Apple unlocking fee?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Apple unlocking fee?

Hi all,

I had my Apple Iphone 4 with Orange at the end of my contract I decided to get a rolling monthly sim with a diffrent provided transferring my number to another sim as orange told me on two occassions my hanset was unlocked but now they have confirmed it is locked so im left uncontactable with my number having moved and my old sim redundant and orange claim that Apple require 20 working days to unlock it and £20.43 I'm left with no phone for a month! is this right? any ideas welcome!

iPhone 4, iOS 6.1

Posted on Feb 12, 2013 1:35 PM

Reply

Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,840 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:54 PM in response to Lonyons

Most likely because the person/people you spoke with at Orange are completely clueless. As soon as they get off script, they're just making it up as they go.

The only role Apple plays is that they maintain the central database that indicates to the activation servers what phones are unlocked, and which ones are locked to which carriers. They do not charge anything to process changes to the database by the carriers.

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Answer 2

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:52 PM in response to Lonyons

All Apple does is add your phone's IMEI number to the officially unlocked database, nothing more, and they don't charge either you or the carrier when they do this.

As for Orange telling you it takes 20days & costs £20.43...that's Orange, & no one else. Some carriers just don't like to authorize the unlocking of phones.

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Answer 3

razmee209

Level 10

198,762 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:37 PM in response to Lonyons

Apple doesn't unlock phones.

ONly the carrier that the phone is locked to can unlock it.

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Answer 4

Lonyons Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:46 PM in response to razmee209

So why might orange be telling my apple charge time and money for unlocking if in fact Apple play no role in the process? is there anything else i can do?

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Answer 5

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Feb 12, 2013 1:55 PM in response to Lonyons

As wjosten said this is Orange usual stance

probably why they score so badly in Cust sat surveys

You will just have to go with the flow they hold all the cards

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