Hello

I know the only way to get a BB5 phone unlocked is with the provider. I was wondering if anybody has managed to get an UK Orange N80 unlocked?
and if so how much they charged you?

Thanks
Simon

£20 and up to 30 days for the code to arrive.
They are not allowed to give codes out over the phone anymore and it needs to be posted i was told.

Hi

I'm with Orange and just coming to the end of my current contract (6630) I contacted Orange ref having it unlocked as I want to sell the phone on, once I get a N80. It did cost £20 and I had the code sent to me, it took about a week. So now my 6630 is unlocked.

Andy

Do Orange insist that you are the original owner ? Or can a phone bought off ebay be unlocked.

Would you need to buy a payg sim first ?

Ok to answer my own question.

Yes an Orange sim-locked Nokia N80 bought off auction sites can be unlocked by Orange without much hassle. The procedure is

1.) buy phone
2.) buy Orange sim (£1 online)
3.) register imei with sim by calling 08000790006
4.) wait for phone to activate
5.) call orange on 450
6.) Request unlock code
7.) upload £20 to prepaid balance
8.) Wait few days for code

I am waiting for my code so will update you once I have it and it has worked.

Surely an Orange Prepay SIM works in an Orange simlocked phone?

WOOT..

I received my unlock code from Orange this morning and it works. So to unlock a N80 on orange UK will cost you £21 (£20 for unlock,£1 for sim card).

My vodafone sim is working fine.

ive just got off the phone from orange and they say dont unlock phones at all :mad:

Just found this about unlocking, so unless you have a phone on PAYG I think its up to the operator to determine if he wants to unlock your phone

At this time in most countries it is either mandatory or voluntary for the provider to unlock the customer's mobile phone. However, some providers, including the former AT&T Wireless, never unlock handsets, even after a customer has fulfilled their service contract. Other providers, for example T-Mobile and more recently Cingular will unlock phones if the customer has an active account in good standing for at least 90 days.

In the United Kingdom, government regulator OFCOM dictates that networks must release the unlocking information to customers for non-contract handsets (e.g. Pay as you go) on request. Consumers who purchase handsets under “Pay as you go” or a similar scheme are purchasing the handset outright at the point of sale, this has in effect made phone unlocking in the UK a consumer right.

UK Network providers are permitted to charge a fee for releasing the unlock code, this has prompted smaller businesses to offer cut price unlocking on the UK’s High Streets.

phoned up again and this time i was told they could and that they will send the code out between 7-10 days.
BTW im on Contract and they wanted £20 for it to be unlocked

so how many people hear actually unlock the N80 without contract.

I really want to solve this problem, since I never on orange contract.

regards

Thanks to whoever posted the PAYG route to unlocking the N80 with Orange. I'm on pay monthly with orange (contract long expired) and they first said 'no' to unlock. However, I had an old orange PAYG sim, called to register it to my N80, called the next day for unlocking code, told no problem, am now awaiting code.Cost £20 as described.

Thanks to whoever posted the PAYG route to unlocking the N80 with Orange. I'm on pay monthly with orange (contract long expired) and they first said 'no' to unlock. However, I had an old orange PAYG sim, called to register it to my N80, called the next day for unlocking code, told no problem, am now awaiting code.Cost £20 as described.

My mate got his code in 3 days and didnt have to go the PAYG sim route either, he is on contract and just phoned them up and told them he would like his phone unlocked because he is working in Lithuania for some time and needs to use a Lithuanian sim in his phone:)..

I'm hoping you or some of the others may be able to help with this query. I recently purchased an N80 on E Bay. It was advertised as SIM free but is actualy locked to the Orange network. I'm with O2 inIreland, and herein lies the problem. In the Republic of Ireland, Orange aren't a network provider, therefore I cannot just get a PAYG sim card as suggested above (or can I?) in order to get Orange to unlock the phone! Has anyone any suggestions????

I have the same problem as you odie. I purchased on ebay a sim-free N80 and its locked to Vodafone UK. ¿There's any way to make this via internet, or they only give the code via phone?

canseco,

I have the exact same problem... Anyone have any suggestions dealing with Vodafone UK?

I tried calling them using voipbuster, since I am from Portugal, and I said my cousin bought it for me in the UK, and I am vodafone PT but the SIM wont accept. She asked me for the original number plus 19,99 and she would give me the code.

I have no clue what the original number is. I already contacted my ebay seller, but in case he doesn't come through, anyone suggests a plan B ?

thakzzzzz

I have just got N80 but wanted to unlock my Orange Nokia 6600. Had same story from Orange that people have mention here but instead of waiting for all that I just went into a local phone shop and they did it on the spot for £10. Can't see why not for N80.

Carphone Warehouse (GB name - its called other things elsewhere) will not do it as policy but independents do. Also, if you buy SIM online, particularly to use in other countries, the supplier will often give you code as part of the deal. Happened for previous Nokia when I got Spanish SIM in GB.

I was told by Orange that they will supply an unlock code after I'd been with them for 9 months :(

As with all problems with mobile phone operators, the person on th eother end of the phone always has the power to do these things its just getting him/her to do it that is tricky! So lots of blagging is required I think! Get angry enough, or troublesome enough, think of some good excuses and don't get off the phone until you have your way - someone give it a shot and let me know if it works for them hehe

Does anyone know how to unclock n8o on 3 network can you please help me!!I have got a n 80 but it,s locked to 3 at the moment

Hi...i have 2 N80...Orange and Vodafone...can i unlock it?

Im from Portugal....i already buy SIM Card from UK VDF and UK Orange

UK VDF works in Portugal...but Orange not!!


What can i do???

I buy it as unlocked but it isnt!!

its so easy to unlock it!!! i did everything as advised above. during the conversation with CSRep he told me that after the unlock code will be ready i'll get an sms with instruction to top up my balance with 20GBP - cost of unlocking. i was waiting 4 days and nothing was happening :con? .was going to call again this morning and ask about the progress and imagine my surprise when i recieved letter with the unlock code in the mail this morning,saying that 20GBP was charged for unlock!code worked perfectly.mobile is unlocked now.and I WASN'T charged anything for it.call it lucky,call it Xmas :) or maybe these guys at Orange are just very nice guys!!! ;) thanks for this thread!!!!!

I don't understand this whole unlocking thing. I was under the impression that if you requested an unlocking code from your network it was illegal for them to with hold it. So if they were to tell you it'll cost 20 quid to unlock it you'd be within your rights to tell them to stick the charge and give you the code regardless.

Seeing as you've bought the phone from them you own it and as such they must remove any network based restrictions at your request.

Maybe something's changed but a couple of years ago a colleague of mine was told he'd be charged to unlock his phone. He read them the riot act about how it was illegal and they unlocked his phone on the spot.

hmm interesting. I heard about a law that changed that required operators to unlock phones if requested, but I didn't think it specified that they had to do it for free, hence the £20 fee!

by law they only have to issue you with an unlocking code free and when requested if you buy a phone sim free or pay as yu go from them, because efectively you ar buying the phone outright, however on a contract you are not buying the phone outright because the network is subsidising the cost of the handset and so they are not obliged to release the unlocking code untill the contract is complete..

hope that clears it up for you :)..

Yeah. I forgot to add that the contract has to be complete.

Would seem silly to sign up to another network if you're still having to pay charges to your old one.

So what I heard WAS correct?

well they dont have to give you an unlocking code if they dont want to if you are on a contract, but in reality I never heard of them not releasing the unlocking code, and you will pay a fee for this, its in their interest to release it because if they dont, when the contract is finished then I know I would move operator..

So ultimately .. on a contract they dont need to give you an unlocking code if they dont want to .. its not illegal for them to do this..its only illegal if you are on pay as you go and they refuse to give you an unlocking code..

Hi, Im already an orange customer had have been for some time now I am out of contract with them, but still use my pay monthly sim....I have recently bought a N80 locked to the orange network.... Can I register my current pay montly sim with this phone and ask for the unlock code, or do I have to go down the pay as you go route. I want to use my phone abroad with a different sim.

well i dont know about pay monthly SIM,but if you're not sure it really pays to get a pay as you go Orange SIM (from their website - its only 1GBP) and then register it with your phone just for the unlock purpose.it still pays as this is the only way of getting rid of the simlock from this mobile. in my case i bought my Orange n80 on ebay,then bought the Orange simcard,registered it with the phone just as advised in this thread for the sole purpose of unlocking it later.im sure its gonna work in your case.good luck!!

you can still request an unlocking code ffrom orange with your pay monthly number, you will just have to pay orange about 20 quid to get it...

You have the 2 options, one will cost you £1, and the other will cost you £20

So if I choose the pay as you go route they wont charge me £20 for the unlock code?? I presumed it would be £20 either way?

So if I choose the pay as you go route they wont charge me £20 for the unlock code?? I presumed it would be £20 either way?

To be honest I have no experience with that way ..I only know people who have done it the pay monthly way, but others here have said that it works ..

ok, the procedure its clear then, you just purchase the sim card and then register your imei.

But what if your imei is registered already to an other member? cause today i talked with a shop assistant and he told me only i have to wait 6 months about that a software will be out and i cant do anything now. :mad:

ok, the procedure its clear then, you just purchase the sim card and then register your imei.

But what if your imei is registered already to an other member? cause today i talked with a shop assistant and he told me only i have to wait 6 months about that a software will be out and i cant do anything now. :mad:

Its up to you dude.....you have all the information, there is nothing else to tell you ..

Hi,
I requested a unlocking code for my nokia n80 locked on orange. They sent me the unlocking code after they charged me £20. Unfortunately, the unlocking codes didn't worked (they sent two of them). I contacted about the problem, and they gave me another code...and now my phone said I am not allowed. They didn't called back to see if the phone was unlocked successfully, or the code valid. I wonder...after they gave me 3 codes if they don't get them generated of a program with a algorithm, or something, cause otherwise the unlocking should have worked without the need of three codes(two wrong and one which isn't accepted...so dunno if it is wrong or not). I contacted orange by email about the problem,...I hope they will reply. Anyway, if I will manage to unlock the phone, I will let u know
Anybody else encountered the problem?

Hi,
I requested a unlocking code for my nokia n80 locked on orange. They sent me the unlocking code after they charged me £20. Unfortunately, the unlocking codes didn't worked (they sent two of them). I contacted about the problem, and they gave me another code...and now my phone said I am not allowed. They didn't called back to see if the phone was unlocked successfully, or the code valid. I wonder...after they gave me 3 codes if they don't get them generated of a program with a algorithm, or something, cause otherwise the unlocking should have worked without the need of three codes(two wrong and one which isn't accepted...so dunno if it is wrong or not). I contacted orange by email about the problem,...I hope they will reply. Anyway, if I will manage to unlock the phone, I will let u know
Anybody else encountered the problem?


Orange are a bunch of tos*ers!

I requested a unlocking code. When I chased them a week later, they hadnt even started the process.

Eventually I got a code thro - for the wrong phone!

I created a fuss, and I got an email to ask what the problem was, I replied and got an out of office reply saying he was on his xmas break for a week.

I emailed Orange to request someone else pick up the support call - did they ?? did they heck!

So still waiting after 3 weeks. I have been with vodaphone, tmobile and O2 - orange definately have the worst customer care, been my experience anyway.

Thanks to all who gave the info on how to get an Orange N80 unlocked :icon14: .

I got the PAYG sim today, topped £20 on it, and called Orange (dial 450 from the mobile and it's option 2). Worth noting tho' that Orange Customer Services now charge a one-off fee of £0.25 (25p) which leaves you with less than the £20 needed to pay their unlocking charge...

Anyways, I have provided them the details, and have been told to phone back in 24 hours, when they will provide me with the unlock code over the phone :o

I'll let you all know what happens and it it actually works this way (not getting my hopes up) :rolleyes: :cool:

Unsurprisingly, called them back today, and though they had my details, they had "no record of a request to unlock the phone". Useless ****ing tossers. And no, despite what I was told yesterday, they will NOT issue it over the phone, and I'll have to wait a week for it. Orange, for when you absolutely positively want the worst customer service in the world, there's no substitute. Idiots the lot of 'em.

Unsurprisingly, called them back today, and though they had my details, they had "no record of a request to unlock the phone". Useless ****ing tossers. And no, despite what I was told yesterday, they will NOT issue it over the phone, and I'll have to wait a week for it. Orange, for when you absolutely positively want the worst customer service in the world, there's no substitute. Idiots the lot of 'em.

you know orange are the very best example of how a company cons people from start up, to get as many customers as possible.

I remember the days of good customer sevice when orange would replace your phone by sending a courier within 2 hours of the complaint.

I was a customer with orange since they began, and have spent literally 10's thousands pounds with them. then 3 years ago I lost one of my phones (I was and had been paying £5 per month for the warranty for years), and after 2 weeks they eventually sent me a replacement which was the same outdated model (7110), but was scratched, the slider didnt work etc. when I told them I wanted a free upgrade and replacement again to a model that was the current equivalents, they again sent me another scratched 7110 that didnt work....I told them to stuff their phone where the sun dont shine, to my amazement a manager phoned me and asked me why I was leaving orange, I told him and her offered to replace my second scratched 7110 with a brand new 7110... Bollox....they had stopped manufacturing this model years ago...and I told him I wanted a new for old....he said they couldn't do it I then told him that I was offered the very latest phone with a better call deal on another network for free, and he still refused to upgrade my phone, so there and then I cancelled my contract...

How stupid and thick are these people....

Finally, after over 2 weeks, Orange sent the unlock code. Much to my surprise, the instructions on the letter were reasonably easy to follow, and the phone now allows my O2 SIM (and presumably any other network now). Just wish I hadn't had to pay £20 + numerous hours of my life on the phone to get it sorted. I should add that what seems to have finally put the boot up their arse is me calling again on Thursday - 2 weeks after the first request - pointing out that their excuse of "oh, we have to wait for Nokia to give us the code, and they don't have to agree" was BS and in breach of OfCom's regulations. If ANY network tells you that they can't unlock a phone, check the OfCom website for your rights ;) (useful links, you'll have to copy & paste 'cos the board won't let me post links yet: ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/mobile/2002/sim1102.htm). Threatening to report the network to OfCom works wonders :cool:

Hi Folks Im new on here. Ive been reading this thread and like some of you i had problems getting the code from orange. I went down the payg route with an N80 from ebay. Got it on the thursday registered friday and requested code on the monday. recieved codes 4 days later but didnt work. Now the way to play the unlocking game and get it free like i did if the codes dont work (dont panic cause all aint lost) is to contact your provider as soon as you have discovered the code dont work the unlocking team will go thru the code again tell them that it keeps telling you "not allowed". now all uk network providers have at thier disposal the software and the box to unlock all mobile phones they are reluctant to tell you this and when asked they will tell you it is the very last option so when mine didnt work i took mine to the local orange call centre (not shop ask the person you are on the phone to where you local one is they may tell you to post it in if you are too far from one) and had it done in 10 minutes I hope this will help someone

I got a refurbished N80 from Orange just before Christmas.

It's on PAYG and I want it unlocked.

Phoned up Orange and they said I must be registered for at least 3 months before I can have the code?!

Is this right? I though OFCOM said when you are on PAYG, it's yours to do what you like.

Hi Folks Im new on here. Ive been reading this thread and like some of you i had problems getting the code from orange. I went down the payg route with an N80 from ebay. Got it on the thursday registered friday and requested code on the monday. recieved codes 4 days later but didnt work. Now the way to play the unlocking game and get it free like i did if the codes dont work (dont panic cause all aint lost) is to contact your provider as soon as you have discovered the code dont work the unlocking team will go thru the code again tell them that it keeps telling you "not allowed". now all uk network providers have at thier disposal the software and the box to unlock all mobile phones they are reluctant to tell you this and when asked they will tell you it is the very last option so when mine didnt work i took mine to the local orange call centre (not shop ask the person you are on the phone to where you local one is they may tell you to post it in if you are too far from one) and had it done in 10 minutes I hope this will help someone

U say "Now the way to play the unlocking game and get it free like i did if the codes dont work" which makes me beleive this is a guide on how to get unlock code for free from Orange (but only if it doesn't work and only after I've already payed for it)

So after getting it unlocked at a call centre did u get a refund?? Cos u must have payed £20 to receive the code in the first place?

Did they reimburse u, and apologise for their mistake? Also is there much chance that they will get the code wrong again, considering that the phone orginated from them to begin with?

Sorry to go on, just I'm a tight fisted ******. I have a N80 locked to Orange and if I can get em to unlock my phone for FREE then I wanna know how.

Thanx

hi, i am new over here, i am not in uk, got an n80 from a cousine, found it to be locked
asked him for the code, adn he has submitted a request to orange for it(give 20 pounds),
what i wana ask is that will i be able to unlock the code outside europe without orange sim??
thanks

I got a refurbished N80 from Orange just before Christmas.

It's on PAYG and I want it unlocked.

Phoned up Orange and they said I must be registered for at least 3 months before I can have the code?!

Is this right? I though OFCOM said when you are on PAYG, it's yours to do what you like.


I did the same thing in november. Orange said the same thing to me. Ofcom website has a table of how long the networks specify you are with them, Orange being 3 months. Pointless because i have just waited this 3 months out, not topped up or anything. I reckon they just rely on people not wanting to wait but i'm more stubborn than that.