02 claim a phone has to be with them for 12 months before they will unlock it?

tuttiett5

After phoning 02 customer service number on 08705 678678, this afternoon, i was told that a mobile phone (pat as you go) received for christmas will have to be registered for 12 mths with them, prior to them giving an unlocking code?:eek:

Is this legally correct?

I think 02 stink with this type of customer care.
The conversation was challenged by them asking what web site i got my info from (Moneysaving expert of course) and they had to call me back,after checking out the MSE site, what sucks, is that i did want to use the 02 number on another phone -not any more.

I now want to get the best site to unlock a Sony Ericsson K800i, IMEI

LuciferTDark

Simple answer is yes it's legal & standard practice with all the mobile companies, they're not singling you out for horrible torture or anything.

I'm surprised they didn't mention a charge for the unlock code.

mah_jong

tuttiett5 wrote: »

After phoning 02 customer service number on 08705 678678, this afternoon, i was told that a mobile phone (pat as you go) received for christmas will have to be registered for 12 mths with them, prior to them giving an unlocking code?:eek:

Is this legally correct?

I think 02 stink with this type of customer care.
The conversation was challenged by them asking what web site i got my info from (Moneysaving expert of course) and they had to call me back,after checking out the MSE site, what sucks, is that i did want to use the 02 number on another phone -not any more.

I now want to get the best site to unlock a Sony Ericsson K800i, IMEI 35908701-476265-6-41

I had to visit a mobile shop to get my sonyE unlocked, cost a tenner

greyskittles

So can you do that even if you haven't been on o2 for 12 months?

mah_jong

I dont know is the answer, someone with better knowledge than me will tell you....however form my experience I would say it makes no odds who you are with and how long you have been with them.

They just hooked my mobile up to a computer with wires did a few things and then tried a different sim. It worked with new sim, handed over the dosh and that was it.!!

My contract is for a year with 3, I did it after 10 months as I close to a place that does it (am off the beaten track!)

phil6011

Not to put a downer on things but as a word of warning really dont give out your IMEI number on a message board. I work for one of the "big 4" and if that info. falls into the wrong hands a LOT of information can be obtained from it trust me.

Hope you dont think im being obtrusive at all...

greyskittles

mah_jong wrote: »

I dont know is the answer, someone with better knowledge than me will tell you....however form my experience I would say it makes no odds who you are with and how long you have been with them.

They just hooked my mobile up to a computer with wires did a few things and then tried a different sim. It worked with new sim, handed over the dosh and that was it.!!

My contract is for a year with 3, I did it after 10 months as I close to a place that does it (am off the beaten track!)

Thanks for the reply. I'll buy the phone and take it to my local phone-unlocking place... and hope for the best!

Ypaymore

Some Payg Networks will supply the unlocking code when you have spent a certain amount with them. EG. Tesco and Virgin £30.

If you buy a Payg phone at CPW the chances are it could already be unlocked.

spinningsheep

Like some have said on here, 02 aren't picking on you alone, it is standard practice, and some charge around £30 too for the network password. Alot cheaper to go to an unlocking shop and pay £10 to get the same thing, and there is no mimimum tenure for that either. What alot of people dont seem to realise is that most PAYG phones are subsidised by the networks too,just as contract ones are, hence why the "big 4" lock their phones to their networks, a phone may be £300 SIM free, but only £80 on PAYG, as it is subsidised by the network, the only difference being that the PAYG one is locked to that network. This is also one of the reasons that networks/retailers make you buy £10 airtime with a phone

1) to discourage box breaking as it eats into the breaker's end profits
2) to protect the network's revenue.

Cavey

My old phone was a contract phone with O2 Online and while I do have the tools to unlock it, I could also brick it and if I can get it done for free it would be "better".

Given I upgraded in July to a new phone, is it possible for me to pester O2 Online and get it unlocked or should I just give up and risk brickng the phone?