orange iPhone unlock?

vixmony

Ok recently bought a orange locked iPhone on eBay the seller advised me he could no longer pay his phone bill due to loossing his job and he advised me he had actually defaulted on his bill for the iPhone and as such Orange could not offer him unlock code so he needed to sell so he can pay his bills so I bought it of him. So I registered it in my name with no problem and I asked the adviser if it was possible to unlock this handset and the chap who sounded foreign if it was possible to unlock the handset considering the circumstances I had purchased the iPhone and he advised me it was possible after 3 months of the handset being registered in my name however am sure the chap didn't quiet understand what I was sayin cause it took me ages to explain myself to him so do u guys think what I was advised is possible thanks. If its not possible I don't mind cause soon am sure a jail break and unlock for it will be released soon thanks.

Fire_Fox

You asked what adviser - Orange? What are you going to do if the seller doesn't pay his contract and the handset gets barred?

vicx

Fire_Fox wrote: »

What are you going to do if the seller doesn't pay his contract and the handset gets barred?

I think thats the risk you take when buying any contract phone off Ebay. The seller could also report the phone lost to claim off their insurance and the phone gets barred.

The OP stated they have registered the phone in their name (I didnt know you could do that when its a contract phone taken out in someone elses name?) so I doubt the original owner could get the phone barred once the details have been transferred over?

vixmony

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You asked what adviser - Orange? What are you going to do if the seller doesn't pay his contract and the handset gets barred?

well for a start as i have stated the handset is registerd in my name arcording to orange so i cant see how it can then possibly be blocked actually i will have to ring them up now to find out were i actually stand, cause you could be right actually, and i would be stuffed if that happens.

vixmony

vicx wrote: »

I think thats the risk you take when buying any contract phone off Ebay. The seller could also report the phone lost to claim off their insurance and the phone gets barred.

The OP stated they have registered the phone in their name (I didnt know you could do that when its a contract phone taken out in someone elses name?) so I doubt the original owner could get the phone barred once the details have been transferred over?

yes, its actually registerd in my name now so am thinking how can he bloke it, it wont make sense surely?

vicx

vixmony wrote: »

well for a start as i have stated the handset is registerd in my name arcording to orange so i cant see how it can then possibly be blocked actually i will have to ring them up now to find out were i actually stand, cause you could be right actually, and i would be stuffed if that happens.

Did the advisor offer the unlock code 'free' after 3 months?

Have you got an Orange contract or are you on Orange PAYT?

Most networks charge for unlock codes unless the contract had ended. I know Vodafone offer free unlock codes for contract customers but not sure about Orange so I'm unsure why they would only offer the code after 3 months.

teamcullen

All you've done is registered the serial number of the handset (I take it anyway) onto your Orange account. This can only be done on PAYG as with PAYM it's the linked handset and thats it. So all it means is that if your handset is lost they have an immediate record of your IMEI number to block the handset.

Saying that, somewhere in the systems is a bloke who has taken out a contract and that serial number is again registered with him. So he could quite easily phone up and say his phone has been lost/stolen and do a claim on the insurance which would result in your handset being barred.

vixmony

vicx wrote: »

Did the advisor offer the unlock code 'free' after 3 months?

Have you got an Orange contract or are you on Orange PAYT?

Most networks charge for unlock codes unless the contract had ended. I know Vodafone offer free unlock codes for contract customers but not sure about Orange so I'm unsure why they would only offer the code after 3 months.

thanks no am on pay as you go and i was told would be charged 20 pounds.

vixmony

teamcullen wrote: »

All you've done is registered the serial number of the handset (I take it anyway) onto your Orange account. This can only be done on PAYG as with PAYM it's the linked handset and thats it. So all it means is that if your handset is lost they have an immediate record of your IMEI number to block the handset.

Saying that, somewhere in the systems is a bloke who has taken out a contract and that serial number is again registered with him. So he could quite easily phone up and say his phone has been lost/stolen and do a claim on the insurance which would result in your handset being barred.

so in other words either myself or him can block the handset in the event, of it being lost or stolen?

teamcullen

Exactly. The phone is just registered under both accounts. The networks in all honesty don't care who is using the phone as long as the bill is being paid for it, and even then they don't bar the phone for non-payment, it's the sim card that is. So the only reason you'd be cut off would be if he reported it lost or stolen.

vixmony

teamcullen wrote: »

Exactly. The phone is just registered under both accounts. The networks in all honesty don't care who is using the phone as long as the bill is being paid for it, and even then they don't bar the phone for non-payment, it's the sim card that is. So the only reason you'd be cut off would be if he reported it lost or stolen.

ok so if the chap doesnt pay, his bill, can the network block the phone?
and also can i still unlock the handset if its now registered in my name, even if the origional owner doesnt pay his bills. am asking cause the orange staff, just cannot be bothered, all they are saying is for me to wait,, untill 3 months, when they can unlock it, but i dont want to get there, to find i cant, and worse still, the phone is locked and its deadwood?