Buyer Beware of H2o and ATT!!

We have been to Michigan often as we like the area and have family there. Unfortunately, Michigan does not like us as we have NO phone service once we get into Michigan. We currently use Mint [T-Mobile] and have no access to phone service, data or even messages while in the state of Michigan. So this time we decided to buy a ATT sim chip since they seem to have service there, but went instead with H2o as they use ATT but offer a better rate. 

My phone is UNlocked. I've only purchased UNlocked phones since decades ago as I may use different sim chips while traveling, and especially while in Europe. NOWHERE on the H2o or ATT websites or in advertising, did we see anything pertaining to once a sim chip of H2o or ATT was inserted into ANY phone, unlocked or not, it would be locked!

Dirty cheaters!

So we've been back from Michigan over a week now. Yes, we did enjoy having a bit of service and even data....  at least I did. My wife maintained her phone with Mint Mobile and sure enough, and as expected, she had NO phone service or data while we drove the shorter quicker route through Canada, and later in Michigan. 

Though there were problems, I did have phone service and data almost all the time we were in the Great Lake state. It was a great test which would be good for the future should we return to Michigan again.

Unfortunately I later lost my Mint Mobile sim chip and had to order a replacement. This happened while we were inside the car and before we drove through Canada for our return home trip. The replacement sim chip arrived finally after a week and though it was activated without problem, everything functioned as before with the exception of the data; there was none. So we tried this and that and a bit more for days, but nothing worked. 

After a few hours online today with Mint Mobile technicians, we were told that we had been locked out of the phone by the company of the other sim chip used in Michigan. A fast search online shows that H2o and ATT typically locks the phones of their users so they can only use these companies only! IF we had seen this before we purchased the sim chip, we of course would NOT  have used it at all, let alone purchased it at all!

Buyer beware! Do not support H2o or ATT in their deceit!

Update: It's been exactly a week since we had the initial problems with my phone and discovered my phone had been locked after using a H2o sim chip in my Galaxy a50 phone while on a trip to Michigan where we rarely have service nor data coverage. We have emailed h20 several times and the idiots working there have not even attempted to respond to our request to unlock my phone! Buyer beware!!