Bell's New Smartphone Locking Policy
On April 23, 2025, Bell and its subsidiary Virgin Plus introduced a new policy. They will sell smartphones locked to the Bell network for a period of 60 days. This move aims to reduce theft.
Impact on Customers
A notice sent to customers indicates that this change primarily affects postpaid users and small business clients who purchase or upgrade their phones through bell. Current customers with unlocked devices will not experience any changes.
Unlocking Your device
Customers can still unlock their phones before the 60-day period ends. This can be done by calling Bell or using an online unlocking tool provided by the company. However, all new devices will automatically be locked for about two months after purchase.
Reasons Behind the Change
Bell reported an increase in thefts at its stores in early 2025, surpassing all incidents from the previous year.To combat this rise in crime, they decided to implement this locking strategy. the approach mirrors tactics used by companies in the United States and aims to decrease the resale value of stolen phones.
Customer Experience Considerations
For most customers, this policy may not substantially impact their experience with mobile services. It is indeed rare for someone to switch providers shortly after signing a contract—especially within two months.Often, other terms keep users tied to their contracts longer if they received discounts or special offers when signing up.
Past Context of Phone Locking
Back in 2018, Bell began selling only carrier-locked phones at retail locations as part of its anti-theft measures. At that time,once a customer signed up for a contract and purchased a phone,it would be unlocked instantly afterward.
Regulatory Compliance Issues
According to regulations outlined on the CRTC website regarding unlocked devices, carriers must provide mobile devices that are unlocked upon request without charge and ensure all newly purchased devices are also unlocked automatically.While Bell allows users to unlock their phones anytime upon request—meeting part of these requirements—the method they use for newly purchased devices raises questions about compliance with unlocking rules.
while some aspects of this new policy may seem inconvenient at first glance—particularly regarding device locking—it appears aimed at addressing security concerns related to thefts affecting both retailers and consumers alike.
