OWN phone - locked by Tmobile

NFH

50Twuncle wrote: »

Thanks - but this is only a draft proposal - but it does say
"(57) With respect to terminal equipment, contracts should specify any restrictions imposed by the provider on the use of the equipment, for example by way of ‘SIM-locking’ mobile devices, and any charges due on termination of the contract prior to the agreed expiry date. No charges should be due after expiry of the agreed contract duration."
EE are not going to take this lightly - they will, no doubt try to add contract closing charges to ensure that they do not lose out......

That kind of contradicts the preceding part of 28(2) which I will quote in full:

Consumers, and other end-users unless they have otherwise agreed, shall have the right to terminate a contract with a one-month notice period, where six months or more have elapsed since conclusion of the contract. No compensation shall be due other than for the residual value of subsidised equipment bundled with the contract at the moment of the contract conclusion and a pro rata temporis reimbursement for any other promotional advantages marked as such at the moment of the contract conclusion. Any restriction on the usage of terminal equipment on other networks shall be lifted, free of charge, by the provider at the latest upon payment of such compensation.

I suppose it is just a draft, so such contradictions are excusable.

50Twuncle

I have emailed [EMAIL="Executive.Office@ee.co.uk"]Executive.Office@ee.co.uk[/EMAIL] with a request that they look again at their proposed charging .....
Email read - response zero (so far !!)

mattyprice4004

Answer the questions asked - did you buy it from T Mobile?

Im_just_careful

Simple answer, if you bought it from a T-Mobile shop or website, yes.


I agree that it isn't explicit but essentially, when you buy from an operator shop you buy Phone X to be used on their network. Generally it also comes with some sort of network branding as well.


You typically pay less for a network locked phone as they have subsidised the phone in the hope that you will spend money on connectivity services in the future.


If you want to use the phone on any network of your choice avoid network outlets.

grumbler

Why this pointless question?
Why "from a T-Mobile shop or website"?
It's not uncommon for, say, Argos to sell locked phones subsidised by networks.

50Twuncle

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Answer the questions asked - did you buy it from T Mobile?

Yes I did - 20 months ago
but there is no network branding on it

50Twuncle

Out of interest - about 30 minutes after I emailed EE about this issue - I lost web browsing on my phone - this remained the case, until this morning, when it recovered - linked or coincidence ?
(It has never happened before)....

spannerzone

A Tmobile supplied phone will nearly always be locked to their network, it won't necessarily have their branding on it. The same applies to all the other networks (a few exceptions exist that pedants will no doubt correct me on)

This Sim lock / subsidy lock is applied because the theory is that Tmobile (in this case) supplied a device at a subsidised price compared to you buying an unlocked device from say Amazon or another supplier.

50Twuncle

Received the following from EE (I did tell them that I was unable to speak on the phone !!!)


Thank you for your email addressed to the EE Executive Office.
We appreciate the time you have taken to write to us, however in order to resolve any issues you have, you would be required to contact our Customer Service team. Our Customer Service team is equipped to deal with all issues relating to EE products and services by calling 150 or 07973 100150. We are unable to provide an email address for this department or able to forward your email on, sorry for any inconvenience caused. Should you be unhappy with the response you have with Customer Service you have the right to make a request for your complaint to be escalated to a Team Manager and then if still unresolved to the relevant Operations Manager. In the unlikely event that your issue remains unresolved the Operations Manager will contact the Executive Office for further advice or alternatively they will escalate the issue on your behalf. For details of our complaints procedure please see the EE Code of Practice for Consumer Affairs, a copy of which can be found online using the following link.

spannerzone

Going back to your original question below, now we know more about it the answers are in bold

Is it common practice for Tmobile to lock to their own network - phones that are the property of a private owner ?Yes
My Samsung Note GT-N7000 was locked by Tmobile to Tmobile network !! Yes it would be
I own the phone - I paid my own money for it - therefore, surely - it belongs to me Yes it does
Now, Tmobile want £20 to unlock it and tell me that it will take up to 2 months to get it unlocked Yes it will
What are my options ? Pay £20 to Tmobile and wait or get a third party to unlock it for you

I know this isn't what you want to read but that's the truth of the matter.