PAC Error

PHK

mrochester wrote: »

I believe it might only have been the Carphone Warehouse group that did this.

Do a quick Google for something like "Argos SIM free locks to first SIM" (or John Lewis ) and you'll find many examples plus an explanation of why some retailers had to sell Network Subsidized handsets as SIM free. There are even threads on here!

d123

mrochester wrote: »

Mobiles.co.uk welcome pack states in the first sentence ‘If you have purchased an Apple iPhone, please be aware that your phone will lock to the network of the first SIM card inserted.’

Only three years out of date, aren't they doing well?

mrochester

PHK wrote: »

Do a quick Google for something like "Argos SIM free locks to first SIM" (or John Lewis ) and you'll find many examples plus an explanation of why some retailers had to sell Network Subsidized handsets as SIM free. There are even threads on here!

I wonder why these retailers simply didn’t sell properly unlocked phones instead of network subsidised models? Three, Giffgaff and Curry’s managed to sell fully unlocked iPhones.

The reasons I’ve seen online is that Carphone warehouse wanted to simplify its stock by selling the same iPhone SKU regardless of what network the customer is buying or if it was a sim free model. I wonder if there was a larger profit margin for CPW to sell their network subsidised stock as sim free (with the same potentially being true for Argos and JL?).

I can imagine the bad publicity they received for this practice caused CPW to change course.

PHK

mrochester wrote: »

I wonder why these retailers simply didn’t sell properly unlocked phones instead of network subsidised models? Three, Giffgaff and Curry’s managed to sell fully unlocked iPhones.

The reasons I’ve seen online is that Carphone warehouse wanted to simplify its stock by selling the same iPhone SKU regardless of what network the customer is buying or if it was a sim free model. I wonder if there was a larger profit margin for CPW to sell their network subsidised stock as sim free (with the same potentially being true for Argos and JL?).

I can imagine the bad publicity they received for this practice caused CPW to change course.

It was actually a combination of factors, mostly though Apple would only sell SIM free through their own website and certain retail partners. Other retailers had no choice but to buy handsets that were intended to be sold with a network subsidy.

This also impacted areas like insurance replacement. Apple would refuse to work with some insurance companies (purely based on volume -you needed to agree to purchase a certain number regularly) . So insurance replacement handsets sometimes locked to the first SIM even if the original handset didn't.

This is why some insurance settlements were in Apple gift cards to buy a new handset.

mrochester

PHK wrote: »

It was actually a combination of factors, mostly though Apple would only sell SIM free through their own website and certain retail partners. Other retailers had no choice but to buy handsets that were intended to be sold with a network subsidy.

This also impacted areas like insurance replacement. Apple would refuse to work with some insurance companies (purely based on volume -you needed to agree to purchase a certain number regularly) . So insurance replacement handsets sometimes locked to the first SIM even if the original handset didn't.

This is why some insurance settlements were in Apple gift cards to buy a new handset.

Seems odd that CPW wouldn’t be one of those ‘certain retail partners’ given their size!

Lbj

I’ve has a similar problem. On 30 day sim only, got new phone via mobiles.co.uk, both contracts with Vodafone. Rang to get pac but you can only use that if switching to another network so I have to give 30 days notice, move my sim only deal to payg then submit a form to transfer my number. Not bothered about paying for the 30 days but got a new deal because my phone is broken and my number is now unusable for that 30 days!
If I had been going to a new network I could have got a pac code, paid remaining balance and transferred straight away but effectively am penalised for staying with Vodafone

d123

Lbj wrote: »

I’ve has a similar problem. On 30 day sim only, got new phone via mobiles.co.uk, both contracts with Vodafone. Rang to get pac but you can only use that if switching to another network so I have to give 30 days notice, move my sim only deal to payg then submit a form to transfer my number. Not bothered about paying for the 30 days but got a new deal because my phone is broken and my number is now unusable for that 30 days!
If I had been going to a new network I could have got a pac code, paid remaining balance and transferred straight away but effectively am penalised for staying with Vodafone

Just put your old sim in the new phone for the 30 days.

glitzy

Lbj wrote: »

I’ve has a similar problem. On 30 day sim only, got new phone via mobiles.co.uk, both contracts with Vodafone. Rang to get pac but you can only use that if switching to another network so I have to give 30 days notice, move my sim only deal to payg then submit a form to transfer my number. Not bothered about paying for the 30 days but got a new deal because my phone is broken and my number is now unusable for that 30 days!
If I had been going to a new network I could have got a pac code, paid remaining balance and transferred straight away but effectively am penalised for staying with Vodafone

This has been my problem but carphonewarehouse said to buy a PAYG sim (different network) & PAC your number to that & then PAC to new sim.