Calling any T-mobile users

[bosco0633]

Hello friends.  I come to you as a Canadian looking for some assistance.  I was an idiot and purchased a phone for my wife on ebay.  It is a T-mobile phone, I was told that the phone was unlocked and it wasnt.  So now I cant use it with my cell phone provider here in Canada.

I contacted Tmobile today and they told me that if I know anyone with a T-mobile account then they can call and request a code.  It is free and no penalty for it.  They just need an account for it.

Can anyone that knows me give me a hand.  It is her Christmas present and I am screwed.  All you have to do is call them, I will give you my serial number for the phone, and then you tell them that you are traveling abroad and need the phone unlocked.  They will give you a code in return that you can have sent to my own email address so that you are not bothered any further.

Thanks is advance for anyone that can help me out.

[Mendocino101]

I am surprised no one has stepped up to help you. I am a ATT user so I can be of no help.....but it seems simple enough for what you need....

[bosco0633]

It is so easy, I just cant find any takers.  I have tried several websites that claim that they can unlock, but no luck so far.  

[Bonibelle]

I'm sorry too Bosco..I used to have TMobile, but that was about 3 years ago.  Can't the person that sold you the phone help? Don't you have some kind of contact info on them?

[ndabunka]

Bosco - You can probably unlock it yourself.  It's not a simply thing but is usually possible on pretty much every phone.  It's not really "illegal" to unlock your OWN phone but it's not always simple.  What model phone did you get?  Maybe I can help point you in the right direction...

[96SC]

Regrets here, too. Alltel.

[bosco0633]

the unlock is easy to do if you get the code.  I dont have the code.  The phone is brand new from the tmobil store.  I drove over to buffalo and picked it up for her.  I have tried 3 websites that sell unlock codes but none of them have been able to get me  a code.  They say it is because it is a newer phone that it is not available yet and they dont know if it will ever be available.

Tmobile can do it right away, I spoke with the tech on the phone, however, they will not and can not do it unless I have a tmobile account.  So they said that if I find a tmobile user then they can do it for me.   I just need to give them my phones IMIE number and then thats it.

It is totally not illegal.  There are no Canadian or American laws against this.  That I know forsure!  I just signed up with another company online in an attempt to get an unlock code.

Thanks for the replies, fingers crossed.

[Bonibelle]

I guess I am confused (what's new?) You need a code from Tmobile because you are using a Tmobile phone on another provider's service? I guess I never realized that you could do that.

[bosco0633]

I am a rogers customer here in Canada.  If you want to get a phone here in Canada, they trap you into a 3 year contract.  If your phone breaks during that time, you have to buy a new one anyway or get a cheap refurbished unit for a fee.  Then if you ever have issues, you cant just walk away.

So Rogers is on a GSM network.  Therefore, I can use any phone compatible with the GSM network.  These phones work on SIM cards.  You put your SIM card into any phone and it will work.  Now, companies lock the phone.  Which means that they brand it so that the phone will only work with SIM cards for thier network.  When you buy a phone from the company it will always be locked to them.  

So T-mobile runs on the GSM network and is the same as Rogers here in Canada.  All that you need to do is removed the t-mobile lock, and then the phone will work on any GSM network in the world. Pretty neat.

The best part is that I do not have to buy back into contract.  I find going to the states for a phone save me about 300.00.  I paid 200 for a brand new phone that would have cost me about 500 here.  

I just happened to pick a phone that is next to impossible to find an unlock code for.  it can be done, just hard to find.  

Does this make sense?

[wmccall]

Does this make sense?

Not sure, I'm calling Homeland Security just in case, don't try crossing the Peace Bridge again!  

A friend started selling T-Mobile from his store.  It had one dead spot in the metro area and that was about 1 mile wide and centered on his house  

[Bonibelle]

Yeah Bosco, now it does make sense.  I am wondering if you could call a TMobile store and get lucky enough to find a kind person who will give you the code.

I just bought a SIM card reader for my husband who has a habit of losing phones (he is on At&T). My Verizon phone backs up my contact list on a daily basis..SIM card phones don't do that...so you need to back it up yourself...

Is there a card in that phone?  Just thinking it may have the information on it..just need a reader to find it..

[Bonibelle]

Bosco, I will call a T-mobil store here if you want. Maybe I can find a young kid willing to help you out..but that is only if you want me to. I just don't know anyone on T-Mobile any longer..

[bosco0633]

tmobile tech department has to do it for you.  I think that I will go to the states and get a pay as you go phone account.  Then I will call them and ask them for the code and unlock it.  Maybe this will work, I dont know???

So frustrating.

[bosco0633]

anyone?

[Vanguard]

Sorry, Verizon here.