Vodafone Unlock phones for Free

[Aloos]

Phoned up Voda this morning to unlock my phone as I'm going away. They did it for free even though my contract is still less then 12 months in.

Did some research and found the following info on a Vodafone forum:


"If you got the phone with a contract the Network Unlock Code (NUC) will be free of charge, regardless of its age, as all new contract phones are now dispatched unlocked.
If the phone is a PAYT handset over 12 months old the code will also be free of charge.
If it's a PAYT handset that's less than 12 months old a charge of £19.99 including VAT would apply. The £19.99 will need to be credited to your phone before you apply for the code. Once the NUC has been issued the charge will be debited."

[dave87]

Good to hear, I'll get my K800i unlocked so I can use it as a spare

[Aloos]

if your on a contract oregen, i'd give it another go, apperently its a new thing that voda are doing and all their new contract phones are coming unlocked

[BigFatCat]

I happened across this some time ago. They implied that any contract phone would be free to unlock.

[Durzel]

I just called Vodafone Customer Care and they basically told me the opposite of what was posted in this thread. They said the NUC was available to PAYG customers, not contract. I was told I would have to wait until February to get it for free.

Have I been given the wrong information? Is there a specific department I need to speak to?

[Ferral]

Instore you cannot have your phone unlocked for free until you are out of commitment, if you want it unlocking before then it is £20. PAYT phones have to be older than 12 months to get them unlocked free also, before that once again it is £20.

Me and my wife both work in a Vodafone store and havn't heard anything as of yet with regards to phones being unlocked right from the beginning.

[dave87]

Ferral - so with my out of contract K800i I can just pop to the Vodafone store and get it unlocked?

[Aloos]

Just found a large thread on this subject over on the hotukdeals forum:

Vodafone NOW unlocking phones for free. - HotUKDeals Forum

[Ferral]

dave87 - yep you can mate. They will do it there and then for you

[ionicle]

my N95 isnt unlocked as standard? :S

[keef247]

what so i could go into vodafone and unlock last yrs n73 that i got from phones for you?

[Ferral]

Keef - No you can't. The phones that can be unlocked there and then instore are the ones purchased directly from Vodaphone or from a Voda store. If you are wanting to unlock an N73 from Phones4U contact customer services to see if they can get the unlock code for you. Or try going into a Phones4U store and see if they have the unlock code.

If the phone has the Voda branding on it occasionally the stores do have the unlock codes regardless of where they were purchased so I would try the voda store as a first port of call after cust services.

[keef247]

oh? it is a voda yes... contracts finished now or will be on the 21st of june...

[Ferral]

Some of the Voda handsets that are purchased from Phones4U can't be unlocked in a Voda store as we don't have the unlock codes for them. I have come across a few though that can.

No harm in trying though, only takes a few mins to do.

[keef247]

ah i see cheers mate.well if I'm ever near a store with it... i'll try

[dave87]

If you got your phone from Phones4U then there is a good likelyhood its already unlocked - my 8600 luna was.