12 month lock in on new iPhone 6 on PAYG

[Anonymous]

I have had my iPhone 6 for 3 months now and I am fed up with the lack of 4G availability outside London and on the trains. I thought I would try out EE and discovered to my horror that unlike virtually every other network O2 lock in their PAYG customers for 12 months when they activate a new device, a new device I paid for in full and belongs to me.

The whole point of going PAYG and buying my own phone is that I did not want to be locked into a contract. I am now suffering the worst of both worlds; locked in for another 9 months without the benefits of a contract.

I have three O2 phones I can assure that they will all be moved off O2 as soon as your punitive policies allow unless this daft restriction is lifted. At no time was I told that I would be locked in for 12 months upon first activation. I have been with O2 for years and am appalled by this.

The only reason I wanted to try EE on one of my three iPhones is because of the poor 4g coverage. And you refuse to publish a timetable of when this will be address as well. How do you expect to retain any customers with this type of deception?

[MI5]

I'm sure @Toby will pass your thoughts on to those in control.......

For future (as all networks do this) buy your phone from an Apple store and you won't have the problem.

[Anonymous]

That is interesting because according to Ofcom, only O2 have a 12 month lock in. Some have 3 months and some have none.

[MI5]

The only network that don't lock their phones currently is Three (this is a recent change) all other networks do.
giffgaff (not a network, but an MVNO of O2) also sell completely sim free phones (inc iPhones) and so do Carphone Warehouse (but not iPhones).

[Anonymous]

I thought I'd the iPhone was bought outright then o2 had to unlock it on request? ????

I guess the £15 would be needed as on payg.

Have I missed something here?

[MI5]

I'm not sure we have had an iPhone 6 PAYG test case to refer back to yet, but yes, if a contract phone is paid off they will unlock it.....