Updated Mobile Unlocking Article discussion

outlaw777

Hey is it possible to unlock an iPhone 5 that is locked to the network EE? If so how much and how can you do it?

muirhead_2

Anyone know unlock code for Nokia 6700 slide on Tesco Mobile thanks in advance.

iainmc

I've just bought a Sony Xpreria Z from ebay which was locked to the 3 network. I followed the instructions on the 3 website to get it unlocked (I'm with vodafone)
The 3 website tells me if I get myself a PAYG SIM from 3 (free) and provide my details and the IMEI of the phone to be unlocked, they'll do it for £15.

However, when I spoke to them after submitting the form, they say they cannot unlock it because it is still "registered with the original owner" and I need the original owner to notify them that it's no longer his. When pushed further, they admitted that the original owner got the phone on contract with them and has defaulted on the contract payments (and sold the phone on to me for a healthy profit)

So, kinda leaves me in the lurch...
Questions:
1. Has this guy broken the law by selling a phone that wasn't his to sell (ownesrhip being tied to paying his contract as agreed). Is it effectively stolen property? If so, should I be able to open a dispute through eBay/Paypal?
2. Are 3 within their rights to prevent me unlocking it through them?
3. Given that this is a new Sony and unlocking is more difficult than most phones due to raised security, do I have any other options than the "official" way to unlock this phone?
4. Am I still "legal" owning this phone, and would I be wrong to sell it on saying "locked to 3 network" to limit my losses?
Cheers,
Iain

grumbler

1. No. If he had not made it clear that the phone was locked to '3' demand from him either unlocking or a full refund.
2. Yes. Possibly there are other ways to unlock though.
3. I don't know. Do your research. The only 'official' ways are through '3' or Sony.
4. Yes (assuming that the phone wasn't stolen) and No.

iainmc

Thanks for the answers. I'm a bit surprised about answer 1. Surely he's broken his contract (legal agreement?) with 3 network by selling something that's not his to sell which not maintaining the agreed payments. He did say it was locked to 3, so I don't have a case on that front.

grumbler

The phone was his from the day 1 regardless of any airtime contract.

phil8715

My partner ordered 2 handsets from the Vodafone online store for pickup at our local Vodafone store. I want to get the handsets unlocked so we can use them on the Three network where we both have a contract with.

I've been told that if I get Vodafone to unlock them it's going to cost £20 per handset that's £40, there's no way in the world that i'm ever going to pay that much just to enter a few digits just because Vodafone lock their handsets. I've also seen something on their own Eforum that if you take both the phone and the box to a Vodafone store they may scan the IMEI number on the box which an unlock code flashes up on their sales terminal and the sales assistant was very helpful, unlike the store we picked our phones up from.

I'm now trying to ring round to see if they will unlock it in store for free.

Does anybody on this forum work for Vodafone who is willing to let me do this?

The handsets in question are the Huawei Ascend G300 or U8815

Cheers

Phil

d123

phil8715 wrote: »

My partner ordered 2 handsets from the Vodafone online store for pickup at our local Vodafone store. I want to get the handsets unlocked so we can use them on the Three network where we both have a contract with.

I've been told that if I get Vodafone to unlock them it's going to cost £20 per handset that's £40, there's no way in the world that i'm ever going to pay that much just to enter a few digits just because Vodafone lock their handsets. I've also seen something on their own Eforum that if you take both the phone and the box to a Vodafone store they may scan the IMEI number on the box which an unlock code flashes up on their sales terminal and the sales assistant was very helpful, unlike the store we picked our phones up from.

I'm now trying to ring round to see if they will unlock it in store for free.

Does anybody on this forum work for Vodafone who is willing to let me do this?

The handsets in question are the Huawei Ascend G300 or U8815

Cheers

Phil

You might be confusing contract unlocking with PAYG unlocking on Voda.

No store will unlock them free, it's a pretty well known fact that PAYG handsets are locked on Voda and only unlockable for a fee.

Why would you think they will happily subsidise a handset for you to use on another network?

Either return the handsets and buy a handset on 3 or pay the unlocking fee and then use them where you like.

You could always try unlocking it yourself, or paying for a code on eBay (if available).

Vodafone

Hi Phil,

If you’ve had the phone for less than 12months, the network unlock code (NUC) is £19.99. Once this is over 12 months old, there’s no charge.

You can request your NUC on our website, just type in ‘network unlock code’ in the search bar.

You do have a 7 day cooling off period though, if you decide to return the phones.

Thanks,

Jenny
Web Relations
Vodafone UK

Aroha78

Hi,

Can anyone please help...i privately brought and on-sold an xperia z...when i had the phone i could use any pre paid sim in it.
I recieved a call from the new owner saying his sim does not work in the phone and that it had been network locked (which usually only happens here in new zealand if the phone has been reported stolen or lost)

He has sent the phone back to me which said no network service and i have tried a number of different telecom micro sims with no luck, all sims saying sim access is blocked and cant be registered to a network.

However tonight i tryed another providers pre paid sim in the phone which gave me full network access,calls,sms etc..(stoked azzz):j
So does this mean the phone is not network locked?? or only network locked to the previous provider and its sim card??.


Feed back would be much appreciated thanx