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Mobile phone unlocking in shop

Ruud
Ruud Posts: 187 Forumite
Hi

if i take my mobile to a shop to be unlocked would they do it there and then or would i have to leave my phone with them?

And also should i take the sim card out of the phone before i give it to them.

Thanks

Comments

  • What model of phone is it? Most phones can be done on the spot. Not really any reason why you need to take the SIM card out, but it would be handy to take a different network's SIM card in to test it once the process is done.

    Also, consider contacting the network the phone is locked to, because often they can unlock it remotely.
    The quickest way to become a millionaire is start off as a billionaire and go into the airline business.
    Richard Branson
  • Ruud
    Ruud Posts: 187 Forumite
    its a virgin microsnapper.
    Could i take a sim with me that hasnt been activated?
  • Any good unlocking shop should have the box for that phone.

    You would need a SIM which could receive a phone signal. unactivated ones can't. You could just ask in the store to see it working with a different network. They often have SIM cards to test with. If worst comes to worst, 99p Stores and Poundland both sell SIM cards from a variety of networks.
    The quickest way to become a millionaire is start off as a billionaire and go into the airline business.
    Richard Branson
  • Ruud
    Ruud Posts: 187 Forumite
    well i took in it and it costs £10 but he told me it needs to be sent away to be unlocked and cant do it at the shop, but told me i would get it back the next day.

    is it safe to do that?
    shall i take my sim card out if its being sent away
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    Yes, take it out and any memory card it has in it.
  • Hmm... I'd be wary. The box and cable needed to do the unlock is pretty standard so I would be concerned if they don't have that. Last time I knew someone who let their phone be 'taken away', after 3-4 weeks of excuses, the stall finally admitted to loosing it and still tried to charge my friend!

    Have you got any other mobile stalls/shops in your town? Could you try them?
    The quickest way to become a millionaire is start off as a billionaire and go into the airline business.
    Richard Branson
  • Ruud
    Ruud Posts: 187 Forumite
    Hmm... I'd be wary. The box and cable needed to do the unlock is pretty standard so I would be concerned if they don't have that. Last time I knew someone who let their phone be 'taken away', after 3-4 weeks of excuses, the stall finally admitted to loosing it and still tried to charge my friend!

    Have you got any other mobile stalls/shops in your town? Could you try them?
    ill have to look around then
  • Ruud
    Ruud Posts: 187 Forumite
    in the end i agreed to have it sent away and i got it back saturday and its fine. no problems
  • nnj10
    nnj10 Posts: 57 Forumite
    I sent away my Nokia 5230 after removing battery, SIM, Memory Card etc. These new nokia phones cannot be unlocked by the Shop (as I am told), but they sent it out to Nokia (?) who can only unlock (other than Network ofcourse) the phone.
    I have to wait for 3-4 days before I get it back.
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