Seemingly impssible to unlock Sony Xperia XA

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

Hoping someone can help here. My missus gave me her old phone, she's on O2 I'm not. Phone has lonog since been paid off, was originally sold through Carphone Warehorse.

Been asking for it to be unlocked and was initially told by O2 that CW had to do it. They said no, O2 must do it. Then was told by O2 that Sony must do it. They said no, O2 must do it. O2 now say they cannot do it. 

What do I do? I lost my (contract) phone in Feb, we're both NHS workers, so could really do with some help here. If I raise a complaint with O2 will they take responsibility here because we are getting passed off every time.

With thanks,

Nick 

[Anonymous]

thanks MI5 it's already set to that.

Any other ideas? 

[MI5]

Sorry no.
It's an odd one as the phone should not be locked at all.
Does an O2 SIM still work in it just in case the phone is barred?

[Anonymous]

O2 and EE sims work ok in it, it doesn't like my Vodafone contract one though

[MI5]

I asked a question above?

[Anonymous]

sorry getting confused !

EE and O2 sims work in it. At the advice of customer services (and shop guy in Kingston upon Thames) I bought a payg O2 for £15 , tried to get it unlocked while this SIM was in it, no joy, waste of money. 

It still refuses to work with my Vodafone contract sim though

[Anonymous]

when I googled the error code last night there were suggestions that this could mean the device is blacklisted - it was sold to us in this state - could this be right?

[gmarkj]

If you can get o2 AND EE sims working it's not locked. The EE sim wouldn't work.
Does your vodafone sim workin other phones?
Wonder if that is the culprit and not working...

Also, it it were blacklisted nothing would work!

[MI5]

@Anonymous 

You have confirmed it's not locked so the issue is with your Voda SIM.

You may need a PUK for it from Voda or a replacement SIM card. 

[Anonymous]

Thank you both. The sim works in two other unlocked phones, it’s in daily use in one of them (the battery in that one won’t last a day) 

[gmarkj]

If the phone was locked then either the o2 sim or the ee sim wouldn't work.
Try putting this into the dialler *#78#. It might open up a menu with an option to unlock the carrier.
Try a new sim from vodafone.
Finally I'll tag the Soony expert @viridis to see if he knows anything...