So, my sons saved up & brought an I Phone 7 from a private seller on eBay, the phones on Vodaphone, my sons SIM is Tesco.
Last night i paid https://directunlocks.com £17.98 to unlock the phone.
This morning i get an email saying that if we have the original Vodaphone number for the handset, the unlock is free. We don't. Direct Unlock now want £65 to complete the unlock.
I've contacted the seller via ebay to see if she's willing to share the number, she may not even have it though.
If i end up back at square one, who do i use next???
I had something similar. I too fell for the 2 part payment process. Not ideal or cheap, but it did come through in the end. IIRC it cost me about £60 all in a couple of years ago.
I've done this before for an Android phone, it was simple, cost around £15 and quick. I can't remember who i used though. Is it an I Phone thing? We'd be better off to get a Vodaphone SIM.
Get a Vodafone pay-as-you go SIM, use it for 30 days and then request an unlock directly from Vodafone
alternatively this thread also suggests contacting their specialist team (you might need to PM the Vodafone guy at the end of the thread) https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Unlocking/How-to-unlock-iPhone-with-no-number/td-p/2589501
Can't you do it all online - *#06# gets you your IMEI no. then you pay this site -
http://expressunlocks.com (£15)
[edit]full info at the bottom - you may be able to request the unlock from Voda yourself with the IMEI no., I'd check that first
"your unlock is 100% official and legal." is the important thing!
DezB - yes thats what i tried to do but got hit with a second substantial fee by Direct Unlock. Can you vouch for express unlocks? Have you used them? Vouch its a one off payment only?
Dez - just checked the link you gave, their homepage is EXACTLY the same as Direct Unlocks. Looks too dubious to me.
iPhone is the unlocked via the original network provider most do it for free, Fuzzy may have the answer.
Dez – just checked the link you gave, their homepage is EXACTLY the same as Direct Unlocks. Looks too dubious to me.
It is they're just requesting the unlock on your behalf.
TBH, I haven't used them (I would though). But I found their info through the site which gives you all the iOS downloads etc. I don't think they'd link it if it wasn't legit.
(as per my edit, try voda first)
If you mean network lock then yes, go to the original provider.
"directunlocks" domain was registered in 2014, scam sites tend not to last that long.
Cheers all, will go down the Vodaphone payg route for 1/12 and then request Vodaphone to unlock it.
The second cost of £65 after paying the initial £18 was very much a hidden cost. I've lost my £18 as debit card. Lesson learnt. Until next time. **** www.
I'm fairly sure that only the networks (via Apple) can unlock recent iPhones. The cheap fixes you see on the market etc are usually hacks of some kind and may well brick the phone next time the phones software is updated (or it might revert back to being locked again).