Unlocked Iphone locked to O2

[Anonymous]

Hi, can anyone help me with this issue.

I have just been on the phone with Apple and they checked my imei and said my phone is locked to o2.

Details:

I bought my phone last year from APPLE STORE - no contract- nothing. 

My first sim was o2 but then I switched to giffgaff. 

Now I am not in the UK and when I insert a sim it says - "Please activate your iphone - then I insert my new sim - This sim is not suported by our activation carrier..."? 

How can O2 lock my phone when all I had was a basic Pay as you Go sim and no contract?

Somebody please help me. 

Thnak you

[MI5]

If you bought it on O2 PAYG (from anywhere, CPW, Apple or O2) it will lock to the first sim inserted. giffgaff runs on O2 network so that's why the giffgaff sim was OK.
O2 will unlock the phone now for you but you need £15 credit on a PAYG sim for the unlock fee, plus an amount to make a few phone calls to register phone back to O2 network.
Unlock form is here https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form

[Cleoriff]

Just wonder if the OP is going to be able to do that @MI5  Apparently they are not in the UK at the time of posting?

[Anonymous]

I bought it from Regent Street Apple store. I did not have a sim for a month and later I bought a new o2 sim. I paid the full retail price around £530 from apple so I dont think O2 can lock my phone, right?

I am not in the UK now I am in India.

[MI5]

It is going to be a problem now you are in India....
If you specifically requested a sim free phone from Apple they have given you the wrong handset so it is up to Apple to correct their mistake - I assume you still have a receipt showing exactly what you bought?

[Anonymous]

Hi

I buy my iPhones direct from Apple at the full retail price ,and these do not lock out to the first SIM card inserted.

Usually they email your receipt to you in store if convenient so like said just check what it says.

The units they provide for contract customers however do which is why the usually insist on inserting the appropriate network SIM card in it to lockout.
From Apple Uk Website.

"About the unlocked iPhone
Unlocked iPhone isn't tied to one network, so you have the freedom to choose any supported GSM network worldwide. Buy unlocked iPhone at the Apple Online Store, then find a SIM-only plan for iPhone. Or contact your existing carrier to continue with your current plan.

About Pay as you go.
If you don’t want a service plan, you can add a Pay as you go starter pack from one of the available carriers at the Apple Online Store. With Pay as you go, your iPhone arrives ready to use with a compatible SIM and no credit check is needed. You just pay online for what you use and you can change networks at any time. Pay as you go is a good option if you prefer to use a local network when travelling abroad."


Good luck.

[Cleoriff]

Bit late now though BoB...The OP unfortunately is in India. Think they travelled there thinking they could put in a local sim?

[Anonymous]

Hi @Cleoriff

I was mainly replying to the post from them about buying it at full retail price ,and them asking if O2 can lock it.

Hopefully the inserted info will add weight to their complaint.

What a nightmare to be in.

For to feel for the OP.

[jonsie]

I can understand the OP being under the impression that it would be unlocked but as we have found, that's not always the case. I don't feel that this is any fault of O2's doing however. It needs to be addressed to Apple as I think they are the only ones who can unlock it given the OP's current location. It's just a shame another network sim wasn't tried in the UK.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree jonsie

If they go onto Apples online page their is a Chat Facility where hopefully something can be looked at when they check the iPhones serial number.