Is the phone actually unlocked?

ogg monster · 08-09-2010, 18:32

Hi, please go easy on a technophobe that is a bit if a virgin to this particular forum!

Last week my Samsung GT-S5600 bit the dust after a swim in the toilet. I still have ages on my contract and didn't have any spare phones so bought a second hand one on ebay from a seller that had 100% feedback with lots of transactions under his belt.

Anyway was the same type of phone and advertised as unlocked. Phone arrived today and I can retrieve all the info on the SIM card (e.g contacts etc), the network Vodafone (my SIM network) is showing on the phone and there are bars for a signal but I can't send or receive calls or texts.

I called Vodafone to check all is well with SIM and account and they confirmed it is and said only thing could be phone is broken or not actually unlocked.

I emailed seller who seemed pretty genuine and said he tested it with a Vodafone SIM card before selling and it worked.

Any thoughts? Is he a lying beggar or can anyone think of a legitimate reason for the problem?

Thanks

QTC13 · 08-09-2010, 20:23

Have you tried YOUR SIM in another phone (a vodafone phone that belongs to a friend maybe?) ? Maybe the swim in the toilet hasn't done it a lot of good

At least that way you can rule out if it's the phone or your SIM that's dodgy. If your sim works in your friend's phone, try their sim in the ebay phone. If their SIM doesn't work, you will then know it's the phone.

Not much help really was it?

ogg monster · 08-09-2010, 23:15

Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : (

I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive.

Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now.

QTC13 · 09-09-2010, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogg monster

Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : (

I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive.

Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now.

Unlucky!

Try your local vodafone shop, they used to have some cheap PAYG refurb phones - I brought one for my nephew £15. Basic camera phone, but at 14 that's all he's getting lol

MTUK1 · 09-09-2010, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogg monster

Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : (

I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive.

Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now.

Put a claim in via Paypal straight away.

08-09-2010, 18:32	#1
ogg monster Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: half way up the stairs Posts: 5,209	Is the phone actually unlocked? Hi, please go easy on a technophobe that is a bit if a virgin to this particular forum! Last week my Samsung GT-S5600 bit the dust after a swim in the toilet. I still have ages on my contract and didn't have any spare phones so bought a second hand one on ebay from a seller that had 100% feedback with lots of transactions under his belt. Anyway was the same type of phone and advertised as unlocked. Phone arrived today and I can retrieve all the info on the SIM card (e.g contacts etc), the network Vodafone (my SIM network) is showing on the phone and there are bars for a signal but I can't send or receive calls or texts. I called Vodafone to check all is well with SIM and account and they confirmed it is and said only thing could be phone is broken or not actually unlocked. I emailed seller who seemed pretty genuine and said he tested it with a Vodafone SIM card before selling and it worked. Any thoughts? Is he a lying beggar or can anyone think of a legitimate reason for the problem? Thanks

08-09-2010, 20:23	#2
QTC13 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 3,282	Have you tried YOUR SIM in another phone (a vodafone phone that belongs to a friend maybe?) ? Maybe the swim in the toilet hasn't done it a lot of good At least that way you can rule out if it's the phone or your SIM that's dodgy. If your sim works in your friend's phone, try their sim in the ebay phone. If their SIM doesn't work, you will then know it's the phone. Not much help really was it?

08-09-2010, 23:15	#3
ogg monster Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: half way up the stairs Posts: 5,209	Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : ( I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive. Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now.

09-09-2010, 00:35	#4
QTC13 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 3,282	Quote: Originally Posted by ogg monster Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : ( I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive. Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now. Unlucky! Try your local vodafone shop, they used to have some cheap PAYG refurb phones - I brought one for my nephew £15. Basic camera phone, but at 14 that's all he's getting lol

09-09-2010, 00:39	#5
MTUK1 Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 19,783	Quote: Originally Posted by ogg monster Thanks for your reply. I have done a little investigating and it seems the handset is barred : ( I knew I shouldn't have bought form ebay, even if the feedback was 100% positive. Oh well, will just have to try and get my money back now. Put a claim in via Paypal straight away.

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Is the phone actually unlocked?