Can't unlock mobile within 6 months

[Iangla]

Went on holiday to Morocco. Despite having been assured that BT stopped locking handsets it appears mine is network locked. Got a message offering service for £1.50 a mb. Which would make posting this message about a tenner.  So I picked up a new SIM at the airport (10eur,10 GB) and it won't work. Can you please advise how I can unlock my phone  to go on another network.  Preferably promptly. Thanks

[imjolly · Accepted solution]

if your phone is from BT then you can't unlock in first 6 months

https://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49924/~/how-do-i-unlock-my-mobile-phone?s_intcid=con...

[Iangla]

Why not though? I’ll be paying for the phone and more over the length of the contract,  and the rates they are charging are highway robbery.  I’d understand if mobile was expensive here, but it’s dirt  cheap.  Like I said I bought 10 gb for less than a tenner on prepay.  This just seems like you are trying to gouge me for money, and makes me infinitely less likely to choose BT for mobile services in the future.

[imjolly]

This was part of the T&C which you agreed when you took out the mobile contract and not something that has been added later. Many Mobile providers have a similar clause with varying periods of delay before you can unlock. You can always google and you will probably find someone who will provide an unlock code for a fee. It may work or it may not

[Lloydlister-123]

If u can wait say 48hrs ebay sellers unlock mobiles

[Iangla]

thanks for the thought. I got it sorted. Put the morrocan sim in my ipad and hotspotted for the week. not an elegant solution but it worked.

[Gavyork]

BT's Policy needs reviewing. The locking for 6 months even applies to phones which have dual SIMs like the Samsung Galaxy S10. If you buy a phone with dual SIMs slots you would expect to be able to use it but no, got caught out abroad wanting to use a local sim card. My first BT mobile and S8 was unlocked, I did not expect the S10 to be locked even more so as it has a dual SIM.

Another example of BT not been aware of customer needs. Having Unlocked phones was a plus point initially.

[Iangla]

agreed. especially since some of them come unlocked. Bt closed my complaint and gave no response as to why.