Why have Virgin locked my phone?

swirlygirl · 31-12-2008, 20:34

And is it possible that they have?

I got the Liberty Sim from Virgin a good bit ago, but am wanting to switch back to Orange PAYG.

Now I didn't get my phone from Virgin, but when I try to insert an Orange sim I get asked to put in the restriction code

Can Virgin have locked my phone remotely even though I didn't get it from them?

It was originally a phone from Orange, but wasn't locked when I changed it to Virgin!

prking · 31-12-2008, 20:39

Which phone is it? As a security measure you can set most phones so that it will only work with your SIM and to use another SIM, just put in your PIN.

Is it possible someone could have played around with your phone and set this up?

swirlygirl · 01-01-2009, 01:28

I think it's unlikely

Tis a Nokia 7373...

Will try me pin tho and see if it works!

*edit*

Tried my PIN, my puk code and my security code and nothing.

It just seems odd that Virgin would lock a phone that I didn't even get from them

prking · 01-01-2009, 09:22

They haven't locked your phone, its not possible. The PIN and PUK should be for the new Orange SIM.

The only other option is that you haven't activated the Orange SIM?

BT@home · 01-01-2009, 09:25

A "restriction code" is usually a request for the unlock code to unlock the SIM for all networks.

prking · 01-01-2009, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT@home

A "restriction code" is usually a request for the unlock code to unlock the SIM for all networks.

I've never heard of anyone unlocking a SIM and can't see how you could do it and can't find anything by doing a search. Can you point us to a web resource for unlocking the SIM to all networks?

Skylover4life · 01-01-2009, 23:24

They shouldn't be allowed to do that! You bought the phone and it was available to all networks, you switched from Orange to Virgin, and now wont let you go back on Orange.

Your phone was not locked and therefore yours, it's like with a TV you being able to switch from Virgin to Sky, Sky have no right to lock your services with them on your television (other than 12months) because you used their service.

stvn758 · 01-01-2009, 23:53

I just bought my mum a Tesco mobile and it says if you want it unlocked to use on another network you have to ring them and get a code.

RT1981 · 02-01-2009, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylover4life

They shouldn't be allowed to do that! You bought the phone and it was available to all networks, you switched from Orange to Virgin, and now wont let you go back on Orange.

Your phone was not locked and therefore yours, it's like with a TV you being able to switch from Virgin to Sky, Sky have no right to lock your services with them on your television (other than 12months) because you used their service.

They can't!

BT@home · 02-01-2009, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

I've never heard of anyone unlocking a SIM and can't see how you could do it and can't find anything by doing a search. Can you point us to a web resource for unlocking the SIM to all networks?

Sorry, should have put phone not SIM .... btw, I couldn't find the smilies in your post, so you must be great fun to be around

prking · 03-01-2009, 20:29

I'm sorry I've upset you, I don't understand why and I don't know what you mean by not seeing the smilies, there are none in my post? Put it down to me being thick

I did some research and found that SIMs can be reprogrammed but to do so without a valid reason would be illegal. Its not possible to lock a phone over the air though.

Katia Polletin · 04-01-2009, 20:58

VM wouldn't have put the restriction back on even if it was possible.

swirlygirl · 05-01-2009, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

They haven't locked your phone, its not possible. The PIN and PUK should be for the new Orange SIM.

The only other option is that you haven't activated the Orange SIM?

I have activated the SIM, and have an Orange phone number. But I still can't use the SIM because when I put it in my phone, I simply get a message saying "Phone Restricted" with the option to undo, which I click, and then I have to put in a restriction code.

It's definitely an unlock code I need.

So if it wasn't restricted when I changed from Orange to Virgin, and now I can't change back to Orange, then the only conclusion I can gather is that it IS possible for a network to lock a phone that isn't theirs.

It's a pain in the ass

prking · 06-01-2009, 07:34

It isn't possible to lock a Nokia 7373 over the air. I would take the handset to a Nokia service centre.

JonUK · 06-01-2009, 16:15

Seems the phone has been set to ask for the security code before other SIM cards are used. You must confirm this from the screen that comes up. It may then ask you for the PIN for the SIM if set. The default security code is 12345.

prking · 06-01-2009, 17:52

I suggested that a few days ago, but was told it wasn't likely.

swirlygirl · 06-01-2009, 21:30

I tried my own security code, which works for clearing all my logs etc... and 12345 and neither work.

prking · 07-01-2009, 10:19

Hopefully a Nokia service centre will be able to get to the bottom of this.

31-12-2008, 20:34	#1
swirlygirl Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 4,517	Why have Virgin locked my phone? And is it possible that they have? I got the Liberty Sim from Virgin a good bit ago, but am wanting to switch back to Orange PAYG. Now I didn't get my phone from Virgin, but when I try to insert an Orange sim I get asked to put in the restriction code Can Virgin have locked my phone remotely even though I didn't get it from them? It was originally a phone from Orange, but wasn't locked when I changed it to Virgin!

31-12-2008, 20:39	#2
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Which phone is it? As a security measure you can set most phones so that it will only work with your SIM and to use another SIM, just put in your PIN. Is it possible someone could have played around with your phone and set this up?

01-01-2009, 01:28	#3
swirlygirl Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 4,517	I think it's unlikely Tis a Nokia 7373... Will try me pin tho and see if it works! edit Tried my PIN, my puk code and my security code and nothing. It just seems odd that Virgin would lock a phone that I didn't even get from them

01-01-2009, 09:22	#4
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	They haven't locked your phone, its not possible. The PIN and PUK should be for the new Orange SIM. The only other option is that you haven't activated the Orange SIM?

01-01-2009, 09:25	#5
BT@home Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,911	A "restriction code" is usually a request for the unlock code to unlock the SIM for all networks.

01-01-2009, 21:56	#6
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by BT@home A "restriction code" is usually a request for the unlock code to unlock the SIM for all networks. I've never heard of anyone unlocking a SIM and can't see how you could do it and can't find anything by doing a search. Can you point us to a web resource for unlocking the SIM to all networks?

01-01-2009, 23:24	#7
Skylover4life Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newcastle Posts: 1,225	They shouldn't be allowed to do that! You bought the phone and it was available to all networks, you switched from Orange to Virgin, and now wont let you go back on Orange. Your phone was not locked and therefore yours, it's like with a TV you being able to switch from Virgin to Sky, Sky have no right to lock your services with them on your television (other than 12months) because you used their service.

01-01-2009, 23:53	#8
stvn758 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17,338	I just bought my mum a Tesco mobile and it says if you want it unlocked to use on another network you have to ring them and get a code.

02-01-2009, 10:45	#9
RT1981 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Gloucester Posts: 338	Quote: Originally Posted by Skylover4life They shouldn't be allowed to do that! You bought the phone and it was available to all networks, you switched from Orange to Virgin, and now wont let you go back on Orange. Your phone was not locked and therefore yours, it's like with a TV you being able to switch from Virgin to Sky, Sky have no right to lock your services with them on your television (other than 12months) because you used their service. They can't!

02-01-2009, 14:43	#10
BT@home Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,911	Quote: Originally Posted by prking I've never heard of anyone unlocking a SIM and can't see how you could do it and can't find anything by doing a search. Can you point us to a web resource for unlocking the SIM to all networks? Sorry, should have put phone not SIM .... btw, I couldn't find the smilies in your post, so you must be great fun to be around

03-01-2009, 20:29	#11
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	I'm sorry I've upset you, I don't understand why and I don't know what you mean by not seeing the smilies, there are none in my post? Put it down to me being thick I did some research and found that SIMs can be reprogrammed but to do so without a valid reason would be illegal. Its not possible to lock a phone over the air though.

04-01-2009, 20:58	#12
Katia Polletin Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Little Village Posts: 3,984	VM wouldn't have put the restriction back on even if it was possible.

05-01-2009, 19:08	#13
swirlygirl Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 4,517	Quote: Originally Posted by prking They haven't locked your phone, its not possible. The PIN and PUK should be for the new Orange SIM. The only other option is that you haven't activated the Orange SIM? I have activated the SIM, and have an Orange phone number. But I still can't use the SIM because when I put it in my phone, I simply get a message saying "Phone Restricted" with the option to undo, which I click, and then I have to put in a restriction code. It's definitely an unlock code I need. So if it wasn't restricted when I changed from Orange to Virgin, and now I can't change back to Orange, then the only conclusion I can gather is that it IS possible for a network to lock a phone that isn't theirs. It's a pain in the ass

06-01-2009, 07:34	#14
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	It isn't possible to lock a Nokia 7373 over the air. I would take the handset to a Nokia service centre.

06-01-2009, 16:15	#15
JonUK Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bristol (BBC West) MendipTx Posts: 188	Seems the phone has been set to ask for the security code before other SIM cards are used. You must confirm this from the screen that comes up. It may then ask you for the PIN for the SIM if set. The default security code is 12345.

06-01-2009, 17:52	#16
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	I suggested that a few days ago, but was told it wasn't likely.

06-01-2009, 21:30	#17
swirlygirl Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 4,517	I tried my own security code, which works for clearing all my logs etc... and 12345 and neither work.

07-01-2009, 10:19	#18
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Hopefully a Nokia service centre will be able to get to the bottom of this.

DS Forums

Why have Virgin locked my phone?