How to contact Orange to unlock a secondhand phone?

scrimperjan

Hi, hope someone can help me with this as I've been going round in circles all day. My friend upgraded her phone and very kindly gave me her old Samsung Galaxy S3. I'm with Virgin so I requested a new sim card which arrived this morning. When I put the sim card and tried to make a call the message I got was 'not registered on network'; I am assuming that this is because the phone is locked. Rang Virgin who advised me to contact Orange. I tried the free unlock suggested on GiffGaff but the code doesn't work; I just get the same message. So eventually I decided I would have to bite the bullet and pay Orange to unlock it for me...
I tried to call them on the customer services number which I found on their website but their automated contact system won't let me in without the phone number (the old number for that phone doesn't work). Can't find an email address either.
Any ideas?

Tony5101

It's unlikely that Orange would work with you on unlocking the phone, as you've never had a relationship with them as a customer with this handset.
Take a look here...https://giffgaff.com/unlock/samsung-galaxy-s3-phone
There are various unlocking sites and prices etc. if you want someone to provide the code for you. There is a free method, which is also linked to on this page. I used this method myself a while ago, and it worked without any problems. You don't have to be very technical to do it, it's quite easy.

Collabora

goto http://ee.co.uk/help/getting-started/joining-ee/unlocking-your-phone#orange but you have to be an Orange customer to unlock the phone

Collabora

Tony5101 wrote: »

It's unlikely that Orange would work with you on unlocking the phone, as you've never had a relationship with them as a customer with this handset.
Take a look here...https://giffgaff.com/unlock/samsung-galaxy-s3-phone
There are various unlocking sites and prices etc. if you want someone to provide the code for you. There is a free method, which is also linked to on this page. I used this method myself a while ago, and it worked without any problems. You don't have to be very technical to do it, it's quite easy.

The OP already Tried GIFFGAFF method

mije1983

Why not ask your friend to contact Orange and get it unlocked for you?

grumbler

Collabora wrote: »

... but you have to be an Orange customer to unlock the phone

My understanding is that you became a customer as soon as you get a sim, top it up with £20.42+ and put into your phone.

scrimperjan

My friend is no longer an Orange customer, she left when her contract ended and she got her iphone. I don't want to be an Orange customer, grumbler, I'm happy with my cheap Virgin contract!

I looked at the unlocking sites mentioned on giffgaff but whilst they quote(for example) £12.99 for the service, when you get onto their own websites the price jumps to £35 +.

Collabora

grumbler wrote: »

My understanding is that you became a customer as soon as you get a sim, top it up with £20.42+ and put into your phone.

yes if you are not already a customer you have to get a PAYG sim and top it up with the unlock fee

adouglasmhor

Take it to one of those little shops that do unlocking £10 max and it will be up and running.

Collabora

scrimperjan wrote: »

My friend is no longer an Orange customer, she left when her contract ended and she got her iphone. I don't want to be an Orange customer, grumbler, I'm happy with my cheap Virgin contract!

I looked at the unlocking sites mentioned on giffgaff but whilst they quote(for example) £12.99 for the service, when you get onto their own websites the price jumps to £35 +.

check some phone shops or look on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMSUNG-UNLOCK-CODE-GALAXY-S1-S2-S3-S4-S5-NOTEs-AT-T-ONLY-OUT-OF-CONTRACT-FAST-/321643128901?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae36ca845

d123

scrimperjan wrote: »

My friend is no longer an Orange customer, she left when her contract ended and she got her iphone. I don't want to be an Orange customer, grumbler, I'm happy with my cheap Virgin contract!

I looked at the unlocking sites mentioned on giffgaff but whilst they quote(for example) £12.99 for the service, when you get onto their own websites the price jumps to £35 +.

Your friend can still contact Orange and ask for the unlock to be processed, they will have to pay the £20.42 when they request it.

As has been said, most unlocking shops should be able to unlock it for £10 as an alternative method though.

Collabora wrote: »

yes if you are not already a customer you have to get a PAYG sim and top it up with the unlock fee

That won't work, you have to have used the phone on your account for a minimum of 6 months before requesting.