Unlocking prepaid Vodafone phone?

bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 11:47

Purchased a iphone se 2020 back in march still not got around to setting it up yet.
It's a pre paid phone and was Purchased from officeworks the network is Vodafone which obviously i have no interest in.
Some customers got lucky and there phone was unlocked but many was locked.
I have just noticed i Purchased this phone back in 7th march this year and i noticed Vodafone mention the below:

If you’ve had your device for less than 6 months there’s a $50 unlocking fee.

If you’ve had your device for over 6 months there’s a $25 unlocking fee.

What does this mean was my phone supposed to have been activated ie say on Vodafone to qualify for this or just owning the phone for 6 months?
Do i qualify as around 7th sept it would be 6 months.i have owned it obviously still sealed.

If i can save an extra $25 waiting another week why not, there will be mine and wife's phone so instead of paying $100 for them both to get unlocked it would only be $50.

Im just not sure how Vodafone can tell you had it more than 6 months if its not been used yet or more so on there network, i be using my boost sim.
Thanks

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Comments

  • GG57 on 31/08/2021 - 11:50
    +1

    The bigger question is why did you buy a phone in March and here we are 6 months later and you haven't used it yet?

    • YeemaiI on 31/08/2021 - 11:53

      Cops got a hold of OP's old burner phone number for his side business

    • holdenmg on 31/08/2021 - 11:55
      +1

      It was March 20/20. Hindsight was passed by a long time ago.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 11:59

      Cause in using another and just not bother to set up this one yet.

  • DannyC on 31/08/2021 - 12:00

    It's 2021 and places still lock phones to carriers? If it is from Officeworks I doubt it'd be locked to Vodafone.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 12:13

      According to the post on the deals section of this site the phone which some got lucky and it was unlocked but most had to unlock and pay.
      It even tells you on Vodafone site prepaid phones after certain dates are locked.

      There is only one way to find out i suppose and check and i should know.
      After finding the info on owning 6 months etc i was hoping it was cheaper to unlock.
      And no i was not holding on this long to get unlock for less just not got around to setting it up.

  • JimmyF on 31/08/2021 - 12:06

    What does this mean was my phone supposed to have been activated ie say on Vodafone to qualify for this or just owning the phone for 6 months?

    Yes that is what it means. You have to activate the prepaid service and keep it active for 6 months or more to get the cheaper unlock.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 12:16

      That's what i was thinking i was hoping just owning the phone this amount of time would qualify.
      But i could have just got it last week so your answer does make sense.
      Hopefully when I crack it open i get lucky and it's unlocked.

  • Muzeeb on 31/08/2021 - 12:18

    You can't use the old…

    "I'm going overseas next week for a holiday and need to insert another countries SIM"

    for a free unlock.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 12:24

      I did this on my current phone and it was hard work.
      It dragged on for a few weeks, i had to activate my free Vodafone sim blah blah.
      Many calls and promises etc and it was done in the end but took ages and being messed around started to get very annoying.

  • Catullus on 31/08/2021 - 12:37

    I have had an unused Telstra phone unlocked. I buy phones when there's a red hot bargain and much later,6 or 12 months, i ring up, usually on a weekend when the woop woop call centre is working and ask to have it unlocked Usually a very polite gentleman of Asian origin takes the details and in about two weeks I get an SMS code, and am able to unlock. You can get a much better price from general public for "Opened but Unlocked, Unused", product.
    Beware though, plenty of dodgy unlockers out there, will take your money on Ebay and then demand more before they do anything.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 12:44

      So you had a phone not activated and you got i touch with them and they unlocked for free
      It's only in there interest to have you on there network so why would they unlock for free.
      I did get it unlocked once my current phone but it was very hard work and got the run around but was done in the end.
      If i can save myself $50 it be great well i have two phones wife has one also to set up so would cost $100.

  • Catullus on 31/08/2021 - 13:01

    Give it a go,and as I said, deliberately tried on a weekend, when they had an overseas call centre on. i just gave them the eimi , so I suppose they can tell when it was made and how long had been in shops Also have done same to a 4G USB dongle that I acquired.

    • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 13:11

      So you say over the phone is best right? And only weekends

  • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 13:32

    I was just about to try and set up my iphone with iPad with boost SIM card in and it most be locked so can’t really set it up until I unlocked it I think.
    I would have thought you could get iphone sort of set up and then sort out sim later on.

    Stupid they supply a cable thats no good older type USB end, I think it comes with micro, so to charge the phone I need to use my iPad cable and plug.

    I’m curious what type of plug I need to use with the cable supplied with phone.
    I can use my iPad one but if I get a plug for iPhone also it be handy.

  • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 14:38

    Checked to see if my phone was locked which it was so Just entered my Imei number into Vodafone locking service and is said it was $25.
    I was expecting to pay $50 to do this like many had when they purchased this phone few months back and was going to try contacting Vodafone to try my luck for free.
    But to be honest it was torture dealing with them and trying to get it and as it’s $25 less than I expected to pay that will do me.
    Wife has her one to get unlocked I’m sure and I’m sure it be the same price or we could try our luck with get them to give for free.
    But even if it’s $25 again thats not too bad having to pay $50 for both phones.
    I’m going to try mine out first before see how it goes before trying her one out.

  • bwatt72 on 31/08/2021 - 19:54

    I’m just curious when I did my unlocking iPhone with Vodafone tool online I entered my imei number and filled in payment details and then give receipt and it said I be give code in 2 working days.
    I’m use curious where do they send such code. Must be unlocking code or is this done automatically?
    I have not given or was not asked any details about myself or email etc to be notified.

    Do I just wait the two days put in the sim I want to use and phone will already be unlocked?

  • bwatt72 on 01/09/2021 - 12:52

    Right obviously as i could not set up phone properly with sim not supported, i skipped a bunch of the set up options on phone including the one where you move stuff over from ipad to iphone.
    I was then able to get whatever phone apps phone comes with i check on phone lock and as was aware locked.
    As in my previous messages knowing it be locked i was asked a question on the Vodafone unlock tool did you buy phone from Vodafone lol i said no as it was officeworks and it never progressed from there.
    As it's a Vodafone i then said yes, next i put in the imei number and got asked to pay $25 and paid.
    It said 2 working days which one day has not passed yet.

    So i believe i just wait these two days put my sim in and should be good to go right?
    When i try and put in my sim card now i cant access phone settings or other stuff as says sim not supported.

    And as i skipped most of the set up ie one transfering stuff from ipad to iphone can this be done after or am i to late.
    It does offer me to update phone to ios 14. Blah blah but not done so yet as wanted to have sim up and running.

    Not sure if i have gone the wrong way about setting up phone etc on mine but seems bit of a headache.
    I will have wifes one to do next after im set up with mine and if there is better way to do it.

  • bwatt72 on 03/09/2021 - 09:32

    Phone still not unlocked not sure what's going on

  • bwatt72 on 03/09/2021 - 10:22

    Feedback from another place, god where are all these buyers who got this phone and did similar by unlocking it. And the deal was advertised on here for phone.
    Have sent message on that post but no feedback.

    Aint it all done by Vodafone

    I think you are doing it correctly.

    https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201328

    Contact your carrier
    Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact your carrier and request an unlock. Your account might need to meet requirements for unlocking. After you've submitted the request, it might take a few days for it to be completed. Contact your carrier to check the status of your unlock request.
    After your carrier has confirmed that they've unlocked your iPhone, follow the steps below.

    Edit: Also have you attached to wifi. I don't know have the unlock codes are sent. Do you need to be connected to the Vodafone network or is being connected via wifi enough or will they send you some manual code to enter?

    • GG57 on 03/09/2021 - 15:46

      And the deal was advertised on here for phone.

      No ads on here, just listings that qualify as bargains.

      • bwatt72 on 03/09/2021 - 17:19

        Yes but many purchased the deal some feedback or help would be good on the unlocking of the phone and if it's me or Vodafone that's got it wrong.

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