I've scoured the topics and questions in the Answers HQ and seem to be the newest person to report this, but I'm simply unable to play Need For Speed Most Wanted Online. This is most frustrating as I'm very close to obtaining the Platinum trophy for this game, but am unable to do so as there are 4 trophies requiring online access. I remember my parents buying the game from a friend as a gift a few years back, and my included Online Pass code never worked then, (which is understandable since it was from a friend) but since the Online Pass is now free on the PSN Store, I should just be able to download it and hop right on, right? Wrong. I've tried deleting the old Game Data, re-downloading the Online Pass from the PSN Store, yet every time I try and connect to multiplayer in-game, I get the message telling me I either need to redeem an Online Code, Purchase one, or Skip. Well, I don't want to skip because then you don't get progress, and I need the progress for the trophies. I can't redeem an Online Code because the game was originally from a friend, so I assume they used it first. Finally, when I click Purchase to try and purchase an Online Pass from the PSN Store, (this worries me the most) it says there is not content to be downloaded at this time. The pass doesn't appear when you try and purchase it through the game, and downloading the pass through the PSN store does nothing at all.
Sorry for the length, but I just wanted to explain the situation thoroughly, in hopes of getting some sort of help so I can earn the None More Wanted trophy! 
Any and all help is much appreciated!