New providers network/sim not being recognized

[Vaunyla]

I have an UNLOCKED A53 5G that I purchased new/ boxed and sealed from a third party wholesaler. It has been working fine on Tmobile for over a year. Last night I decided to switch providers to a cheaper company that still operates on Tmobile's towers. 

My phone is compatible with the new provider (SmartLess) so the switch should have been an easy process of getting a porting code from Tmo and activating my new Sim. Right?

Wrong.

The porting out went fine. Took a minute rather than the 3 hours like it said it could. They closed my Tmo account promptly and it wasn't until I was trying to activate the SmartLess sim that I noticed that I was in "emergency calls only" mode and I could no longer toggle OFF "automatically search for network providers" like I could before. It just error messaged and switched back on. 

Tmo had network locked my phone that I had brought TO them (not from them) over a year before AFTER I changed providers. I could not believe it. 

I contacted Tmo Support to confirm their shady practice and indeed "Your phone is eligble for unlocking however it will take 3 to 5 business days, ma'am".

That wasn't good enough so I contacted TForce (their Facebook messenger support) who empathized and they unlocked my phone within minutes "because I shouldn't be burdened by their mistake."

Or so they claim they unlocked it. The rest of the unlocking process was up to me on my end. With Tmo's "help", they determined it was now my phone that was the problem. Now I have no carrier unlock option all of a sudden no prompts for an unlock pin or anything and my "emergency calls only" has turned quickly to "no service"

 My new Sim or ANY Sim I insert, is not recognized at all. 

Can someone explain what may have taken place and what avenues to take. What could actually be going on?

I'm not buying another phone. So mad. 

[meself]

Possible the phone wasn't unlocked as stated when you bought it in connectsettings I forget exactly where should be option to unlock it will also show if the phone is locked

[GaryB82]

@Vaunyla go to phone settings About phone and what is the complete model name SM-_______

[Vaunyla]

SM-A536U1/DS.
U1 is the factory unlocked US version and DS is Dual Sim because I travel and like lots of storage.

[Vaunyla]

PS. The Sim Manager feature is no longer visible either. Strange....

[nullandvoid]

I'm having a hard time believing that T-Mobile (or any company), added their own firmware to a factory unlocked BYOD phone.  They are not allowed to do that and you certainly would have noticed it when it happened.  For one thing, your phone would have started up with the T-Mobile logo and jingle, where it wouldn't if the phone had remained with the factory firmware.  It also would have changed your model designation to U instead of U1.

[Vaunyla]

That's good to know. Can you explain what is happening then? Why do I have no option to network unlock or to control my sims all of a sudden? I am having a hard time believing that it's coincidence that the options are not there.

[nullandvoid]

I can't explain what or why this is happening to you.  If T-Mobile admitted to making a mistake, then they should provide you with a new phone, not just try to unlock it.  I always thought the phone had to be physically present to flash company firmware to it, but I could be wrong about that.  I am not wrong about them not being allowed to flash their own firmware onto a factory unlocked phone - this is the reason people buy factory unlocked in the first place.  Like I said, if you are not seeing the T-Mobile logo and hearing the jingle on startup, you have your original, unlocked firmware.

[looser01]

I had the same problem only. I have in a 16. The only difference is that for some reason, when I first got this Sims, it's a hard Sims. It converted into an e Sims but said the e Sims is worthless. If I were to just get rid of the hardcover, it wouldn't work and this isn't that so I got rid of the little thing. And now my s*** is not recognized at all. But I still have my number and everything.

[Members_h7oPLc6]

Mine is also broken after receiving the UI8 update last night. Has anyone found an actual solution for this?