Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall Update: How to Return The Galaxy Note 7 to Verizon, T-Mobile and Other Major Mobile Carriers

By Trisha Cerdena
The Galaxy Note 7
The Galaxy Note 7 CNET

With a large number of U.S. consumers still purchasing their phones from the country’s top four major mobile service providers, there has been a constant demand to have the recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 returned or exchanged for another device.

There have been similar approaches among the major carriers when it comes to allowing its customers to return or exchange their defective Galaxy Note 7.

For Verizon, the company stopped making the new Note 7 available to the public while Samsung brings in new stocks for the latest unit. Consumers who purchased the Note 7 from the said carrier have been permitted to return the device until September 30, giving them almost an entire month. Verizon is also putting aside the restocking fee for customers who return a phone. Either the device will be exchanged for another unit, or the customers get their money back.

Same with Verizon, T-Mobile will allow customers to return the Note 7 to their stores by September 30. They can also call 1-800-937-8997 to begin the process of return or exchange. While one can return the device for a complete refund, he or she can also decide whether they can use such money to purchase a new device.

A refund for any Note 7 accessories that come with the phone may also be given. If customers have made pre-orders for the Note 7 and raked in incentives such as the free subscription to Netflix, an SD card or the Gear Fit 2, they can still keep them even when the phone has been returned. If the customer still chooses the Note 7, T-Mobile allows an exchange for a new unit once stocks are made available.

Meanwhile, AT&T took a longer time to make a final decision regarding returns and exchanges but has already agreed to do something similar to the plans of others. Customers can take their Galaxy Note 7 to an AT&T store, which will then allow them to exchange the unit for any other smartphone.

If the customer settles on a Galaxy S7, S7 edge or S7 Active, they will obtain a $25 bill credit. Any Note 7 accessories that came with the phone can also be returned. Similar to T-Mobile, AT&T allows its customers to return the Note 7 and get a new one when Samsung is done with the recall and the new smartphones are available.

As for users who purchased from Sprint, their Galaxy Note 7 can be returned to any Sprint store. Calling 1-800-SPRINT1 can also help with the return/exchange process. Customers who choose to have the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge instead will have the new phone and be refunded with a price difference, while also being allowed to give back the Note 7 accessories that have been purchased with the unit.

Customers who choose to still have the new Note 7 will have to wait for the recall to be finished so Sprint will allow them to carry out an exchange for the new unit.

Samsung decided to suspend the sales of its latest flagship smartphone on Friday after reports of 35 explosions that resulted to a fault being attributed to its batteries surfaced, thereby exploding while charging.