Hi Carol
Yes, this is where I've had to concede. I didn't want a
locked or branded phone, I've never gone down that route.
But when the chap yesterday offered me a fourth
generation 32GB iPhone and keeping my Simplicity tariff
except an extra fiver for the unlimited data, I felt it
was too good an offer to refuse. It is locked to O2, and
I knew that even if I took them to court, the likelihood
of getting them to hand over an unlocked iPhone was very
slim as it wouldn't have been like-for-like that got lost
in the first place.
So, in answer to your question, you can buy an unlocked
iPhone, but they cost a lot of money. Mine is tied to
O2, but my pay plan is SIM only, which means I can opt
out after a year anyway, or upgrade - as he was very
quick to point out - when the new phone comes out in the
summer.
For now, I'm sticking with what I have off them. My son
has an iPhone with O2, and his tariff and pay plan is far
more expensive than mine. You can go to Vodafone, but
they'll likely offer you something tied to them.
I hope that helps.
Kind Regards,
Jackie Cairns
J&M Work-Ability
jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.work-ability.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carol
Pearson
Sent: 24 February 2011 12:08
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: An O2 story with lessons to be
learned
Well done, Jackie, for your perseverance.
A question springs from your account, which maybe others
can answer if you can't.
If I am offered an IPhone 4 as an upgrade by O2, is the
IPhone in any way branded/changed for O2 which would
limit any future use with another phone provider, should
I ever go down that route?
I hope this isn't considered too much of a hypothetical
question but, while I get the point that Nokia phones are
branded/unbranded, I'm not sure what happens with regard
to IPhones in this respect. As they're all Apple, I'm
thinking that this is where things differ. No doubt
someone will put me straight! <Smiles>
--
Carol P
---- Original Message ----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 9:23 AM
Subject: [access-uk] An O2 story with lessons to be
learned
I hope the moderator will forgive a long post, though I
will try to make it as brief as possible given it is a
complex story that requires the major points only for
this purpose.
In December, I switched from Vodafone to O2 because I
get a better signal with O2 over here. I was reluctant
to do so as I had been with Voda for many years, but I
got a decent Simplicity tariff from O2, and that was
fine.
Unfortunately, however, when I went to replace a SIM
card in my N82, the holder in which it sits came off in
my hand, and I was unable to put it back, so therefore
couldn't get the card to lie in its slot so it could
connect.
I took the phone to my nearest O2 dealer, explained what
had happened, and specifically requested they did not
touch the software on it, merely repaired the SIM card
holder. They knew it was an unlocked and unbranded
phone. Now this is a very important point.
One week or so later, their Repair Centre rang to say
that the phone could be fixed if I was willing to pay
£28.81. I asked if the SIM card holder had been fixed,
and that everything else on the phone was as I had left
it, that is, Talks etc. They said it was, so I paid the
fee.
When the phone came back a week later, I was shocked to
discover an N86, locked and branded to O2, sitting in a
flimsy box. I contacted the store and Repair Centre at
this point. I was told that O2 do not accept unlocked
and unbranded phones for repair, and that mine had
either been lost, destroyed, or flashed, meaning my
software had been wiped.
A very long and drawn out period then ensued. The Store
Manager, who had been initially very helpful, suddenly
went on leave following a bereavement, and his Area
Manager took over, a less helpful person. I refused to
accept the N86 given it was locked, branded and
refurbished, and didn't even come with a charger which
is different to that on an N82 anyway.
I sought legal advice, and that got things going in my
favour. Yesterday, the Area Manager received the letter
I had been advised to write and copy to various
departments of O2, so they were willing to listen to
reason. Glenn Tookey at S and S had given them costings
for an N82 that he still has a few of, plus putting
Talks onto a phone etc, but they weren't really
interested.
During a conversation I had with the Area Manager
yesterday, where I advised him he had to settle the
dispute within 14 days, he said he wished he could give
me any handset, but was limited in what he could offer.
He happened to say: "I'd give you an iPhone, Blackberry,
anything if it was helpful to you". When he said
iPhone, I decided instantly that it would be my best
route. I've always resisted going down that road, and
am happy with my iPod Touch. But when he offered me an
iPhone fourth generation 32GB, with my current
Simplicity tariff plus an extra five quid for an
unlimited data plan, I took it.
He didn't know about VoiceOver, and wondered how a blind
person would use an iPhone, which is why he'd never
offered me one in the beginning. I explained how it
works, and that Apple has a commitment to accessibility.
So everyone, the moral of this story is that if you have
problems with an existing Nokia phone which contains
your Talks or K-Reader software, don't assume it will go
to Nokia to be repaired as I did. Don't also assume that
a carrier like O2 will accept an unlocked or unbranded
handset, because they don't. And be prepared for a
run-around if it goes wrong.
I am not keeping too well at the moment with my back,
and this took a lot of energy and stress to deal with.
But I made O2 give me something suitable in the end. I
could have stuck with the refurbished N86, but I already
have an N86. I felt that taking the iPhone for £20 a
month on my current tariff with the inclusion of
unlimited WiFi and Hotspots, 600 minutes and unlimited
texts on a SIM only contract was the best I could get.
So, as my iPhone is coming within the next few days, I'm
going to join those of you who are working your way
through the steep learning curve to use it. An iPod
Touch is one thing, but an iPhone is a bit more than
that, so I'll certainly welcome any help if I shout for
it.
Sorry for such a long rant, but there are things worth
noting as I've discovered over recent weeks.
Kind Regards,
Jackie Cairns
J&M Work-Ability
jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.work-ability.co.uk
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