iPhone 6S bought sim-free

[Anonymous]

I purchased a 6s from CPW sim free and put in an o2 sim I had lying around to activate it while I waited for a replacement for my contract sim (on EE). Stupidly didn't realise they locked to the first carrier and now can't get the phone unlocked. Are CS normally as obstructive as I have encountered recently? Put a request in for an unlock, no contact after the 72 hours. Tried live chat, told that I had to go to CPW to unlock, which I know is not correct. Tried live chat again, told that Apple had not "authorised" o2 to unlock 6s. Spoke to Apple, obviously they told me they cannot help. Is there any way I can get this unlocked or should I try and return it to CPW for a replacement?

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

CPW can reset the phone to an unactivated state to allow you to activate it to your EE account but it will then re-lock to EE.
If you bought the phone at full price from CPW and it's all paid for O2 should unlock it for you though, either with a PAYG sim or by using someones contract sim (for free).
http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Products-Services/Unlocking-an-O2-phone-to-use-a-different-SIM-ca...

[Bambino]

It will be six months at least before O2 will unlock the iPhone 6S. If you've just bought it from CPW then you need to return it there, but I believe that if you bought the phone in store there is no period of grace for returns.

[MI5]

O2 made the ruling last year that they would unlock phones that were fully paid for in advance of the 6 month rule - you may have to keep trying cs though until you get someone to accept this for you.

[Bambino]

Having never bought a sim free phone from CPW, do they not tell people who purchase iPhones that they will be locked to the first sim that's inserted? If not, why not?

[MI5]

They should do and it's now pretty common knowledge. It's certainly on the website.

[Cleoriff]

I have just checked CPW returns policy. Instore and online and they do offer 14 days for O2 phones

http://selfhelp.carphonewarehouse.com/SelfHelp/request.do?view%28%29=c{1ff75c90-bcb9-11de-e56d-00000...

[MI5]

They won't swap it just because you locked it to the wrong network.

[MI5]

But they may reset it for you.

[Anonymous]

Cpw will reset the phone for you.. someone made the same mistake that was next to me the other day.. and they did it for them