Is it too difficult to unlock mobile phones?

I bought a PAYG phone on the Orange network because I regularly visited an area where this network was the only one that worked reliably. The phone was returned three times to Currys because of the same fault. They had the phone longer than me but the store manager refused to replace it, and did not want to know about the Sale of Goods Act. Another store manager did replace it with the same phone on the Virgin network and let me keep the Orange sim card. I had the phone unlocked for £10 using one of the online services. I understand why phones are locked but in the circumstances I feel that I was justified in unlocking mine.

Next time I buy a phone I will look for one that is not tied to a network.

ditto wavechange

I have asked for Orange to reflash my phone with the original HTC firmware on it to which they have refused. I contacted Which legal team and they gave me a good template on which to base my letter.

Basically, my “smart” phone is full of bugs, the most annoying being the seemingly erratic network coverage. It is more noticeable when either connected to wifi or there is a wifi network in the area.

No-one has really highlighted the awful performance of these smartphones actually as a PHONE! This is why when quoting the sales of goods act, you have to mention the fact that its simple phone functions are not working.

I am on my first smartphone and at this rate, will be my last. Definitely the last phone locked to a network as Orange developers clearly do not have a clue about the smartphone software. Although I also hear that other people are struggling with their mobile reception.

Could it be because everyone is accessing so much data over the mobile networks?

Has anyone commissioned any research into this?

I’d agree with Dean that the newer phone have a worse performance for voice calls in areas of lower signal strength – I’d like to see Which? include this as a major fact in test ratings.

But, on the subject of locking, I understand that the cost of the handset is subsidised by the network provider, as the cost of the handset-only is way above the PAYG price.

I have a very good SIM-only contract, and I always buy new handsets independently. I found that Orange would charge £20 for unlocking a PAYG phone, especially as I would want to use an overseas PAYG SIM in it when I go abroad, for much cheaper local calls within that country.

My last few handsets have been bought on eBay from sellers who got them as an unwanted upgrade, and I have saved over the handset-only price. It has also been much cheaper in the long term to do this, than be tired to an 18-month or 24-month contract.

I don’t have a problem with networks locking the handset, but they should be transparent about unlocking procedure and charges.

I paid over £400 for my Iphone last year, on payg. I think it works well as a phone as well as itunes etc.

I had to pay £20 to have it unlocked, because I wanted to switch to a better service provider.

Seems a bit rich to have to pay to unlock MY property.

Bit since the unlock and switching provider, the phone definitely works better.

i’m interested in giffgaff.

i only need a mobile phone when on holiday in the months of june and september.

i cant find out from the giffgaff site if i have to top up EVERY month or if i can just top up when i want.

and is there any contract legnth?

thanks for any ideas.

good info about unlocking.

Nice……….

I was outraged to find a phone that I bought before orange became EE with ‘phonefund’ had locked my new phone to Orange PayAsYouGo for 3 months. They said it had been in the small print which I scoured with a fine toothcomb and could not find it. They lied and said Apple had locked the phone when it was in fact them. As a result I decided to carefully test PayAsYouGo on my smartphone. Having never used one before I did not turn off my internet and therefore used £10 credit in half an hour. Because I had spent so much on credit that month they gave me 10% back (£10) and when this did not arrive (now I knew to turn off my internet for 3 months) I rang them to ask them to materialise this ‘deal’ they had text me to say I received and had recieved 10% back for years with my brick phone. The lady at customer services repeatedly said they have never done such deal and eventually shouted at me on the phone and did not apologise. Therefore I went to a high street shop where I paid a man £20 to unlock my phone (thought this was illegal at the time but was at my wits end unable to use the phone I had just paid £400 outright for). Job done. And I would NEVER recommend EE to anybody, infact I tell everyone who is with EE about my experience and actively ENCOURAGE them to leave IMMEDIATELY and go with giffgaff who actually seem to care.

I think it is outrageous that the company that you have a 24 month contract with, 3 Mobile in my case, charge to unlock the phone. I travel to Australia and New Zealand and spend some months out there so I like to buy a local pay as you go sim card to put in my phone to prevent the excessive roaming charges whilst there and I have to pay to get my phone unlocked.

As far as the lady who says her network supplier wont unlock her phone because she is no longer “an active customer” is the biggest load of bull I have heard for a long time. She should go straight down to the County Court and sue them for unfair conditions in a contract. I cant believe a judge would accept that as a fair condition .But she will probably find it was a statement from an airhead on the other end of the phone and not company policy. The number of times I have had a big company suddenly change tack when they realise you are serious about taking them to court is usually enough to get someone higher up bothered about someone higher up than them finding out about it and then being asked” Why did you let this get this far” which is enough to get them to try and make it go away the easiest way and quietest way possible.Its called office politics but sometimes you have to wield the big stick first.