Nokia E71 unlock issue with 3(UK)

joeypesci

So I called the useless network know as 3. Who have a poor signal but that's another story. Last year they told me they can unlock my phone but I'd have to pay £15 and the rest of my bill. Told them to jog on I'd wait. So I have. Now I call them and they said they've changed that policy they'll do it whenever, yeah you say that now that I don't have to pay off the bill anyway.

So, the first woman I get actually sounds like she knows what she's talking about and was nice. Helped out but twice we entered the code and it didn't work. I asked what happens on the 3rd failed attempt, is it perma locked, but she said no flashing the firmware would reset the attempts (is this correct?).

So a few days past where I tell her I'm not paying the £15 now as I've had to wait 30 days which she agreed. Unfortunately I got a totally different person on the 3rd call. We tried the new code, it failed and has now locked the mob perm to 3. He said there is nothing he can do. I asked him to supply me with a replacement phone. He said they can't do that. I told them I'm def leaving the 3 network then when my contract expires in May, because they've now locked the phone.

My questions are, does a firmware reinstall reset the 3 unlock attempts counter?

If not, where do I stand legally? Shouldn't 3 now supply me with a replacement phone now they've perma locked my phone by giving me codes that never worked?

joeypesci

Reflashing the phone appears to have made no difference, it's still now seemingly hard locked.

Would really like to know where I stand legally now, surely 3 need to provide me with a replacement as they've bricked this in the unlocking sense.

jclegs

It's not a problem with 3, it's a problem with Nokia's software. I got a code from T-Mobile to unlock my sisters 5800 and it wouldn't unlock either, just said code error.

joeypesci

But surely 3 are liable as they are the ones that provided me with the codes. They may have got them from Nokia but I had to go to 3 to get them. So surely 3 should be liable and should provide me with a replacement unlocked handset. As they now benefit because I'm now stuck with a mob I like that is locked to their network which could force me into carrying on on their network.

Browntoa

bite the bullet and find a shop or market stall that can unlock it using service euipment, even if its hard locked they can unlock it

robt_2

Browntoa wrote: »

bite the bullet and find a shop or market stall that can unlock it using service euipment, even if its hard locked they can unlock it

So the end user is expected to pay for the mistake?

That is like Sky sending a signal that bricks Sky boxes then suggesting the user pays to have it fixed at a TV repair shop.

joeypesci

Browntoa wrote: »

bite the bullet and find a shop or market stall that can unlock it using service euipment, even if its hard locked they can unlock it

The problem with them is, you'll get certain ones that use it to steal your IMEI number so they can clone your phone later. They don't all do that, but some do.

And as has been suggested why should I pay for 3's mistake.

caffinebassman

joeypesci wrote: »

The problem with them is, you'll get certain ones that use it to steal your IMEI number so they can clone your phone later. They don't all do that, but some do.

And as has been suggested why should I pay for 3's mistake.

In some ways I agree with your viewpoint here. Particularly when you're given bad information that causes you inconvenience.

The flip side of it all though is that if 3 are now saying there is nothing they can do then you'll likely have little to no luck in changing their position and all it will do is cause you grief, stress and expense chasing them - probably significantly more than getting it unlocked even at an official Nokia service centre.

But yeah, it stinks and it's not just 3 that have this kind of attitude - sadly more and more companies have this approach because they know ultimately it'll cost the punter far more than it's worth to pursue it.