Your description of the issue is vague which is why we are being vague. I don't know if the reseller from whom you obtained the device is somebody off e-bay or an authorized Apple retailer. Right now we have the possibilities it was a shady dealer off e-bay to it is a relative on their deathbed. What is clear is:
1) Apple has no official policy about unlocking devices. Some stores may do it if you can convince them to their satisfaction, others may say "no" and that's it. Since it is not a service mentioned on any Apple web site, asking to have it done is entirely up to the mercy of the store. A place can decide they simply don't want to deal with it even if you can prove you are the original owner. Apparently if you are you stand a better chance of convincing them to do it, but they can decide where they draw the line since it is a service which does not officially exist.
2) You apparently have a USA device in Europe which places you on a weaker footing since Apple normally won't even consider trying to offer service to a cellular device outside the country of origin.
3) Apple does have a series of assistance for people to recover their Apple IDs. So their official recovery method is to do their best so the owner (and ownership in this case is defined as the person whose Apple ID has locked the phone) is able to recover their ID.
As I already stated, a receipt not in your name is proof of nothing.
I understand you are frustrated and your topic about this is just one of the dozen or so I see here every day for the past 5 years. Before then it was complaints from people about how easy it was for a thief to reset a stolen phone and why didn't Apple do something about it, so I guess you can't win.