Unlocking phone

[Anonymous]

I purchased a 640 phone for cash.  I decided to use pay as you go.  I now want to switch supplier to BT on contract.  02 gave me a PAC code no problem.  I pet new SIM card into my phone and it told me I had to contact 02 to unlock the phone.  I rang 02 and after a long conversation was told that I would get a call giving me the unlock code.  24 hours later I rang 02 again and this time I was told as I have not had the phone for a year their policy was not to unlock my phone.  Who`s phone is it? I paid the full price for the phone, how dare 02 tell me I cannot use it because I want to change suppliers.  I was not given any `small print` when I purchased the phone, so presumed I could use whatever supplier I chose.

Do I need to go to the expense of a Small Claims Court to get my phone opened or my money refunded.

[jonsie]

With the pay and go phones the network insist it is used on O2 for 12 months before unlocking. This is usually because the network subsidise the phone. Only exception is the iphone.

You can make a complaint but it's doubtful whether O2 would relax the rules.

How to complain

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

As jonsie has said, unfortunately there is a 12 month rule in place for PAYG phones.
For future reference, if you buy from Carphone Warehouse, they are already unlocked (except iPhones).