play.com is very cheap. problem is they arent open to all networks, and some new phones can cost up to 30 quid to open to all networks.

"ive found this web site that can do it for a tenner"

try it. phones are my forte, and i know these web sites dont work as people come in my shop complaining about them lol.

and NO, that bloke down the market charging a fiver can NOT open the new models of sony's and nokias etc for a fiver. it costs 3-4 times that TRADE pride even when buying the codes in bulk, even then some phones have to be sripped down to 'test point' them to unlock them.

car phone warehouse are cheap, and most phones are GSM, sim free.

prices are good aswell.

you could also get one of their 'clearance' phones, basically 14 day returns from people who've got them on contract and brought them back unused etc