unlock--am i missing a step??

[Anonymous]

i have a payg number, and recently bought a secondhand smartphone and have moved to another network.

this week, i requested an unlock through the website. i was given a PUK and told that my unlock would arrive by email.    it arrived yesterday, and this morning i had time to follow the instructions:

"Your unlatching request has been completed. Unlatching instructions :
The code you require for IMEI 123etc  is as follows :
85etc, a 16 digit number. 
Unlatching a Sony Ericsson device :
Power on the device with a non O2 UK SIM card.
The device will show: SIM network unlock PIN.
Enter the unlock code NCK for the network lock and press Unlock.
The device will pop up a message : Network unlock successful."

***

so i put in the non-O2 card and power up.

i'm asked for "SIM network unlock PIN"

i enter the 16 digit number.

then things are different, because a SECOND window comes up, asking for a PUK.  i enter the 8 digit code i was given, and it seems too long?  like it should only be 6?

and it's unsuccessful.  i'm using the correct numbers.

phone was working fine with o2 card, i've checked the imei number--not on blocked lists, phone bought from a reputable secondhand chain that does checks on their phones,  the new sim is activated.

any ideas?  O2 support is offline now, not sure i'll have time while they're open tomorrow.

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:

i can't tell if the problem is with the sim, as the phone refuses to accept the network unlock...

my partner did the same thing 2 wks ago, switched from O2 to this new network, no problems at all.

current resolution, they will send me a new unlock code within the next 5 days.

and i will cart myself to an O2 shop and ask them to input it for me.

pfft.

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Seems like a plan.... Sit back take it easy and carry on shopping...

[MI5]

Make sure you tell them how many times you have tried as entering the wrong code (if it is actually wrong) 5 times will lock it forever to o2.

[Anonymous]

still no unlock code... back to customer service.

[jonsie]

I have a bad feeling about this. ...

[MI5]

I thought the unlock code had been accepted before it asked for the PUK?

[MI5]

What actually happens now when you start the phone with a non o2 sim card?

[Anonymous]

the phone has the new sim card in it. 

the message that shows up is "SIM network unlock..."

on a whim, I thought I'd try the sim unlock i got from new network, but now i can't find the danged thing--not in the place where i have all my other phone data.  i have a very clear memory of calling them up and asking for this code, and them giving me this sim unlock code, and i remember writing it down, and now i can't find it.

panic.

still no new phone unlock code from 02.

first they said '5 days'

then, 'how ridiculous, only iPhones get a code in 5 days, you have to wait 7 days.'

now it's, 'ah, we had to ask the phone manufacturer and that it is usually 7 days but we can't control it blah blah.'

10 days, no code.  i like my mini-computer, but the whole reason for buying a smart phone was that i didn't want to carry a phone AND a computer, and i still am.

[MI5]

I'm starting to worry that this phone is now hard locked.

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:
I'm starting to worry that this phone is now hard locked.

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If this is the case @MI5 then what's the solution.....?

[MI5]

No solution at all.