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View Full Version : Is this illegal?

Free2bme
28-10-2005, 13:28
I always use PAYG phones and get them unlocked so I can switch networks as I spend two thirds of the year abroad.
I have seen the phone of my dreams on a excellent offer on contract. It's one of those 9 months free rental send your bill back for a cheque jobs which seems very complicated but means the phone will only cost about 60 quid instead of 150 (not a great deal to some but I am on a real severe budget and just have a humble Nokia 1101 at the moment, bless it)
I wondered if it was a problem for me to unlock the phone and use it abroad while my mum uses the sim from the contract phone and sees to the bills. The phone could be taken out in my name or hers - it doesn't matter as she will sort the bills out etc when they arrive. I have absolutely no idea how this will pan out in practice.
Appreciate any information.
finglonga
28-10-2005, 17:02
I think you will find that unless you keep the original sim in the phone you will be breaking the 'terms and conditions' of the 9 free months line rental and when you send off for your cashback cheque at the end if the contract they will refuse to payout. Its almost certain they will check on the computer that the phone is still using the correct sim.
Šeton8r
29-10-2005, 02:31
To be honest the networks arent that bothered about it as long as they are getting their money
Free2bme
29-10-2005, 11:58
How bothered would they get if their sim was not used at all? My mum isn't keen on Orange as the free calls are orange to orange I think and our family are all O2 and I'd only be around a few weeks to use it and I don't know anyone on Orange either!
Šeton8r
30-10-2005, 01:46
if by sim not used you mean you would still be paying the line rental then they still wont be bothered, if you dont pay the monthly line rental the phone is likely to be blocked on all uk networks however you would still be able to use foreign network's sims.
Free2bme
13-11-2005, 13:33
Thanks for your replies.
I decided to cough up for 2 PAYG phones to save stressing about cashbacks etc - and bought 2 phones I can't unlock - Nokia 6630 and Sony Ericsson 700i. I have to be able to unlock cos I live abroad!! What a dozy sod!
Anyway I think I'll ask for advice in a new post about suitable models - preferably unlockable.
coad76
15-11-2005, 22:45
The other thing worth noting, is that they will demand direct debit which would probably need to be in your name.