sell the new phone, use your current phone.
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If you read the article, you would know your point is irrelevant. The phone is locked for 60 days, then is automatically unlocked. It can be unlocked earlier, but requires a id verification. The purpose is not to ignore the law about locking phones, but to combat theft from stores.
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That not how carrier unlocking works. There's nothing to approve on an account. You provide information from your phone to a website, the unlock code is generated, you enter it and poof. Unlocked phone.
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Locking them in what way? Sorry. Even with reading the article. Did not really understand what they were talking about doing, when they said a "60 day lock out".
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Do you honestly think that carrier locking a phone for 60d will prevent theft? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you. Websites which unlock phones have existed for decades. I've used them countless times before it was required for all phones in Canada to be unlocked. I've carrier unlocked phones within minutes of buying it. I can activate my new…
- Aug 13
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Theres a monopoly of cell coverage. Join the network you stole from and buddy. Its junk. Over seas maybe. But you wont be able to use it. They will just deactivate thr phone. Wifi only.
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We just lived through 20 years of the phone companies being the thieves. I prefer it the way it is now.
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If the status quo remains, then tens of millions in phones get stolen..especially against your competitor who doesn't have this problem as they are locking their phones... It's not a great business move. If the CRTC ramps up fines here to the point where the risk team capitulated on this policy, which it would have to get much more strict to do…