Orange sim card problem on 'Unlocked' phone

excaliburp

Hi
Wonder if anyone can help.
Recently bought an unlocked Sony Ericson W880i second hand. Have run the relevant 'Checkmend' search etc that says its not stolen/blocked or anyhting like that. O2 and Vodaphone sim work in it but not my Orange PAYG sim. - simply gives the message 'inactive SIM'
Read on another forum that this message is only given when the phone has been blocked - i.e. reported stolen, but as said the checkmend search throws nothing up. Tried ringing Orange they simply said has been locked by another network and can't unlock it.
really want orange on my phone as I like the deal I have on my existing SIM - its no longer sold. Also would rather not spend alot trying out varioius 'unlocking' services if these aren't going to be effective like the one the previous owner has presumably done.
Not sure what to do
Any ideas?
cheers!

patwa_2

Not come across this myself but presumably you've checked the SIM with another unlocked phone and it works? If so, hopefully someone more familiar with Ericssons (I'm a Nokia guy myself) will be able to help you out.

H.

euglycaemia

excaliburp wrote: »

Hi
Wonder if anyone can help.
Recently bought an unlocked Sony Ericson W880i second hand. Have run the relevant 'Checkmend' search etc that says its not stolen/blocked or anyhting like that. O2 and Vodaphone sim work in it but not my Orange PAYG sim. - simply gives the message 'inactive SIM'
Read on another forum that this message is only given when the phone has been blocked - i.e. reported stolen, but as said the checkmend search throws nothing up. Tried ringing Orange they simply said has been locked by another network and can't unlock it.
really want orange on my phone as I like the deal I have on my existing SIM - its no longer sold. Also would rather not spend alot trying out varioius 'unlocking' services if these aren't going to be effective like the one the previous owner has presumably done.
Not sure what to do
Any ideas?
cheers!

What was the phones network before unlocking?

excaliburp

It was on O2 I think.
cheers

gaming_guy

turn the phone on with a sim that works, type in <**< (< means joystick left). if all of the padlocks are open, it should be unlocked.

gaming_guy

How old is the sim?

if its very old, that may be the cause of your problem

james-73

"invalid/inactive sim" is only caused by two reasons, either the sim is not registered/has be turned off or the phone has been barred.

check the sim in another phone.

for ref, some networks barr (add to there database) phones before others, e.g the phone will not work on orange but work ok on o2 etc for a few months but it will be barred on them all in the end.

if it was still network locked it would say "insert correct sim card"

br

back to my ever increasing BB5 pile!

excaliburp

Thanks so much all for your help.
just to let you know that I've now had a status change notification from Checkmend and the phone is now indeed blocked. :mad:
Completely gutted. And a lesson to all fellow moneysavers - Checkmend obviously isn't fool proof - presumably scammers can make the sale and then immeadiately afterwards report the phone as lost to claim insurance or replacement.