SPV C500 blocked

[Guest harrogate22]

Hi Folks, and HELP! (please)

I bought an SPV C500 in October last year – through ORANGE (UK), and on a contract.

When the year was up, I paid the last bill and contacted ORANGE to have the phone unlocked, while requesting to retain the same number.

ORANGE sent me a new SIM (same number) and unlocked the phone (they sent a text, to which I responded, as they requested.

After swapping SIMs, the phone worked fine; I was – or so I thought – free of ORANGE.

As the phone now belonged to me, I posted it to my son in Australia for him to use as he wished. I had previously used it in OZ, so I didn’t anticipate any problems for him.

He has called me this morning to say that the phone does not work; it refuses to accept his SIM, though all other features work fine.

PLEASE ……. Can anyone advise on how to remedy the situation? I’ve paid for the phone over the one-year contract, so it’s very annoying that it can’t now be used.

P.S. There is just one factor that might be relevant: I’ve since received another bill from ORANGE (about £14) which came after I formally terminated my direct-debit, and I’ve struggled to pay this amount. Every time I try to pay on VISA, I’m told my account no longer exists. A CATCH-22! Might ORANGE have blocked the phone for this reason?

Sorry this is all such a ramble, but I’d much appreciate any advice so my son can use the phone that I have paid for in full.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

There is a chance that the phone may be blocked due to the outstanding payment but I've not heard of phone blocking going global before.

What error message is he actually getting as this can be a guide to the actual problem. If he is managing to use all the phones features then there is a chance that the phone has been blocked as normally a faulty SIM wouln not allow him to get past the bootscreen.

You best bet is to contact Orange CS and give them the details of the phone, ask them to check if the phone has been blocked or not. Your son can also do the same his end.

[Guest mcwarre]

I would think that the phone is still network locked. Orange would not unlock it for free in or out of contract. You would have had to insert a different network sim then enter the code that Orange sent (if it was indeed an unlock code which I doubt). Therein lies your problem (especially as it refuses to accept his sim)

[Guest harrogate22]

I would think that the phone is still network locked. Orange would not unlock it for free in or out of contract. You would have had to insert a different network sim then enter the code that Orange sent (if it was indeed an unlock code which I doubt).  Therein lies your problem (especially as it refuses to accept his sim)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for that, and I think you are dead right; I went into our local Orange shop this morning, and the guy checked with his HQ. It seems all he (my son) need do is go to an OZ Orange shop and get it "Orange released" - £25, I think.

Thanks again for your help.

Ken

[Guest Phil Lee]

Alternatively you can remove the simlock yourself using a simple piece of software available at another forum.