Unblocking phone

Sueinbirmingham

Firstly, I don't mean unlocking.

A friend lost his phone, reported it lost, then found it. It's been blocked. It's an Orange phone. I promised to see if anything could be done about it.

I can't call Orange on 150 on it, because it's blocked. I can't find anything about unblocking on its website.

Before I go trekking to their shop to ask more, or pay for a call to their paid line from my phone, I thought I'd ask you lovely people. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to get the phone unblocked?

I've read that it's illegal to unblock a phone, but I don't know whether that applies to everyone or whether there's an exception for mobile phone companies to unblock their own phones.

Perhaps I should mention that it's a PAYG one and I don't know whether proving ownership would be an issue. My friend no longer has a receipt, but the phone was bought only about a year ago from a shop not very far away and I was with him when it was bought. They took his name and entered it onto the computer and he paid by credit card, which presumably will show on their computer.

Does anyone know if there's any chance of getting it unblocked or whether I'm hoping for the impossible?

I suppose the cost of getting it unblocked if it is possible would be an issue, too. It's a Doro, which is a simple phone aimed at people who either have difficulties with phones or just don't want all the bells and whistles. He's just bought a new one on special offer and it was £50.

grumbler

Not exactly what you want, but pretty close:

I'm waiting on my replacement phone but I've now found my lost phone; what do I do?

Sueinbirmingham

Thanks, I'll see if that's it. I hope it isn't just about insurance. I don't find the stuff on the Orange site as clear as it might be.

Sueinbirmingham

Yes, that was the right number. They couldn't find my friend's mobile number on their system but said that if he takes his mobile into his local Orange shop, they can unblock it and put a new sim card in it.

I knew MSE forum would come up trumps! Thanks, Grumbler.

Buzby

The original owner can arrange for the reversal of the unblocking, and I'm surprised the network cannot find the mobile number, as it would be them that reported it to the IMEI database (the old SIM would be deactivated, and the IMEI code put on the register that will prevent another network's SIM allowing the handset to work normally - even if it was unlocked.

Sueinbirmingham

I've discovered it's my fault they couldn't identify the number.

Perhaps I should explain he has a brain injury and he keeps losing phones and I'm losing track of them.. The number I thought was that phone was the one before and I've now found the relevant number so I'll try again tomorrow.

This is getting a bit wearing - he's had five phones in the last year alone, disappearing and reappearing at intervals. They're marvellous when he's confused and lost, though. He can call someone and be asked a few questions to identify where he is and be got home safely. They enable him to have a freedom that he wouldn't have been able to have a few years ago.