Apple

[mewzz]

Hi

When i took out my Vodaphone contract 2 years ago, i got a Blackberry handset, but when the iphone 4s came out i decided to buy a sim free version from CarphoneWarehouse. I cut down my Vodaphone sim and used it in the Iphone with no problems. My contract ran out at the end of may, so after plenty of research i decided to take out a contract with another carrier. As i had bought the Iphone sim free i assumed i would just be able to put another sim card in with no problems. WRONG!! After going into the Apple shop on Friday i was told the phone is now locked to Vodaphone??? A trip to the Vodaphone shop followed, where i was told i had to pay £20 to get the phone unlocked, i paid the money as i need the phone up and running quickly.

What has really bugged me is the fact that i bought the phone sim free so i could use different sim cards in it, but i have had to pay to have it unlocked. Who is at fault here, Vodaphone, Carphonewarehouse or Apple? 

[jeffkinn]

Hi Mewzz,

The only company that can sell unlocked phones is Apple - no one else at all. Other companie sell them contract free and the phone gets locked to the network you choose. If this was not explained to you at the time than CPW is probably at fault.

[drey_p]

Hello Mewzz and a warm welcome to the forum!

I wasn't aware that any of the Apple iPhones were supplied SIM free. Perhaps one of the other members can clarify this. If CarphoneWarehouse supplied the phone, you would need to check with them to find out why it was not SIM free as you thought.

Edit: I see Jeffkin has beat me to it with some good advice as always!!

[mewzz]

Thank you for the quick replies.

No cpw didn't explain that the phone would be locked to a carrier of my choice, if it had, i would have got it from the Apple shop instead!

Just another quick question, will my phone be locked to my next carrier?

[jeffkinn]

No - now the phone is unlocked it will stay unlocked.

[kids]

mewzz wrote:

Hi

 Who is at fault here, Vodaphone, Carphonewarehouse or Apple? 

As has already been pointed out the only phones sold unlocked are those bought direct from Apple. 

Your argument rests with CPW as they have never sold unlocked iPhones unless it was a second hand unit that they had taken as part exchange and had already been unlocked by the seller.

Maybe telling you that is was sim free was a sweetner to get you to take the contract?

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