The law regarding unlocking mobile phone

iinvestor

Can somebody please clarify the law regarding unlocking mobile phones.

For example if I bought a a T-mobile contract with a free phone, after the contract has expired do they have to unlock the T mobile phone for free or can they refuse.

If they have an obligation to unlock it, do i just call them up and ask them to do it?

Thanks

ScottishChick

Once the contract has finished it costs £15 to unlock the handset. Of course, you can get it done cheaper in high street shops etc but this would invalidate the warranty if anything was to go wrong with it. But you've got to think of how long the warranty is on the phone, if it's over then you might aswell get it done by a 3rd party company.

Jon_01

They don't have to unlock it for free. But you don't have to go to them to get it unlocked...

It's like all services, they offer it at a price, it's up to you if you want to pay that price or go somewhere else. . .

Funkyfarmgirl

Phone manufacturers charge network providers for the unlock code, so its only reasonable they pass on the cost.

mobilejunkie

Since it's the networks who must request the lock in the first place methinks it's very unreasonable - especially having paid them all that money for a whole year. Not all networks charge!!

Money_Grabber13579

Can I ask a slightly different question then? Are all O2 phones unlocked to begin with, except the iPhone? How do I know if a phone's locked?

macman

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Can I ask a slightly different question then? Are all O2 phones unlocked to begin with, except the iPhone? How do I know if a phone's locked?

Just put a different network's SIM in it and see if it will work.

crackerberry

Well, it's the network's phone... so obviously they are going to want to prevent it being used on any other network but theirs. And ever.

Contrary to popular belief the phone never becomes the property of its user but belongs to the network provider.

Where business contracts are concerned it is not unknown for the network provider to ask for the phones back if, at the end of the contract period, the company decides to go elsewhere.

I think most are locked to a particular network these days. If anyone on Three unlocks their device it is flagged straightaway and unlocking is a big no no there. No big deal anywhere else however.

agsnu

crackerberry wrote: »

Well, it's the network's phone... so obviously they are going to want to prevent it being used on any other network but theirs. And ever.

Contrary to popular belief the phone never becomes the property of its user but belongs to the network provider.

What on earth are you talking about? This is utter nonsense.

456789

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Since it's the networks who must request the lock in the first place meythinks it's very unreasonable - especially having paid thgem all that money for a whole year. Not all networks charge!!

I was just thinking the same thing

IIRC CPW phones are usually unlocked

Money_Grabber13579

crackerberry wrote: »

Well, it's the network's phone... so obviously they are going to want to prevent it being used on any other network but theirs. And ever.

Contrary to popular belief the phone never becomes the property of its user but belongs to the network provider.

Where business contracts are concerned it is not unknown for the network provider to ask for the phones back if, at the end of the contract period, the company decides to go elsewhere.

I think most are locked to a particular network these days. If anyone on Three unlocks their device it is flagged straightaway and unlocking is a big no no there. No big deal anywhere else however.

As has been said before, what are you on??? :rolleyes: The phone is yours to keep at the end of the contract, however not if you decide to cancel early. You pay for the phone throughout the life of the contract in your bills!