Was this person ripped of RE: Siemens CF25 "unblocking"?

TVDX · 29-09-2005, 17:16

A hypothetical scenario if you will, please give me your take on this.

A person walks into a mobile phone shop that specialises in fixing mobile phones.
They then ask clearly "Can you unblock the Sim card in this Siemens CF25?".

Next thing you know the man behind the counter is shaking his head saying "that up until two months ago these PHONES couldn't be unblocked and that it would be an expensive job, 40 quid no less!".

Having agreed to the terms, the customer returns a day later and the guy in the shop says "Oh yes that all done" and so they pay the money.

Guy in shop then turns on the phone and a few seconds later says "Oh no this Sim is blocked". Yes this was the original problem the customer clearly stated.
He then says "You have just wasted 40 euro for nothing".
"You will have to ring your {mobile phone company} to get them to unblock that".

Now, my question is, was this a rip off job?.
Is there a possibility that the original action of typing in the wrong pin too many times could have in fact disabled the handset as well.

Would the person who charged money for this service have known that the phone didn't need unblocking?.
Would he, in fact, have done nothing at all with the handset and charged the 40 quid for the "service provided" or is it possible he did do something?.

Please help.

29-09-2005, 17:46

The moral of the story is never pay for a service until it has been demonstrated to have been performed.

TVDX · 29-09-2005, 18:39

So, do you think it was a rip off job?.

mattworld · 29-09-2005, 19:42

Depends what he actually did, if he unlocked the phone so it can be used on any network (even if this wasn't the problem) then £40 is a bit on the expensive side but not a complete rip off. Saying that if the customer asked him to unblock the SIM, they didn't ask him to unlock the phone so he shouldn't have charged for it. Being an 'expert' he should have known what to do & that by unlocking the phone it wouldn't unlock the SIM card & it wouldn't have sorted the problem out

If he didn't do anything at all to the phone again he shouldn't have charged for it, the customer didn't recieve the service they paid for (depends on what was said, if he said he'd try for £40 it'd be very difficult to prove he didn't try)

The network should be able to sort the SIM card out if it's just blocked 'cos the PIN was entered wrongly. The normally do this for free unless there is something dodgy about it, then they won't.

Personally I'd be demanding my money back and if they refused reporting them to the appropriate people.

29-09-2005, 17:16	#1
TVDX Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,356	Was this person ripped of RE: Siemens CF25 "unblocking"? A hypothetical scenario if you will, please give me your take on this. A person walks into a mobile phone shop that specialises in fixing mobile phones. They then ask clearly "Can you unblock the Sim card in this Siemens CF25?". Next thing you know the man behind the counter is shaking his head saying "that up until two months ago these PHONES couldn't be unblocked and that it would be an expensive job, 40 quid no less!". Having agreed to the terms, the customer returns a day later and the guy in the shop says "Oh yes that all done" and so they pay the money. Guy in shop then turns on the phone and a few seconds later says "Oh no this Sim is blocked". Yes this was the original problem the customer clearly stated. He then says "You have just wasted 40 euro for nothing". "You will have to ring your {mobile phone company} to get them to unblock that". Now, my question is, was this a rip off job?. Is there a possibility that the original action of typing in the wrong pin too many times could have in fact disabled the handset as well. Would the person who charged money for this service have known that the phone didn't need unblocking?. Would he, in fact, have done nothing at all with the handset and charged the 40 quid for the "service provided" or is it possible he did do something?. Please help.

29-09-2005, 17:46	#2
dawson Posts: n/a	The moral of the story is never pay for a service until it has been demonstrated to have been performed.

29-09-2005, 18:39	#3
TVDX Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,356	So, do you think it was a rip off job?.

29-09-2005, 19:42	#4
mattworld Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 701	Depends what he actually did, if he unlocked the phone so it can be used on any network (even if this wasn't the problem) then £40 is a bit on the expensive side but not a complete rip off. Saying that if the customer asked him to unblock the SIM, they didn't ask him to unlock the phone so he shouldn't have charged for it. Being an 'expert' he should have known what to do & that by unlocking the phone it wouldn't unlock the SIM card & it wouldn't have sorted the problem out If he didn't do anything at all to the phone again he shouldn't have charged for it, the customer didn't recieve the service they paid for (depends on what was said, if he said he'd try for £40 it'd be very difficult to prove he didn't try) The network should be able to sort the SIM card out if it's just blocked 'cos the PIN was entered wrongly. The normally do this for free unless there is something dodgy about it, then they won't. Personally I'd be demanding my money back and if they refused reporting them to the appropriate people.

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Was this person ripped of RE: Siemens CF25 "unblocking"?