after charging the phone, it would not work until I unplugged the charger.

I don't know how the charging circuit is designed, if I left the charger plugged into the wall the next morning the phone would not work until I unplugged the charger. I tried connecting the charger to a programmable timer and I got the same indication. If I unplugged either the wall charger or just the USB cable, the phone would work again. I built a disconnect box.  I used an in wall programable timer, a double pole single throw normally open (DPST NO) relay with a 120 vac coil and an in wall USB receptacle. This works for me, it is not elegant but it is practical. I have attached a drawing of the disconnect unit.