New iPhone is network locked

chrisc

chrisc

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Was given a new iPhone SE by my daughter. She bought it at the Apple Store in Cape Town last week

I put in my MTN SIM to see "no service". Went to the MTN shop in Constantia, the lady there fiddled for about 20 mins and told me the phone would not work on the MTN service, she did not know why

Bought a Vodacom SIM to find the same story

A CellC SIM worked

Went to the Apple Store yesterday and realised after speaking to several bimbos there that they had no idea. At length a tech came out and said "some phones" were network locked and I must have got it from CellC. I showed him the sales slip which showed this shop and the sales date of 29th September. He said it must have been "slipped in, this happens sometimes"

He refused to swap it since it had been opened and an Apple ID already registered

I thought that this practice stopped years ago. Is this being done now? How does get one get an unlocked phone, or is there a way of altering it?

Now I somehow have to port the old number to CellC.
 
I thought that this practice stopped years ago.
Click to expand...
I also thought it was outlawed. Ask your daughter where she bought it from and name and shame as a warning/headsup to future buyers.

EDIT: Could it be a dud?
 
It was the iStore in the Waterfront. Too much pt to make more fuss. CellC is as good as MTN and it’s very easy to port numbers to them

I don‘t use social media
 
Did she really buy it at the istore lol
Have the receipt?
Highly doubt istore will sell a Cell C network locked device.
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
Network locking is not illegal, was just mostly phased out.

Buy android
Click to expand...
Yes, I have been told that now, but its usually for phones supplied on contract. This is a pre-paid phone. I don’t want an android phone thanks. Too much of a learning curve
 
chrisc said:
Yes, I have been told that now, but its usually for phones supplied on contract. This is a pre-paid phone. I don’t want an android phone thanks. Too much of a learning curve
Click to expand...
Can you confirm that it is locked?
Go to Settings > General, and tap About. Under Carrier Lock, you should see a message that says "No SIM restrictions."

How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support

Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
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