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Orange will unlock my mobile... for £20!
oxben
03-03-2008
Hello,

My contract with Orange is up in a few days and I wanted to unlock my phone to use on another network. I thought that as I was beyond 12 months / at end of contract I would be able to just phone up and get the code to unlock my phone for use on any network.
However the guy on the phone said they would do it, but it would cost me £20 !

Is this the case these days? I was pretty shocked as I thought that now I had completed my contract the phone was 'my property' ?

Hope someone can help.
jonespr1
03-03-2008
Originally Posted by oxben:
“Hello,

My contract with Orange is up in a few days and I wanted to unlock my phone to use on another network. I thought that as I was beyond 12 months / at end of contract I would be able to just phone up and get the code to unlock my phone for use on any network.
However the guy on the phone said they would do it, but it would cost me £20 !

Is this the case these days? I was pretty shocked as I thought that now I had completed my contract the phone was 'my property' ?

Hope someone can help.”

That's standard, not sure about the other networks.

Robert
Ricardodaforce
03-03-2008
It is your property. But why should they provide you a service for nothing? Tell me, would you expect the guy on the market with his laptop to do it for nothing too?
RT1981
03-03-2008
Typical.

We unlock after you've spent £30 with us, which obviously you'll be able to do easily after contract finished.
oxben
04-03-2008
Thanks for the replies. I didn't realise it was standard practise, I thought that as you had commited to a 12/18 month contract they would send the code for free if requested at the end.

And whilst I wouldn't expect a 'guy with a laptop' to do it for free, I would expect it from a company that has had guarenteed money from me for the last 18 months.

Oh well. I'd much rather find someone else willing to do it than give the money to Orange.

Thanks for all your help.
CXC3000
04-03-2008
I wouldn't pay £20 to have a phone unlocked.

I thought the average price was about a fiver ?

Shop around, mate.
Harry, it sucks
04-03-2008
3 do it for £15 (or they did about 12 months ago) but they really try not to, i had to speak to about 3 people until i found one who would do it. It was a Nokia 6680, so i had to get the code from them, otherwise i would have just gone to an independent and got it done for a fiver.
They are essentially providing a service and it's not unreasonable for them to charge for it.
the_mothman
04-03-2008
Yes this is standard practice for unlocking a handset. While the handset is still yours Orange aren't obliged to unlock it for you. That service is a chargeable service.
With regards to the going rate being a fiver, I would love to see an unlocking service (online anyway) worth its salt that costs just £5.

You're looking between £10 and £30 depending on the handset.
Market stalls sometimes unlock the phone for £10 but I have even seen these going up in price.
organiclive
04-03-2008
In past experience or at least with o2 anyway, when the contract is paid off or finished they unlock the phones for you over the air without your knowledge.

Wether they still do this i do not know, but they have done it a few times in the past for me.
coopermanyorks
04-03-2008
Originally Posted by organiclive:
“In past experience or at least with o2 anyway, when the contract is paid off or finished they unlock the phones for you over the air without your knowledge.

Wether they still do this i do not know, but they have done it a few times in the past for me.”


02 contract phones are not locked to start with they are always unlocked

Three charged my wife £15 to unlock her phone at the end of her 12 contract it was via a code entered onto the phone a SE W850i
the_mothman
04-03-2008
Originally Posted by coopermanyorks:
“02 contract phones are not locked to start with they are always unlocked”

This is true for a lot of O2 handsets, however not all.
coopermanyorks
04-03-2008
Originally Posted by the_mothman:
“This is true for a lot of O2 handsets, however not all.”


Any examples of when they are not is it certain tariffs or phones ?

Its always been the case on 02 contract phones ( not PAYG)
that me , my family and friends have taken out



Cheers
the_mothman
04-03-2008
Originally Posted by coopermanyorks:
“Any examples of when they are not is it certain tariffs or phones ?

Its always been the case on 02 contract phones ( not PAYG)
that me , my family and friends have taken out



Cheers”

I've currently got a Nokia N95 Black on O2 and it's locked.
I have owned several locked O2 handsets in the past too (inc Motorola and Sony Ericsson).

Been on O2 for years. Some are locked, some aren't. They have no hard and fast rules with regards to tariff or handset as far as i can see. Luck of the draw.
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