HT201328: How to unlock your iPhone

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thesoniag
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Does the carrier get in touch with Apple to unlock the phone?

I have been waiting for over 3 months to get my iphone unlocked by Orange, is this usual?

iPhone 4, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 9, 2014 4:58 AM

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thesoniag

Q: Does the carrier get in touch with Apple to unlock the phone?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by wegras,

    wegras wegras Jan 9, 2014 5:06 AM in response to thesoniag
    Level 6 (15,194 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 9, 2014 5:06 AM in response to thesoniag

    Orange .....yes 

    they are under no obligation to unlock ,it is in their "gift"

    They probably just ignored your request

  • by thesoniag,

    thesoniag thesoniag Jan 9, 2014 6:24 AM in response to wegras
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2014 6:24 AM in response to wegras

    So even if you fill out the form requesting the unlock as well as paying the £20.47p fee, they can ignore the request?

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jan 9, 2014 6:44 AM in response to thesoniag
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Jan 9, 2014 6:44 AM in response to thesoniag

    Cell carriers have no incentive to unlock a phone, so such requests are often given low priority and not uncommonly just forgotten. You'll need to contact Orange and ask them about the delay. Ask to talk with a supervisor if the standard agent can't give you a satisfactory answer, and don't accept being foisted off with a vague response.

     

    Note that this presumes you submitted the request and fee directly to Orange. If you went through some "unlocking" service, those are a scam, delivering either a hack or unauthorized unlock by bribing an employee of the cell company to unlock without authorization, and such a case Orange will have no responsibility in the matter.

     

    Regards.

  • by wegras,Helpful

    wegras wegras Jan 9, 2014 6:46 AM in response to thesoniag
    Level 6 (15,194 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 9, 2014 6:46 AM in response to thesoniag

    Ask Orange

    Apple's only involvement is as follows

    The carrier sends  details to Apple electronically to update the master database showing the iphone as unlocked

    Apple provides the DB only ,no involvement in the process other than maintaining the DB on behalf of Carriers worlwide

    This is the process

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014

  • by thesoniag,

    thesoniag thesoniag Jan 9, 2014 4:52 PM in response to wegras
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2014 4:52 PM in response to wegras

    All submitted the correct way via EE form and fee paid. Although they have since refunded the fee due to the long time scale. Orange obviously blame Apple that it has taken so long and today said that Apple are not unlocking Orange phones until Jan 17th, and have not been unlocking phones for the past 2-3 weeks. It beggars belief.

  • by wegras,

    wegras wegras Jan 10, 2014 5:15 AM in response to thesoniag
    Level 6 (15,194 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 10, 2014 5:15 AM in response to thesoniag

    Unfortunately thats is EE not very user friendly ,these forums are littered with complaints about EE group  unlocking or rather not unlocking

    O2 by comparison can do it in 72 hours and without any rancour

  • by thesoniag,

    thesoniag thesoniag Jan 11, 2014 9:20 AM in response to wegras
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2014 9:20 AM in response to wegras

    Problem solved.

    Called 08000790134 and unlock email received 14 hours later.

    I was asked where i got the number as it takes you through to head office customer support and they have the clout to get things done very quickly.