Unlocking Motorola V500 - cable or IMEI

I have a Moto v500 from Orange UK that I need to unlock.

Orange will give me the subsidy code for 20 UKP.
No other vendor seems to be able to as the IMEI is not on the Moto system

Or I can go to a market trader with a smartclip and get it done for 10 UKP.

Is there any danger with the smartclip route (a higher risk than getting the code) that the phone could become relocked when flashing with future firmware updates or performing seem updates? Is the orange route safer as the subsidy code could simply be re-entered - presumably the algorithm doesn';t change & is based on IMEI?

No matter which way you unlock the phone if you seem edit you stand the chance of locking your phone.