'Wrong SIM card' - Vodafone SIM in Tesco phone??

[bluejeans]

I bought myself a lovely new mobile phone in Tesco today. I'm still on contract with Vodafone and thought I could swap SIM cards - but when I did it said 'Wrong SIM card'. DH said 'of course you can't use a Vodafone SIM card in a Tesco phone!' (he was there when I bought it though )...I had no idea!

Can someone tell me what my options are? Not sure the phone is returnable and I really like it (and it's not available on Vodafone...) DH said I can take it to a stall in the shopping centre and get it unchipped or something - but sounds a bit dodgy! It wasn't cheap so don't want it to get damaged!

Feel a bit silly now

Many thanks!

You can get it unlocked. Not sure where is a good place to do it, the places I see always look abit dodgy but maybe someone else has had it done...?

Thanks - I might venture down there tomorrow - does it cost much?

Some phones you can unlock yourself for free, for instance nearly all Nokias. Google is your friend here.

Just being nosey, but what was the phone you bought?

Although I'm not using Vodafone, the Asda PAYG SIMs use the Vodafone network, and I have SIMs for Virgin Mobile and Orange, so tend to buy phones in Asda/George cheap (as they don't usually insist on adding a top-up like CPW).

VM SIMs use the T-Mobile network, so for anyone who sees a cheap deal on a phone for T-Mob, it might be useful info.

WebDude - it's a Sony Ericsson T715. The only place I could find it was 3 or Tesco. I didn't try Asda though wish I had!

I had mine unlocked at a Radioshack shop - cost £10

Given this was brought back into circulation by someone... might be worth an update

Asda now do, apparently, lock their phones (when they were previously unlocked).

Carphone Warehouse sells mostly unlocked phones (unless a phone is exclusive to some particular network), and online CPW also sells phones as e2save.com and mobiles.co.uk

Asda still using Vodafone

Think Tesco uses O2

GiggGaff (cheap deals) uses O2

Virgin Mobile still uses T-Mobile (but now, as part of Everyone Everywhere, users of the T-Mobile and Orange networks can used masts from both of the original networks). OK No phones being sold as from "Everyone Everywhere" as the name hasn't really caught on!

Thanks NetworkGuy

I'm the OP, now with another new phone (fortunately on Vodafone so no unlocking issues!). With the previous one I ended up paying Tesco to give me an unlock code. Took ages, and then DD spilled nail varnish remover on the new phone so was never happy with it after all that!

I'm more than curious why someone has ressurrected this thread today and why they were deleted!

The only option you have is to unlock your mobile phone. you need the unlock code for it. you can get the unlock code for your mobile phone from the respective network provider or from any trusted vendor online. Once you receive the unlock code, you can visit www.mobileunlockguide.com/ This site provides free unlocking instruction. this could help you understand unlocking process better.