Unlocking ex-pay monthly O2 phone - help needed! 23 December 2021 at 6:59PM in Mobiles 9 replies 204 views

Peggy0628

Few years ago I bought a second hand pay monthly phone locked to O2 (owner upgraded to a better phone). Now I need it unlocking so I can use it with my current sim (can't change providers, still in contract).

I tried to contact O2 via live chat, spent forever talking to them but the said they can't unlock it unless the original owner contacts them and asks them to unlock it. I explained I don't know the person's name and have no way to contact them. They said the person is still with O2 but they refused to give me their details (understandable) but they also refused to contact them to ask for permission to unlock the old phone... Is there a way to get this phone unlocked since O2 are refusing to do it?
I really need this phone unlocking as my current phone broke and I can't afford to buy a new one (plus, it's a bit of a waste to buy a new phone when I have one already - it just needs unlocking). Apparently I need to ask the original owner to contact them and if I can't get in touch with the owner (because I don't know who they are), I can't get the phone unlocked. I mean, how ridiculous is that? It's like buying a second hand car and needing the original owner's permission to put different brand tyres on it...

On a side note - how stupid is it that all new phones (even the really expensive ones) are sold unlocked yet unlocking an older phone (that is only worth about £50) seems like an impossible task???

Exemplar

Look for the model number and 'unlock' on eBay.

ballyblack

Peggy0628 said:

Few years ago I bought a second hand pay monthly phone locked to O2 (owner upgraded to a better phone). Now I need it unlocking so I can use it with my current sim (can't change providers, still in contract).

I tried to contact O2 via live chat, spent forever talking to them but the said they can't unlock it unless the original owner contacts them and asks them to unlock it. I explained I don't know the person's name and have no way to contact them. They said the person is still with O2 but they refused to give me their details (understandable) but they also refused to contact them to ask for permission to unlock the old phone... Is there a way to get this phone unlocked since O2 are refusing to do it?
I really need this phone unlocking as my current phone broke and I can't afford to buy a new one (plus, it's a bit of a waste to buy a new phone when I have one already - it just needs unlocking). Apparently I need to ask the original owner to contact them and if I can't get in touch with the owner (because I don't know who they are), I can't get the phone unlocked. I mean, how ridiculous is that? It's like buying a second hand car and needing the original owner's permission to put different brand tyres on it...

On a side note - how stupid is it that all new phones (even the really expensive ones) are sold unlocked yet unlocking an older phone (that is only worth about £50) seems like an impossible task???

post on Mobile board the following

"How to unlock mobile;

Make___________?
Model __________

locked to o2"

(Your long post was unnecessary)

Peggy0628

Could not find code on eBay (the phone is several years old so probably not many of those still around). Managed to get it unlocked by a man with a laptop at the local market for £15.
It still doesn't explain why O2 are being so difficult about it... I had other second-hand locked phones before and never had a problem getting it unlocked by the network provider, I really don't understand why O2 insists on the original owner requesting the unlock. They know the phone was sold as the owner upgraded to another phone from O2.

flaneurs_lobster

Do you think your bloke at the market could sort out a new Samsung A52s which was bought outright from O2 unlocked, so works fine with other networks EXCEPT for wi-fi/4g calling.

Peggy0628

I did a quick google and it looks like the A52s doesn't support wi-fi calling. The only Samsung phones supporting that are:

Galaxy A3 2016, Galaxy A3 2017, Galaxy A5 2017, Galaxy A6 2018, A7, Galaxy A8 2018, Galaxy A10, A12, Galaxy A20e, Galaxy A21s, Galaxy A40, Galaxy A41, A50, Galaxy A51, Galaxy A70, Galaxy A71, Galaxy A80, Galaxy A90 5G, Galaxy J3 2017, Galaxy J4+ 2018, Galaxy J5 2017, Galaxy J6 2018, Galaxy J6 Plus, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 5G, Galaxy S20+ 5G, Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Note 10+, Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, Galaxy Note 10 Lite.

flaneurs_lobster

Where are you getting getting that list from because it's wrong. This here (different, bought from AO) A52s plays fine with wi-fi calling on 1p (but not Vodafone). It's something to do with the versions of CSC firmware given to different phones destined for different retailers/markets.

Peggy0628

That list was from my provider's website - I don't how it works, my phone doesn't support it (and I don't have a Samsung). You'd be better off asking someone who knows about this stuff (like an independent phone shop etc) or start a new post - other people may have the same issue...

flaneurs_lobster

Sorry @Peggy0628, just ranting that my brand new toys don't work the way I expected them to. Makes the point that every provider's list of phones is different (and usually incomplete and/or wrong) when it comes to wi-fi calling.

Peggy0628

You can rant all you want, but I won't be able to help you, I know nothing about this. Maybe try Samsung technical support (if they have one) or you network provider, there may be a software update or something to fix it...