Unblocking my Phone, not Unlocking

binnie

Hi, I bought my phone in Spain a few years ago or so and it's a Siemens C65V.
Unfortunatley in April this year Vodafone Es blocked my sim card and also blocked my phone.
They say it was because I hadn't made a top up within 9 months, which I had done in Sept 07.
The shop assistant got on the phone to the help line, but they wouldn't believe me, so they said I could either pay 40 euros to buy another sim, or buy another phone.
As they wouldn't budge, I bought a basic cheapo phone for 29 euros.
I brought home to the UK the Siemens phone and bought off Ebay a vodaphone sim card to use in the UK.
When I inserted it, it says Phone Disabled! Network Lock.
What does that mean, and how can I unblock it.
The phone is mine as it was a bought one and pay as you go.

gaming_guy

if its been blocked/barred by voda spain, then you will have to talk to them and see if they will unblock it for you.

as for the network lock message the phone will need unlocking for use on voda UK

binnie

I don't understand why they did this as it is my phone and not on a contract.
Should they be allowed to do this?

Cavey

Usually they disable the SIM, not the phone, UNLESS the phone has been reported stolen when they will block it, so you would need to get it unblocked, which is usually difficult as it wouldn't be a good deterrent to people who steal phones.

Anyway, if the SIM is not being used, it's usually within their terms that they can disable it. Getting a SIM re-enabled is usually impossible as the number will no doubt have been re-allocated, so they will get you to buy a new SIM.

So... when you go to put a new SIM in it, it should work UNLESS your phone is locked, which is quite common. You will then need to get it unlocked or use a SIM from the provider of the phone.

Does that solve your confusion?

Rebel

I was under the impression that some cheap payg phones were/are paired to a particular sim card as they are subsidised by the network keeping the price of the handset down to prevent people buying a subsidised phone and using it with another network?

d123

binnie wrote: »

When I inserted it, it says Phone Disabled! Network Lock.
What does that mean, and how can I unblock it.

In a Siemens, "Phone Disabled Network Lock" just means the phone needs unlocking. It will be locked to the original Network. take the phone into an unlocking shop and get it unlocked.

weegie.geek

Rebel wrote: »

I was under the impression that some cheap payg phones
were/are paired to a particular sim card as they are subsidised by the network keeping the price of the handset down to prevent people buying a subsidised phone and using it with another network?

Locked to a specific network, usually, but it's trivial to unlock pretty much any phone.

binnie

I did try my husbands spanish mobile which is identical and also purchased in spain and his sim card works in my phone which is weird.
But as I have bought a new one to use in Spain, I now want the old one to use in the UK. The UK Sim card from Vodaphone brings that message up.

I will take it to a local shop when I can.
Thanks for all your help.

j_m_2

If you got the phone from Vodafone on PAYG, and it's over 1 year old, they will unlock it for free. Ring them and ask.

d123

j_m wrote: »

If you got the phone from Vodafone on PAYG, and it's over 1 year old, they will unlock it for free. Ring them and ask.

The OP said they bought the phone in Spain.