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!

wowcamera sells phones which are not compatible UK networks

Options
2

Comments

  • OP - How did you pay?  Can't you do a s75 or chargeback?
  • jonesey1985
    jonesey1985 Posts: 98 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 13 November 2021 at 2:35PM
    Alderbank said:
    cx6 said:
    There is not one '5G' - there are (at least) three types I believe. Some are fast but short-range, others slower but longer range (from the mast)

    Not all phones (even in the UK) can connect to all 3 types. For example, the Galaxy S10 5G (UK version) was marketed as '5G' but could only connect to one of the 5G types.

    It may be worth doing some research to find out what 5G frequencies and types your phone supports, and then comparing to he specs of the 5G provided by Three, EE, Vodaphone etc

    You might also get better technical help posting on the Phones or Techie boards.
    I did the research and the phone supports all the 5G bands in use in the UK.
    You do realise that like most phones there is more than one version world-wide?
    The OP's original post says 'Contacted LG and they replied: "Your phone is unable to access the 5G network".
    There are two, an EU and Asian version.  They support the same bands.
  • cx6
    cx6 Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Three appears to use band n78

    This band is supported on both the LM-G900EM (Europe version) and G900N (Asia version)

    LG Velvet 5G - Full phone specifications (gsmarena.com)

    LG Velvet 5G (G900N) - Specs - PhoneMore
  • Alderbank
    Alderbank Posts: 3,895 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The only explanation which would make any sort of sense is that the OP bought an LG Velvet but the variant they bought is actually the LG Velvet G910EMW. This is the 4G only version and would explain why LG said your phone doesn't support 5G.

    I know the OP said he bought LG Velvet 5G but he also said it doesn't work in the UK  :/

    Until the OP returns and tells us the model number and what is actually on the box and on his paperwork we can only speculate
  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,832 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    JJ_Egan said:
    Cannot really complain to UK consumer groups as its HK laws .

    although their terms state

    "Governing law and jurisdiction

    These terms and conditions and all transactions relating to this website are governed by UK law and are subject to the jurisdiction of the UK courts."

  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 17,793 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Caz3121 said:
    JJ_Egan said:
    Cannot really complain to UK consumer groups as its HK laws .

    although their terms state

    "Governing law and jurisdiction

    These terms and conditions and all transactions relating to this website are governed by UK law and are subject to the jurisdiction of the UK courts."

    Great, you can take them to court in the UK - but you'll still have to go to Hong Kong to enforce anything.
  • Thanks everyone for your replies. I think it's a long shot, I'll just have to leave feedbacks for them on different websites, but I thought maybe there is a consumer group that can stop them from selling phones in the UK at least.

    Alderbank, yes the phone is LG Velvet 5G, and I bought it because it was 5G. I checked the packaging recently and it has this label: EUROPEAN SIM CARD ONLY: This product is only compatible with a SIM-card from a mobile operator within Europe. Europe is defined as: EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the following non-EEA countries: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, French Guiana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia, Martinique, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Reunion, San Marino, Serbia.

    cx6, I spoke to THREE and they asked me to check the network mode on the phone's setting. The options are:
    GSM / WCDMA / LTE auto
    GSM / WCDMA auto
    WCDMA only
    No 5G option. I bought Sony Xperia and the 5G works just fine now.

    jonesey1985, this is what i purchased from them: 
    LG12427E-GRY LG Velvet 5G 128GB 6GB RAM Dual SIM (Unlocked for all UK networks)
    LG confirmed: your phone is unable to access the 5G network due to it not being a UK phone, due to this most likely being purchased from another market area. This does mean the phone may not work to its full capacity in the UK, as each country will not support the same way. Like the accessibility of the 5G network.

    Manxman_in_exile, I paid with PayPal. Part PayPal balance and part MasterCard. Is it still possible to request a chargeback?
  • Thanks everyone for your replies. I think it's a long shot, I'll just have to leave feedbacks for them on different websites, but I thought maybe there is a consumer group that can stop them from selling phones in the UK at least.

    Alderbank, yes the phone is LG Velvet 5G, and I bought it because it was 5G. I checked the packaging recently and it has this label: EUROPEAN SIM CARD ONLY: This product is only compatible with a SIM-card from a mobile operator within Europe. Europe is defined as: EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the following non-EEA countries: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, French Guiana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia, Martinique, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Reunion, San Marino, Serbia.

    cx6, I spoke to THREE and they asked me to check the network mode on the phone's setting. The options are:
    GSM / WCDMA / LTE auto
    GSM / WCDMA auto
    WCDMA only
    No 5G option. I bought Sony Xperia and the 5G works just fine now.

    jonesey1985, this is what i purchased from them: 
    LG12427E-GRY LG Velvet 5G 128GB 6GB RAM Dual SIM (Unlocked for all UK networks)
    LG confirmed: your phone is unable to access the 5G network due to it not being a UK phone, due to this most likely being purchased from another market area. This does mean the phone may not work to its full capacity in the UK, as each country will not support the same way. Like the accessibility of the 5G network.

    Manxman_in_exile, I paid with PayPal. Part PayPal balance and part MasterCard. Is it still possible to request a chargeback?
    So it appears you have the European version rather than the Asian one.  I suspect this device was never officially released in the UK, although that makes little difference, as it supports all the bands our network uses.

    I suspect you're past 180 days since receipt so a chargeback wouldn't be possible. Even then you're likely to just tend up with a negative PayPal balance and a debt collector chasing you for the money.  And I'm not exactly sure if there is a valid chargeback reason anyway. It is, on paper, a UK compatible device.
  • Ditzy_Mitzy
    Ditzy_Mitzy Posts: 1,952 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just for the sake of interest, OP, have you ever used a 5G mobile phone?  I've got one, replete with the necessary SIM card and contract, and do receive 5G reception where it is available.  The difference between 5G and good 4G, in practice, is infinitesimally small.  I really cannot tell the difference between one and the other.  Perhaps it's not something worth worrying about?
  • cx6
    cx6 Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    " I spoke to THREE and they asked me to check the network mode on the phone's setting. The options are:
    GSM / WCDMA / LTE auto
    GSM / WCDMA auto
    WCDMA only"

    Are you sure the phone even ***has** a 5G modem?
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
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K 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.