[axel]

What are the rules governing an out of contract,out of warranty branded Nokia handset? Is "de-branding" technically possible then?

[grschinon]

The same rules apply.

Get it done the legitimate way with written permission from the operator that branded the phone and you're ok. Do it the DIY way and Nokia Care are within their rights to refuse to repair the phone at all, regardless of any warranty issues.

[psychomania]

The rules are that you must have written permission from the network that branded it to get it debranded at a nokia care point.  Also if the phone is sim locked you must get them to remove that too. 

Some networks will help, others won't, it's really pot luck and totally at the networks discretion as nokia cannot force them to do it.

That is the only official method and the only debranding method that can be discussed on this forum in detail.

If the warranty has expired then "other methods" are probably the better option to save a lot of hassle.

Message Edited by psychomania on 06-Nov-2009 01:26 PM

[axel]

Understood, but that's crazy. I don't even live in the country (UK) where the phone was branded any more. The contract ended more than a year ago, and the phone has been out of warranty for longer. These rules are unfairly restrictive of consumer's rights and need to be changed. I've certainly paid for my phone many times over, and what's more, no longer have a contractual agreement with the provider I initially purchased it from. The phone is unlocked though.

[psychomania]

Thats one of the many disadvantages of branded phones. The networks subsidise them so they do whatever they want to them without stopping to think about the customer.

Sadly it will take a miracle to make the networks snap out of these old habits.

This is also one of the reasons why I always get unbranded phones. 

[grschinon]

Precisely.

It's a bit late for your current phone, but you might want to read this for the future: http://techyoddsandends.blogspot.com/2009/09/should-i-buy-phone-sim-free-and-pay.html