I have been with Vodafone for over 20 years . Recently wanted an old iPhone unlocked so I could use a cheap SIM in for work only. Not INSTEAD of my usual contract with Vodafone but as well as, so no disbenefit to them. Supposed to take 10 days to unlock - took more than 6 weeks, 3 calls and then when they said it was unlocked it really wasn't. In the end I had to go and pay £90 for a new phone as I simply couldn't leave my clients without a contact number for any longer. Frustrating when I had a perfectly good phone at home in a drawer - I think it is a shame the companies have so much control over handsets, even after you have had a new handset from them!