Mobile

CAZJOHNSTON23

My brother has given me his old mobile which is an ex contract. I paid £20 to have it unlocked so I could use my own sim card but this did'nt work. It seems vodaphone have blocked it. Any ideas on how to unblock it as vodaphone been less than helpful?

Tony5101

The only reason that Vodafone would physically block a phone would be if it had been reported lost or stolen.
Has your brother done this and claimed via insurance to get a new handset?

Techhead_2

I was under the impression that Vodafone stopped locking contract handsets a few years ago.

However, the problem you are having may be related to a botched unlocking. On some handsets (especially Samsung); if you don't know what you are doing; its easy to overwrite the IMEI thus making the phone appear blocked and unusable.

If this is what has happened then the unlocking place should arrange a replacement handset for you. Or at least pay for the manufacturer's agent to repair it.

Vodafone

Hi CAZJOHNSTON23,

I am sorry to hear you are having problems using the handset.

If the phone has been unlocked by us then the SIM card should be working. The only reason why it may not be, is (as Tony5101 mentioned) if the phone has been reported lost or stolen and it is IMEI blacklisted.

So that I can check to see what's happening, can you drop me an email here with WRT135 (FAO Heidi) in the subject.

Many thanks,

Heidi
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

Jon_01

If the IMEI's been wiped to all 0's then you're sunk. Try entering *#06# on the keyboard like a phone number. That'll show the IMEI.

If the phone's showing 'no network' or 'no service' it might have been blocked as suggested above, only the person that reported it last can unblock it and if a replacement was supplied they won't at all.

I take it you've tried the same sim in another phone to make sure that works ??