Android

[bajor1]

Hi, I recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy W prepaid based on other purchaser's feedback that this phone was free to unlock - they had done so after purchase.

When I tried to unlock online I was asked to pay $100.00 less the $25.00 for unlocking online. I contacted Vodafone support and they advised me that all Samsung Galaxy W's are hard locked which doesn't match with feedback above that other users have unlocked for free.

Can you please advise if there is any chance of getting this unlocked for free or am I stuck with an unexpected payment of $75.00?

Thanks,

Michael

ps. I am unlocking as I will be travelling overseas in a couple of weeks and want to use a local SIM.

[Bart]

Hi Michael,

Where are you heading overseas? For a holiday I hope!

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bajor1 wrote:

When I tried to unlock online I was asked to pay $100.00 less the $25.00 for unlocking online. I contacted Vodafone support and they advised me that all Samsung Galaxy W's are hard locked which doesn't match with feedback above that other users have unlocked for free.

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I can confirm that the Samsung Galaxy W (I8150) is hard locked to Vodafone, meaning there will be a fee to unlock the device.

Were the other purchaser's devices from Vodafone or another provider? If they were bought from a different source, the locked status may be different. We're not able to remove the unlocking cost from hard locked devices, however it is a one off cost, meaning the device will remain unlocked for use with any SIM card for the life of the device.

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bajor1 wrote:

When I tried to unlock online I was asked to pay $100.00 less the $25.00 for unlocking online. I contacted Vodafone support and they advised me that all Samsung Galaxy W's are hard locked which doesn't match with feedback above that other users have unlocked for free.

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You're spot on with the $25 discount you get when unlocking online, a worthwhile discount.

If you have any trouble with the unlocking process, you can let us know by using the difficulties form on the unlocking site, or I can help you out if you like.

Thanks, Bart.

[nikebum]

Hi

i recenlty also purchased but we never disclosed that it was hard locked why is this information not advised at time of sale nor on the box as per other Vodafone products i have

[Charlotte]

Hi nikebum,

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nikebum wrote:

i recenlty also purchased but we never disclosed that it was hard locked why is this information not advised at time of sale nor on the box as per other Vodafone products i have

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Many phones we sell on prepaid are locked to our Network because they come with a Vodafone SIM to use in the phone. When you purchased the phone did you let us know that you were planning on using a different carrier SIM in the phone?

Could you please let me know whereabouts did you purchase the phone?

Thank you,

Charlotte

[Kinko]

I bought one of these too, and same problem-I had to buy another handset overseas because my phone wouldn't work. I get why Vodafone wants them locked, but surely that has to be disclosed at the time of purchase.

Is this the case with all Vodafone handsets? If so, I have a whole family full of phones to return :/ !

[Bruno]

Hi Kinko,

Kinko wrote:

I bought one of these too, and same problem-I had to buy another handset overseas because my phone wouldn't work. I get why Vodafone wants them locked, but surely that has to be disclosed at the time of purchase.

Is this the case with all Vodafone handsets? If so, I have a whole family full of phones to return :/ !

All of our phones that carry a network lock, are sold with a sticker on the box to identify whether they are hard, or soft locked, so that you know exactly what you're getting.

As a general rule, if it's a prepaid phone or any of our mobile broadband modems, it's likely to be a hard-locked device and there will be a cost to remove the network lock from it. There's a great article on our support page about removing network locks, you can check it out here.