I bought a phone locked to Telstra (as I thought I could use it with my Exetel SIM, which uses the Telstra network)
So now I find out that it won't work and needs to be unlocked for $80 now, or $25 in 6 months.
As a typical OBer-tight-arse I would like to know….
1. When a phone is sold, are Telstra notified that the phone with IMEI ***** has been sold on 'this date'?
2. If not, how do they know how long I have had it as I'm not a Telstra customer with a Telstra account?
3. If I just 'don't use it' for 6 months will the unlock fee be dropped to $25, or do I have to 'use it on the Telstra network for 6 months to get the fee dropped to $25?
Phone Unlock Query
barbarella on 20/10/2021 - 12:02
Comments
What a bargain that purchase was :D
Surely there'd be someone on box hill that could 'unlock' it for u?
box hill?
A Melbourne suburb with more than a few phone repair shops.
yeah right….I'm a bloody long way from there!
- Depends where did you buy it from and what condition? If it's used from private seller or third party company then unlikely.
- They take it from the activation date. So whenever it's first activated with a Telstra sim.
- As long as it's activated and 6 months pass then should be $25.
https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/unlock-ph…
Bought it new from a non-Telstra shop.
Ok…so I need to activate it….gggggrrrrrWhy not ask about unlocking the phone at your local phone repair shop?
thanks….I will try that
You need to activate it then regardless to unlock it.
Was it made clear to you that the device was locked to Telstra? If not, you have grounds to return it.
If so, you might be able to activate it with one of those free/$1/$2 Telstra sim cards.
Does seem odd to wait 6 months for it though. What device is it? Maybe there's third party sources that can unlock it for you quicker and cheaper or free.
Search for online phone unlocking services
yeah lots of dodgies out there tho :/
I think some on ebay or gumtree too - if doesn't work shouldn't be much lost
- When a phone is sold, are Telstra notified that the phone with IMEI ***** has been sold on 'this date'?
NO - If not, how do they know how long I have had it as I'm not a Telstra customer with a Telstra account?
it starts when the phone is dispatched to the customer - If I just 'don't use it' for 6 months will the unlock fee be dropped to $25, or do I have to 'use it on the Telstra network for 6 months to get the fee dropped to $25?
it's 6 months whether you use it or not
when you say 'dispatched' do you mean from a Telstra store? (I didn't buy it there)
Its the start date of the plan
ok…don't want to do a plan…
- When a phone is sold, are Telstra notified that the phone with IMEI ***** has been sold on 'this date'?
Would help if you said what phone it was. Some are easy to unlock, some not so much.
Samsung A21s
eBay?
Telstra is not your friend
I suspect 6 months on a fair dinkum telstra plan may be needed
Depending on the make/model of phone you may get an unlock code on ebay.. maybe… i have done this about 4 times years ago
$elstra is not your friend