EE tell me they can't unlock my old iPhone 3GS

grumbler

socrates wrote: »

Did I say I had an iPhone?

You didn't, but the thread is about iPhone.

What was the point in posting what code you received for some other phone?

grumbler

Handsome90 wrote: »

If it's such a hassle for the networks, then why don't they just supply unlocked phones?

Locked phones get sold with a big discount by networks because they can be used only on their network.
It's like printers that manufacturers literally are giving away in a hope to make the profit on cartridges.

socrates

grumbler wrote: »

You didn't, but the thread is about iPhone.

What was the point in posting what code you received for some other phone?

To show how pathetic it was when EE/Tmobile took ages to try and unlock my phone - and only did so when I contacted the CEO

glentoran99

gycraig wrote: »

it costs a network time and money to unlock your phone of course theres going to be a charge for it.

Vodafone and 02 dont charge

d123

glentoran99 wrote: »

Vodafone and 02 dont charge

Neither do Three now.

smiledotcom

Thanks to SOCRATES for sending me the email address of the EE CEO.

After I wrote to her - a very polite, but assertive, letter outlining the history of the matter and stressing that I hoped the matter could be resolved between us but that if not I would be seeking an alternative, formal, independant resolution - things got moving surprisingly quickly and my old iPhone was unlocked within 3 days!

Their usual unlocking charges were waived too.

I'm glad to see that more mobile networks are dropping their unlocking charges - which are embezzlement by any other name.

custardy

smiledotcom wrote: »

Thanks to SOCRATES for sending me the email address of the EE CEO.

After I wrote to her - a very polite, but assertive, letter outlining the history of the matter and stressing that I hoped the matter could be resolved between us but that if not I would be seeking an alternative, formal, independant resolution - things got moving surprisingly quickly and my old iPhone was unlocked within 3 days!

Their usual unlocking charges were waived too.

I'm glad to see that more mobile networks are dropping their unlocking charges - which are embezzlement by any other name.

Well some of us buy with this knowledge at the start of our contract.
So I buy from suppliers giving unlocked handsets or sim free without contract.

smiledotcom

I didn't have that knowledge when I started the contract.

That's almost certainly why my iPhone was unlocked by EE without charge.

Personally, I wouldn't enter into a contract with a company who, essentially, "fines" me for leaving it - after I've given them over a thousand pounds in business!

when I give comapnies business on that scale I want good customer service in return. Extorting money out of me does not meet my standards of good customer care and that's why I took my business elsewhere.

It took me a couple of months to get there, but I got there in the end.

Like you, Custardy, I wouldn't buy a contract that tied me into unlocking "fines"

grumbler

Well, very often it's much cheaper to buy a locked handset and then to pay for unlocking or unlock it for free, although this is more common for PAYG phones.

Quiet_Spark

smiledotcom wrote: »

I didn't have that knowledge when I started the contract.

That's almost certainly why my iPhone was unlocked by EE without charge.

Personally, I wouldn't enter into a contract with a company who, essentially, "fines" me for leaving it - after I've given them over a thousand pounds in business!

when I give comapnies business on that scale I want good customer service in return. Extorting money out of me does not meet my standards of good customer care and that's why I took my business elsewhere.

It took me a couple of months to get there, but I got there in the end.

Like you, Custardy, I wouldn't buy a contract that tied me into unlocking "fines"

Might be an idea to only enter in to an agreement once you do have all the facts in future.
Glad you got it unlocked in the end, but I doubt the true cost of this experience was worth it on such a device to start with.