Yes it was free back in 2010 when all the macs where made before 2009.
And the reset efi, you just had to remove one of your Rams.
Everything changed after apple started upgrading their efi chips.
Mac Efi Unlock Free Solution
Unlocking your EFI locked Mac can be a nightmare, but most people ignore that Apple can unlock their mac if it belongs to them.
Yes, you need to prove that you own the computer to have it unlocked by Apple. To prove to Apple to that you own the device, you will need to provide the original purchase invoice, even if your neme is not on the invoice.
That is why you should always insist on getting the original invoice when buying a used mac. If the seller do not have it, then your guess is as good as mine and you should not buy it.
If you do insist on buying it, then spend as little money as possible on it. Usually when you see a password on a mac, there is a huge chance that the icloud is on and icould mean efi lock.
Now you have 3 choices, buy a new logic board, have the Amtel ship flashed, or have it remotely unlock by signed binary.