French SIM in my Virgin Mobile - Special Code?

[Noisetieres]

Folks

I have a UK PAYG Virgin Mobile Motorola phone (I just pay monthly for anything I use by DD). I bought a sim card from SIMYO.fr just to use in France.

When I put the SIM card into the phone, it prompted me for a "Code Speciale" I thought it was the PUK number that came with the SIM card but after 3 attempts is gave me a message "contact operator".

Now I'm thinking that my phone is actually LOCKED to Virgin and the code I needed was either an unlock code or the PUK for my current UK mobile number.

Has anyone had the same experience? How did you resolve it?

Thanks

[Babnik]

My virgin mobile was locked. I think, if I remember rightly, I just phoned virgin for an unlock code.

[TempsPerdu]

This guide might be of help.

http://www.virginmobile.com.au/pdfs/Network_Unlock_Guide.pdf

But you will need to get the code from Virgin Mobile for your particular phone.

Steve

_________________
À la recherche du temps perdu - In Search of Lost Time and Remembrance of Things Past

[Ecossais]

"Code speciale" on the screen (although I'm surprised it's displayed in French on a UK phone) suggests the handset is locked to Virgin UK and you will need the subsidy unlock code for it to work with another network SIM.

This from the Virgin UK website….

7.5 Unlocking your handset: Handsets that are used to access our Services are locked to the Network. If you wish to unlock your handset from the Network you will need to contact our Team and pay the Charges for unlocking your handset as set out in the Tariff Table. You will also need to have paid all Charges owing on your account before we unlock your handset. For security reasons you will also need to register the handset you wish to unlock with us before we unlock it for you.

(The handset unlocking fee is £15.)