We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Locked to Virgin EE by carphone warehouse

Options
245

Comments

  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    mickeyb44 wrote: »
    I sent CW a polite email about this but they simply said "you should have checked our website first, the warning is on it"
    Rubbish. You don't have to check any websites before buying in a store.

    The good thing is that in this e-mail they indirectly admit in-store misselling, so you can easily sue them via the Small Claims Court. The only question is the amount. I think you can unlock (properly) a EE-locked iPhone for £60+ via Ebay.
  • d123
    d123 Posts: 8,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Nothing to do with them - as I understand IPhones DO lock to whatever network the first sim used is with.

    That's what you get for spending a fortune on a short-term toy/status symbol. Should be renamed IMUG.

    Completely wrong, it's everything to do with them!

    CarPhoneWarehouse is the only retailer to do the first UK sim inserted locks the iPhone trick.

    In their defence, they have always made the point on their iPhone webpage though.
    ====
  • d123
    d123 Posts: 8,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 29 September 2014 at 12:14PM
    mickeyb44 wrote: »
    Ok, this is all very well, but can anyone actually offer advice for me ? That's why im here.


    For what its worth I did not buy it as a status symbol, im just not that kind of person.

    Have you contacted Virgin? If you have been using the phone on their network they are the people to arrange the unlock.

    Ring 789 and ask them to unlock it, there will probably be a £15.32 charge to do so.

    http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/mobile-phones/changing-provider/mobile-phone-locking-and-unlocking/
    ====
  • 19lottie82 wrote: »
    What a horrible patronising post. How dare you call someone a mug because they choose to purchase a luxury item. The cheapest house in the UK is what £8k? You can get a used car for £200? Shoes for £8 from Primark? I take it you don't spend anymore on these items? In fact no, I guess you do, and there is the odd area in life you like to splash out on because that's your pleasure! Do people come along Judging and ridiculing you for that? I hope not because that's pretty pathetic.

    In that case, why are they quibbling about spending £20 to unlock it?

    As for what I buy, whatever it is I make sure I understand it first and suffer the consequences if I don't.

    I doubt there is a case, since the phone was sold unlocked; it's up to the buyer what network they chose to lock it to afterwards by inserting that network's sim.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 6 October 2014 at 3:03PM
    In that case, why are they quibbling about spending £20 to unlock it?
    Because they were sold a 'sim-free' and/or 'unlocked' phone?
    When I pay £2K for a holiday I make a choice between using a CC with 1% cashback and 2% fee and a debit card. And I pay by a debit card to save £20. What's wrong with this?
    As for what I buy, whatever it is I make sure I understand it first and suffer the consequences if I don't.
    Unless you know some facts that we aren't aware off the OP asked "to pay full price for an unlocked iphone" and was (mis-)sold exactly this.
    I doubt there is a case, since the phone was sold unlocked;
    it's up to the buyer what network they chose to lock it to afterwards by inserting that network's sim.
    In this case there would be no need for the warnings on their website (that their in-store customers aren't supposed to check).
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    d123 wrote: »
    ...In their defence, they have always made the point on their iPhone webpage though.
    I believe this is untrue and it took them some time to add the warning. I guess that initially they didn't even know that it was the case.
  • d123
    d123 Posts: 8,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    grumbler wrote: »
    I believe this is untrue and it took them some time to add the warning. I guess that initially they didn't even know that it was the case.

    I can remember it being on the webpage as far back as the 5, possibly even the 4s, before that I can't be sure so won't argue the fact ;).
    ====
  • Right, lets clear this thread up:


    1: The warning should have been made clear by the salesman in carphone warehouse, he did not and he clearly stated it was "a good idea to buy an unlocked phone". I asked for an unlocked phone that I could use any and also change any sim.


    2: It is not just 20 quid, its 20 quid plus the cost of getting the phone insured, as per instructions on EE website. Frankly it should be free !


    3: Virgin are nothing to do with this, I tried them and they said its 100% down to EE and EE only.


    4: I have tried 2 unlock shops and they both tried and said sorry, they didn't charge me.


    5: I did not buy an iphone as a status symbol or toy, I bought it for personal and business use. Yes, I should have purchased an unlocked Samsung but at the time I had several collegues with unlocked iphones advising me to purchase one.


    6: I had a threeway conversation with a senior tech at apple and CW, the apple guy really tried hard for me but in the end realised that if CW wanted to actually help they still could not because its locked to EE and now out of their control.


    7: Two weeks ago I emailed EE to ask why they require an insurers letter, they did not reply, im about to try again.
    .
    Phew, thanks to those who answered my original questions
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    biggysnax wrote: »
    Used to work for CPW, they don't deserve the bad rep that many people give them.
    Surely, they are very good - first in mis-selling the OP, now in fobbing him off.
    CPW are not the only retailer to do this, Vodafone, O2, EE, 3, they all do it!
    "Vodafone, O2, EE, 3" don't sell sim-free phones.
    I am guessing it is a pre-requisite of Apple that if you a mobile retailer selling the phone, it must be locked.
    Read the thread instead of guessing. Giffgaff sell iphones that aren't locked and don't lock.
    In this instance, it was stupid of the sales consultant to sell it as "unlocked", I would go to the manager of the store, he does have the discretion to do something about it whether it is in the form of a credit note for CPW or a cheque sent to your house to cover the cost of an unlock. If you don't get any further, complain straight to the top.
    You call this "don't deserve the bad rep". I call this giving a customer runaround when they are obviously at fault and know this perfectly well.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.