Vodafone/ NUC resolutions cannot unlock my iPhone 4 - Help Please!!

I decided to move from Vodafone UK to 02, only to discover that my iPhone was locked to the Vodafone network.

I complete the NUC resolutions form, only for it to be rejected for the wrong IMEI number.

The number however was correct, and to cut a very long story short it has now been over 4 weeks since I requested the phone be unlocked. the have mulitple requests to NUC resolutions, even direct from staff at the Vodafone store, but still no joy.

Vodafone customer support have stated there is no reason the phone cannot be unlocked, noting that they are aware that it was a leaving gift from my old company and has been in my personal possesion for 2 years.

NUC resolutions are trying to draw a line under this now stating

"Please note that we are heavily dependent on the data provided by the manufacturer. The NUC is provided by the manufacturer and is unique for each IMEI.The unlocking of your handset is a service that we provide; however, it is not a guaranteed process. Please contact Vodafone customer service or manufacturer for further assistance, as we are not able to provide further help."

My only option now seems to be to contact Apple about this, but I cannot seem to find a way to contact them. I have seen there is a callback number, but they cannot call me back as my phone isn't working!! Also, I have read on various forums that Apple will not unlock my iPhone directly.

Can anyone please help me, otherwise I faced with having to purchase a brand new iPhone, despite the fact that I have a perfectly good one in my possesion.

Please I will then need to work out what legal action I can take....which I really, really don't want to do, but will as a matter of principle.

Thanks,

MWHA