Is your phone locked?
Has your phone ever rejected a SIM card from one provider, even though it works with your Vodafone SIM card? If so, then you might have a locked phone.
Locked phones only work with SIM plans from the provider who sold them to you. This is usually the case when you purchase a phone with a monthly payment plan from a telco instead of a retailer.
However, your device is probably unlocked if you purchased it from Vodafone today. This might not be the case if you bought the phone before 2013 or paid outright and opted for a prepaid plan.
Thankfully, even if your phone is locked to a Vodafone SIM card, there are ways to unlock it. This post will give you tips for doing just that, so read on to find out.
Buying a phone from a telco
All three of Australia’s major telcos also sell phones – not just phone plans. Many people find this a convenient offer because such telcos allow customers to bundle their phones with a SIM plan, making it easier to shop for everything you need to get your device up and running quickly.
Also, the major telcos in Australia all offer interest-free financing for any phone you choose – whether it is the latest iPhone or Samsung, regardless of the cost. This option gives the customer 12 to 36 months to pay off the device on a monthly payment plan.
However, this arrangement typically comes with a catch – you will likely be required to purchase a SIM plan from the same telco. Why? Because that telco will lock your phone so it can only work with one of its SIM plans.
Buying a phone from Vodafone
Not all devices purchased from Vodafone are locked. Whether or not your Vodafone phone is locked depends on several factors. We’ll cover them here.
Vodafone distinguishes phones purchased on a plan and those purchased outright. The former means your device is likely unlocked, while the latter means your device might be locked.
If your Vodafone device is locked and purchased on a plan, you won’t have to pay any fee to unlock it. However, even if you bought your phone from Vodafone with a plan, its lock/unlock status depends on when you bought the device. Vodafone stopped locking its devices purchased after 1 August 2013 – phones purchased before that date are likely locked.
Your Vodafone device might be lock
ed if you purchase it outright with a prepaid service. Unlocking such a phone will incur a charge from Vodafone, and the cost depends on how long you’ve owned the device.
How to unlock your Vodafone device
If your locked phone was purchased from Vodafone, unlocking it will be straightforward. While some third-party companies and websites can unlock your device for you, it’s in your best interest to go through Vodafone whenever you decide to unlock your phone.
Vodafone provides an online unlocking tool for customers. Head to Vodafone’s unlock tool website, enter your phone’s serial number (IMEI), click next, and follow the prompts/instructions.
If you can’t find your phone’s IMEI, just dial *#06# and hit send. A number will pop up; the first 15 digits are your phone’s IMEI.
Recall that unlocking your phone might incur a fee – depending on whether it was purchased on a plan or outright.
- Unlocking a phone purchased from Vodafone outright for prepaid plans costs $50 if you’ve had it for lessthan six months.
- Unlocking a phone purchased from Vodafone outright for prepaid plans costs $25 if you’ve had it for morethan six months.
What is a PUC (or PUK) code?
So far, we’ve covered the common understanding of a locked or unlocked device. However, your Vodafone SIM card itself can get locked if you enter an incorrect SIM PIN three times.
After such an error, you will likely need a PUC or PUK (Personal Unlocking Key) code to unlock your Vodafone SIM. You can find this code in your MyVodafone app or portal for free. The PUK code allows you to enter and confirm a new SIM PIN.
Keep in mind, however, that if you make ten incorrect attempts, your SIM will be blocked permanently. You’ll need a new SIM to get back on the Vodafone network.
Final words
You might not realise it, but PUC codes were initially devised for a different reason.
In the old days, you would buy a phone from one of the major telcos under a contract. Once you’d done that, you were really tied into an agreement with them for the next two years. The deal meant that part of what you paid for the phone plan went to the company that subsidised the device.
Adding PUC codes to the equation meant that if you wanted to leave, you would have to call the phone company yourself, and they could explain this to you. As a result, you would need to cover the outstanding amount of the device and plan to get the PUC code to unlock your device. The alternative was that you’d leave without contacting the company and still owe the outstanding amount while potentially not even realising that you’re in debt.
Phone companies are getting out of their ways and thinking about their products from a customer’s point of view. PUC (or PUK) codes, as they used to be known, are a thing of the past. These days, your agreement with the phone company you choose is split – half on the phone and half on the plan. Who owes what to who is far more straightforward – and you can leave when you want, regarding the SIM plan half of your agreement.