Unknowingly Locked!!

[Anonymous]

Having washed my i phone in a hot wash in a trouser pocket I am in the process of replacing it via home insurance. What I discovered tonight from them seemed far fetched so I contacted O2 and its true.I buy an unlocked phone so that I have the choice of provider, particularly so I can use a local sim when travelling. I now discover that once I put a sim card in my phone I am locked to that provider. also, it costs £15 to unlock and that O2 havent decided to unlock the iphone 6 yet. This cannot be right!!!

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Having washed my i phone in a hot wash in a trouser pocket I am in the process of replacing it via home insurance. What I discovered tonight from them seemed far fetched so I contacted O2 and its true.I buy an unlocked phone so that I have the choice of provider, particularly so I can use a local sim when travelling. I now discover that once I put a sim card in my phone I am locked to that provider. also, it costs £15 to unlock and that O2 havent decided to unlock the iphone 6 yet. This cannot be right!!!

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It is sadly.

Apple are the only people who provide an unlocked iPhone. With anyone else it will lock to the first sim used.

Additionally, as far as I am aware.... O2 are not unlocking the iPhone 6 yet. (unless it was bought on a Refresh deal and the handset is paid off in full).

[Anonymous]

I want to buy a phone outright from Apple as I have always done. The insurance company want to send me one as they get a good discount from CPW and if I buy my own they will only pay me what they pay them. Does this mean that the phones bought from Apple direct (which I have always done) are different from those bought from a provider.

[MI5]

This is true as said by cleoriff and is an important lesson in reading the T&C's before purchase. Unless you buy directly from an Apple store you cannot buy a sim free iPhone.

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Does this mean that the phones bought from Apple direct (which I have always done) are different from those bought from a provider. 

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Yes, they are very different - where did you buy from ?

Who is your insurance with?

[Anonymous]

Original & now very clean but dead was bought from Apple. Insurance company (Santander) will supply from CPW. They wont tell me how much they pay for them as if there isnt a great deal of difference I would be happier buying in Apple store & getting a cheque for a bit less

.

[Cleoriff]

Then I think you are wise to go for the cheque option from the insurance if they will do that for you. No point being stuck with a locked phone...

[MI5]

Take the cheque and buy it yourself mate otherwise you'll be stuffed.

[Anonymous]

Also make sure you get the same phone as you had or similar, but sometimes phones claimed on insurance tend to be refurbs

[Anonymous]

Yes, Cant see them getting a massive discount as I thought Apple kept things fairly tight. Can deduct £15 from whatever the cost just so I dont have to pay for the unlock.