[MDA III, XDA III, PDA2k, 9090 Software Upgrading] efcmandan:
Had some fun trying to get my XDA2s unlocked by o2, the only reason I now find it hilarious is because I managed to get it unlocked elsewhere! I emailed them on the 1st of Feb, explaining that my device was an insurance replacement, therefore I had no 12 months contract to worry about, and no 'subsidised' phone. Here's a transcript of my emails to and fro, starting with their reply:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for contacting O2 Customer Service.

The unlatching code is only available to customers who have had their mobile for 12 months since its activation. It is not policy for the code to be issued prior to this period, in accordance with rules approved by OFTEL. This is because prepay mobiles are heavily subsidised to reduce the purchase price for the customer, and it would not be commercially viable for us to provide the code prior to the 12 month period having elapsed.

There is an administration charge of £15 for the unlatching code, either payable by credit or debit card or debited from your call time credit, which covers the costs incurred by O2 in obtaining the code for the customer. The manufacturer of the mobile provides the unlatching code, and there are some models of mobile for which an unlatching code is unavailable, due to technical constraints.

Please understand that the unlatching code will enable you to use another SIM card in conjunction with your existing mobile, THIS NEXT SENTENCE SHOULD ONLY BE INSERTED FOR BRITE CUSTOMERS but will not allow the use of your SIM card in a different mobile.

If you meet the criteria as described above and would like us to obtain the unlatching code for you, please provide the following information, and I will deal with your request as soon as possible.

Name

Mobile Number

Address (including Postcode)

Mobile Model

Date of activation

IMEI Number

Contact number - so we can contact you to take credit or debit payment for the unlatching code. Credit balance on mobile (needs to be at least £15 if you wish payment to be taken from your call time credit)

As this is not a secure connection, please do not send credit or debit card details via email.

I hope to hear from you soon.

This information is also on our help pages. Please click on the link below, enter your mobile number and 'Network locked' in the search field.

www.o2.co.uk/help

If you need further information regarding this matter, please reply to this email.

For further details about O2, please visit our online Help Centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

Kind regards,

Siddhartha Ludbe

O2 Customer Service.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

And my reply to that:

Hi,

Like I said in my original contact with you, I only have an o2 PAYG SIM card, my XDA2s was an insurance replacement for a stolen XDA2. Therefore there is no "12 months since activation" to wait, no "subsidy" to consider.

I am happy to pay the £15, please contact me ASAP to unlock the phone.

Name - Daniel xxx

Mobile Number - xxx

Address - xxxx

Mobile Model - Xda2s

Date of activation - n/a

IMEI Number - xxxx

Contact number - xxx

Many thanks

----------------------------------------

Their reply:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for contacting O2 Customer Service.

I would like to appreciate the efforts that you have taken to forwards us the information asked from you in the previous email.

I have forwarded the details provided by you to the relevant department. Please note that it will take Up to 28 working days to complete your request.

If you need further information regarding this matter, please reply to this email.

For further details about O2, please visit our online Help Centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

Kind regards,

Siddhartha Ludbe

----------------------------------------

Looking promising, I thinks, perhaps I will get it unlocked after all! Anyways, I get bored of waiting a few days, and email them thus:

Hi,

I know it was stated that the unlatching key could take up to 28 days, but I'm getting quite desperate. I'm going to America on Friday for work reasons [lie], and could really do with using my XDA2s whilst over there, hence me needing to use the work SIM card which isn't o2.

Any help greatly appreciated

----------------------------------------

At this stage, I'd already got the phone unlocked anyway, but wanted to see if I could actually get anything out of o2. They replied:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for contacting O2 Customer Service.

I am sorry to inform you that your request for an unlatching code for your phone cannot be processed, as your phone is under 12 months.

Even if you have a replacement phone, the replacement phone should be of minimum 12 months old.

I realise that this was not the answer you were hoping for, but I am sorry we cannot forward your request to the manufacturer for an unlatching code as per the business rules.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you need further information regarding this matter, please reply to this email.

For further details about O2, please visit our online Help Centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

Kind regards,

John Chettiar

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Talk about going around in bloody circles, I've never ever had the misfortune of dealing with such crappy customer services, and I've been an NTL customer! I sent them this reply:

Please explain to me how this makes a difference? My phone is not tied to any o2 contract anyway! To be honest, I'm not arsed. I've just paid somebody else to unlock it, quicker than you, and I'd rather give them the money. I'm now happily using a decent network.

Dan

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't expect a reply, but I got one, the same guy saying that he was glad I'd found a solution to my particular problem!

All in all, a completely terrible experience from o2 CS. I hope I never have to deal with them again.

Just thought I'd provide a laugh!

Dan