An unlocked phone requiring my "SIM network unlock PIN"

[jg64]

Hi there, I could really benefit from the wisdom in this community, or if anyone else has had the same issue:

I am an O2 customer, transferred over from Virgin a while back. Monthly contract.

I recently bought a refurbished unlocked Motorola moto g6 - a straight swap of my current moto g6.

I put my SIM in, and the request came up for my SIM network unlock PIN.

I tried 0000, 1234, 4321, 7890 (as a former Virgin customer) and 5555. None worked - "unlocking attempt unsuccessful".

I contacted O2 chat-help who gave me two 8-digit PUK codes; neither worked; and they suggested it was a device problem.

So I thought, maybe it's the phone, was it really unlocked?; and I got another refurbished unlocked moto g6. Same problem, and again none of those usual PINs worked.

Maybe it's my existing SIM? So I went to my local O2 shop to get a replacement SIM for my phone number; the staff member put the new SIM in and got the same problem, and no solution. 

I don't think it's a device issue; I think it's something to do with my account. In the settings on the phone, the "SIM card lock setting" is set to Off.

I don't want to be in the situation of where O2 blames my device, and Motorola blames O2.

Ideas and solutions welcome! Thank you

[pgn]

Tricky, especially with second-market devices:

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/i-inserted-a-new-sim-card-and-now-it-is-asking-me-...

If the handset was locked to a different carrier, the unlock code needs to come from that carrier.... Your best bet may be a tenner to a corner mobile repair stall to unlock it for you, if possible @jg64 

[MI5]

@jg64 

Enter your IMEI number into Checkmend to confirm if it's network locked or not.

https://www.checkmend.com/uk

[jg64]

OK, many thanks.

[jg64]

Thank you, tried that. It seems it is unblocked: "The device is not currently recorded as lost or stolen by phone networks who share their data with us."

[MI5]

@jg64 

What about the network lock status?

Does it name a network at all?

Do you have access to sim cards from EE, Three or Vodafone you can try in the phone?