Are Currys Sim-free iPhones truly sim-free?

fagun

John Lewis rejected a price match for the following reason:

"Software has been installed onto the device at Currys that will lock the phone to the network of the first SIM used. This means that if a customer were to purchase the phone and, for example, first use a Vodafone SIM and then change to an o2 SIM, this second SIM would not work. SIM Free phones sold by John Lewis, do not have this software installed and as such remain unlocked forever."

Is this true? If so, how can Currys get away with it? Isn't this a trading standards issue?

Thanks for any responses.

[Deleted User]

Don't know, but interested .....

boliston

Offering a sim-free phone that locks to the first inserted sim should be banned as it instantly then becomes a "locked" phone

fagun

Not much info on this using Google, but CarPhoneWarehouse has this statement hidden in the detailed blurb "iPhone will lock itself to the network of the first SIM card that is used in the phone. Subsequently attempting to use it on any other network, for example by replacing the SIM card, may mean it becomes permanently unusable. SIM free iPhones can only be used with a UK-network SIM card, and will not accept foreign SIM cards.". No such disclaimer on Currys or PCWorld websites.

Why isn't this flashing as a big warning in the MSE newsletters or main site? To me this is as much misselling as other cons they've warned about. Martin / Guy - over to you to verify and publicise!

DCFC79

fagun wrote: »

John Lewis rejected a price match for the following reason:

"Software has been installed onto the device at Currys that will lock the phone to the network of the first SIM used. This means that if a customer were to purchase the phone and, for example, first use a Vodafone SIM and then change to an o2 SIM, this second SIM would not work. SIM Free phones sold by John Lewis, do not have this software installed and as such remain unlocked forever."

Is this true? If so, how can Currys get away with it? Isn't this a trading standards issue?

Thanks for any responses.

How can Currys get with what ?

Iphones from certain retailers do lock to the first sim thats inserted, iphones from other retailers dont do this.

There are other makes other than Apple to choose from.

d123

Checking an iPhone on the Currys site and it says:

Genuine Sim Free & Unlocked - No Network Branding

There is also no sign of the CPW lock to first sim warning.

fagun

The CPW warning is at the bottom of the overview section in very small wording after lots of pictures and big marketing blurb. Agree not on the Currys site.

Anthorn

It's a contention which is getting very old now. The same accusation is also directed to Argos.

The fact is that Apple and possibly other manufacturers don't provide phones which are locked to particular networks. They just lock to the network of the first SIM card inserted. If you bought an iPhone which does that then you bought a locked iPhone, i.e. the iPhone is part of a tariff deal.

If you bought a sim-free phone from anywhere and it locks to the first network and you can prove it return it for refund or replacement. Simple as that.

The iPhone can also lock if it is a used iPhone sold as new where the Find My iPhone function has been enabled and activated.

d123

Anthorn wrote: »

The fact is that Apple and possibly other manufacturers don't provide phones which are locked to particular networks. They just lock to the network of the first SIM card inserted. If you bought an iPhone which does that then you bought a locked iPhone, i.e. the iPhone is part of a tariff deal.

If you bought a sim-free phone from anywhere and it locks to the first network and you can prove it return it for refund or replacement. Simple as that.

Nope, not true.

An iPhone bought sim free from CarPhoneWarehouse will definitely lock to the first SIM card inserted.

The warning is at the bottom of every page relating to sim free iPhone on the CPW website.

It looks like this:

iPhone will lock itself to the network of the first SIM card that is used in the phone. Subsequently attempting to use it on any other network, for example by replacing the SIM card, may mean it becomes permanently unusable. SIM free iPhones can only be used with a UK-network SIM card, and will not accept foreign SIM cards.

https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/apple/iphone-6s.html#!colour=gold&capacity=32GB&dealType=sf

Network supplied stock, for example from EE or Vodafone is locked to the network by Apple and will only accept the applicable sim, no matter what other sim you might insert first.

The iPhone can also lock if it is a used iPhone sold as new where the Find My iPhone function has been enabled and activated.

Locking due to iCloud or Find my iPhone has got absolutely nothing to do with sim lock on iPhones...

sdduk

If you buy a Iphone from giffgaff's website they are unlocked they don't lock when you insert a sim.

d123

sdduk wrote: »

If you buy a Iphone from giffgaff's website they are unlocked they don't lock when you insert a sim.

That is true.