Android Phone unlock possible ?

[Channel Hopper]

I have an LG Leon which is apparently 'permanently' tied to the 3 network. I have pulled the unique identity number from it.

Whilst it works fine on everything else I currently use it for, I have been given a card and some credit on GiffGaff and this seems a good opportunity to use it.

So, can the mobile be unlocked to work on this service ?

 

[Ghostleader]

If its sim locked to three and its out of contract period why not ask them for the unlock code mate? Who do GiffGaff use as their network provider? Is it O2?

 

[Ghostleader]

Step 1. Out of contract? It should be free, otherwise check your network's policy and apply

As of early October 2016, government intervention means...

Networks are no longer allowed to charge unlocking fees to pay monthly customers who are out of contract.

However if you're still within the minimum term of your contract, or if you bought your phone on pay-as-you-go, there may still be a charge.

 

[Ghostleader]

Reading the article on money saving expert with Three its an online form rather than a phone number based where ever that takes a half hour minimum to get through.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The phone was bought from an exchange shop before Christmas to satisfy an immediate need for wifi checking and how Android apps perform, so it does not have my name or contract detail with 3.

 

[Channel Hopper]

No idea who GiffGass is tied to for their service, I have a SimCard as a Christmas present which does not have anything written on it except the unique activation number and the GiffGaff logo.
But I will check later today.

 

[sonnetpete]

Apparently GiffGaff is tied to the O2 service...

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks for that, I already have an O2 pay monthly service on the proper, ie. non-android mobile.

 

[smoggy07]

Giffgaff do indeed use O2 (which is also owned by the same parent company, Telefonica).

Three can still unlock the phone, even if you didn't hold the original contract but you need an active Three pay as you go SIM and credit on, you might have to leave the SIM in the phone for a while (O2 say for 30 days, Vodafone said 28 to me when I had an iPhone 6 unlocked) but they will unlock it for you, the question is, how much they'll charge you?
I think it' might be free on Three but might be between £4.99 and £14/£15 (I know one network charges £4.99 to process the unlock) so might not be worth it, giffgaff SIMs come with £5 free but you need a minimum top up to activate the SIM and that's £10/£15 minimum giffgaff and/or O2(you can use either of the networks topups and also tesco mobile but they all have a £10/£15 minimum value), even if it cost £4.99 to unlock, do you want to pay £20 to get £25 back? (or pay £20 for £5 credit)

[EDIT]Have a look here, this page seems to think it might be already unlocked if purchased after 2014 but it has a drop down box checker type tool to find out using make/model info:
Unlocking a Three device to use with another network. - Managing your contract - Bills & contracts - Support - Three
You will still need a pay as you go Three SIM, in the phone but you could fill out this form: Device support.
I see no mention of a charge but you need to enter the Three mobile number on that page, it's best to put the Three SIM into the phone to be unlocked and call the Three SIM from another phone for 1 minute or so, just to log the IMEI to the SIM, then call the topup line for a minute to log an outgoing call, then fill out that form and see what happens

[/EDIT]

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks for the info.

Ive filled in the online form for 3 using my O2 account detail and the locked phones IMEI detail (that should confuse them).

I've got this response regardless



Thanks.

We've received your request to unlock your device.
Within the next 7 days we’ll send you a code in an email, along with instructions on what to do next.

 

[2cvbloke]

I had to unlock my "unlocked" Galaxy S3 that I had from Three (I say "unlocked" because it was unlocked using means that worked before an Android update, but re-applied after that update!!), took a couple of days to get a reply, but the unlock code worked fine and my phone works on GiffGaff, FreedomPOP (which runs on Three) and that other one I have in my laptop I can't remember the name of (also runs on Three)...

 

[Channel Hopper]

I'll know within the week, or not.

 

[smoggy07]

Thanks for the info.

Ive filled in the online form for 3 using my O2 account detail and the locked phones IMEI detail (that should confuse them).

I've got this response regardless



Thanks.

We've received your request to unlock your device.
Within the next 7 days we’ll send you a code in an email, along with instructions on what to do next.

I was "stitched up" with a SIM FREE iPhone 5c from the carphonewarehouse, put a giffgaff SIM card in, worked a treat but I later recalled that SIM FREE doesn't mean unlocked.

Now when I went to Spain I knew I'd need to get this "SIM FREE" phone unlocked, I tried using my giffgaff information on the O2 unlock page but they didn't accept it, I went to giffgaff and they said they don't unlock phones and don't have whitelist access to the Apple GSX so couldn't help even if they wanted to help.

Apparently the only way to have the phone unlocked from giffgaff/O2 (the first network it locked to) was to become an O2 customer for 30 days and to pay them for the unlock.

Good luck

 

[Channel Hopper]

What I might need if there is no progress in a week, is to find somebody already on a 3 contract, and get them to borrow the mobile.

 

[smoggy07]

That should work but they'd need to make a call or 2 from their SIM in your phone to pair the IMEI to the ICCID on the account.

What does the phone say when you enter a non-Three SIM?

 

[Channel Hopper]

I will try the O2 sim later today.

 

[PaulR]

I went to giffgaff and they said they don't unlock phones and don't have whitelist access to the Apple GSX so couldn't help even if they wanted to help.

That's a complication/obstruction of Apple's own making and surely not applicable to Android phones.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ah, slight problem.

 

[PaulR]

Certainly is.

 

[smoggy07]

That's a complication/obstruction of Apple's own making and surely not applicable to Android phones.

No, not really but I was pointing out I tried using a giffgaff number and info on the O2 unlock page as CH has put other details into the Three page, in my case it returned an error saying the phone number wasn't an O2 numebr, at least the Three page accepted the O2 details CH entered.