Upgraded my two I phones from 3GS to 4S maintained my o2 pay as you go, need to unlock old ones.

[Anonymous]

In 2009 I bought two 3GS I phones. As sim free since then we have used them on o2 pay as you go with a data bolt on . No issues really happy. To start 2013 I bought two I Phone 4S again Sims free transferred our numbers to the new phones. We gave our old GS3 phone to our grand children believing they were Sims free unlocked phones as at when we bought them. Can you imagine their disappointment when they put in their own Sims cards and the phone did not respond.

How did my phones become locked when bought Sims free and how do I get them unlocked so my grand children can use them.

Any help would be really appreciated. 

[Liquid · Accepted solution]

O2 don't sell unlocked phones as far as I know. The sim free bit referees only to the fact they don't contain a sim.

To unlock them use this form;

https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form

You'll need the imei of each phone which you can get by dialling *#06# on the phone itself.

Unfortunately because the phones were PAYG you'll have to put the sim back in them with £15 credit to pay for the unlock.

[Anonymous]

Where did you buy them from.

And yes you fill in the unlocking request form which is online.

[Anonymous]

 Thank-you for your response. I bought one from Apple Milton Keynes and one from o2 in Northampton at the time they were in short supply. The new ones are both from Apple and I was told I could use them anywhere by just buying a sim. I fear know they to may be locked to the network, I rang Apple and they assure me they never lock a phone and are not really interested.

[adamtemp64]

in 2009 all iphones were locked to networks and apple did not sell them sim free you had to buy a payg card at the time and o2 would have been the same . Only with the launch of the 4 did apple offer sim free at an apple store as they do now.

If you get the iphones back and make a few calls with the old sims (adptors are available)

Then you can use the unlock form and pay £15 each handset to unlock

[Anonymous]

Many thanks i did not know that