3 charging for unlock codes?

pyramuid man

nodger wrote: »

It's this attitude that leads to this sort of charge becoming acceptable in the first place. If 3 were that concerned about the €25, they would have added it to the price of the phone at the beginning.

Why would they do that when only some users will want an unlock code?

If they did this to everyone there would be uproar.

nodger

pyramuid man wrote: »

There is no reason for the OP to get the code free at all.

Perhaps not... but if he kicks up a fuss, he might well get it for free. Whether or not the €25 is worth this fuss is up to the OP. In my own case, I felt justified in refusing to pay it.

pyramuid man wrote: »

In a previous post he asked how they get away with "shoddy service" but could not explain what he meant.

If he's had the same experience as I've had, I can see where he's coming from. The list of complaints is well-documented on this forum, IIRC.

Anyhow - good luck to the OP.

pyramuid man

Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against the OP.
I just feel that if you are going to complain, people should at least justify their complaint and imo, Shoddy service is a very vague complaint to make. As I have already said, I am a threepay and three BB customer. I am also an o2 billpay customer and I have had my grievances with them too. Not trying to target anyone here.

If the OP gets the unlock code for free then fair play and fair dues to him. But I think a better way to approach this issue is to be calm and state your case to them calmly and explain calmly that you are not prepared to pay it as you have already spent X amount already and if you are forced to pay for it, you will be changing networks when it has been supplied. You will get alot more cooperation from customer care with this approach in my experience.

nodger

pyramuid man wrote: »

If the OP gets the unlock code for free then fair play and fair dues to him. But I think a better way to approach this issue is to be calm and state your case to them calmly and explain calmly that you are not prepared to pay it as you have already spent X amount already and if you are forced to pay for it, you will be changing networks when it has been supplied. You will get alot more cooperation from customer care with this approach in my experience.

Generally speaking, I would agree with you. However, that approach does not work with 3.

Orlee

Hi, looking to get my 3 phone unlocked

Anyone know what number I ring?

I'm pay as you go - When you say pay €25 euro - can they take it out of your credit or do I have to pay them by credit card?

Thanks

Sam Vimes

you ring 333. i think its only by credit card but they'll be able to tell you anyway

Davy

I know its been said that if you cause hassle they will give it to you free. But I never did and i was never even asked to pay the €25 and i got 2 phones unlocked in the same phone call.

Just wondering if anyone has idea why its such a variable? Maybe a 3 insider would know? something to do with how much you spend, how long you have had the phone after the contract, money spend,,,,,,, few ideas maybe or simply the guy on the phone being nice :rolleyes:

foggy_lad

Commander Vimes wrote: »

you ring 333. i think its only by credit card but they'll be able to tell you anyway

they all seem to want credit card details these days not just three but all companies are only too happy to hold your credit card details on file but what i cant understand is why?

and to davton it was probably the person you got on the phone combined with your mannner in discussing the unlocking codes?

Davy

foggy_lad wrote: »

it was probably the person you got on the phone combined with your manner in discussing the unlocking codes?

you mean i was being nice, or sounded annoyed? I didn't have hassle with getting them if thats what you mean?

kaizersoze

I got a SE W850i unlocked from 3 yesterday and no mention of money.
I'm on bill pay, if that makes any difference. I'll keep an eye on the next bill just in case.

Davy

kaizersoze wrote: »

I got a SE W850i unlocked from 3 yesterday and no mention of money.
I'm on bill pay, if that makes any difference. I'll keep an eye on the next bill just in case.

im billpay also. there wasn't anything on bills afterwards. im with them 3 years wonder does it make any difference to them

hitbit

Just stay away, miles away,light years away if possible from 3. They suck worse than Eircom or BT and thats some achievement.

3 victim

long_b

More annoying nonsense from 3 - 3 UK have just told me they would need to take my nokia 6120 handset off me for 5 days to unlock it !! Has anyone else had this nonsense ? Grrrr !

Genghis

pyramuid man wrote: »

There is no reason for the OP to get the code free at all.

I have had the same problem. As far as I am concerned, there are several good reasons to receive the code for free:

1. The customer owns the phone, not three. Locking the phone limits the operation / use / functionality of a phone they do not own; imho they should remove such restriction immediately when requested (and without cost to the owner of the phone).
2. The unlock code has been placed on the phone by three (not at the request of the customer) for the benefit of three (no benefit to the customer). Why should its removal also be for the benefit of three?
3. If / when the customer has reached the end of his contract for services, he is entitled to move network freely. The unlock code restricts this freedom and contravenes the spirit (if not the letter) of free competition for mobile services.

Finally, I have unlocked phones with all 4 networks, and in my experience three are the only ones who charge for this.

Sam Vimes

Genghis wrote: »

I have had the same problem. As far as I am concerned, there are several good reasons to receive the code for free:

1. The customer owns the phone, not three. Locking the phone limits the operation / use / functionality of a phone they do not own; imho they should remove such restriction immediately when requested (and without cost to the owner of the phone).
2. The unlock code has been placed on the phone by three (not at the request of the customer) for the benefit of three (no benefit to the customer). Why should its removal also be for the benefit of three?

when you buy a phone from a network, the price is heavily subsidised. That is for your benefit. They are required to give unlock codes but they can require the customer to comply with certain terms before giving it.

usually on pre pay it's that the customer has spent €130 in credit. on bill pay, it's usually less strict because you're tied into a contract so it doesn't really matter if you have the code or not. with 3, they impose terms that the other networks don't. But there's nothing illegal about the terms

Genghis wrote: »

3. If / when the customer has reached the end of his contract for services, he is entitled to move network freely. The unlock code restricts this freedom and contravenes the spirit (if not the letter) of free competition for mobile services.

they're entitled to move network. that doesn't mean they're entitled to take with them a heavily subsidised piece of hardware for which the network may not yet have got the subsidy back

Genghis wrote: »

Finally, I have unlocked phones with all 4 networks, and in my experience three are the only ones who charge for this.

they are. in england all the networks do apparently but in ireland it's only 3.

don't get me wrong here. i'm just saying that 3 are perfectly entitled to do what they're doing. they're still ****s for doing it, as with a lot of their policies. at least they've stopped lying to customers. they told us for over a year that nokia sent them the wrong software and they couldn't unlock phones. i asked for my unlock code a week after joining the network and the next year and a bit asking them how long it takes nokia to send an email with the right software and why they were the only network in the world that were incapable of unlocking the phones that they themselves put the lock on