iPad locked

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Level 1

8 points

iPad locked

I in hindsight stupidly bought an ipad on ebay. It was a replacement for my Grandkids when they come to visit. It has someone else's apple id still on it, the seller doesn't know who it is, he got 5 from an educational establishment he cant get an answer from. I have been an apple customer since 2005, I have had / got 6 ipads, 5 iphones, an itunes account, I but storage everymonth, I receive emails from them, so I spoke to the UK customer service and asked could they unblock it for me pretty please, they said no, I need the original receipt or the persons pass word and email. I have had the ipad in a drawer now for 16 months. I asked has it been reported stolen? no they said. Has it been reported lost? No. Can you send the the person an email and ask them to log off or delete the ipad from their account? they said No. I asked why? it is against the Data Protection. I said no it isn't, youre not passing on and personal information to me, youre just contacting him by email. We can't do that they said, I said why not you send me emails, what is the difference? We are not permitted to contact them. So what do I do with my ipad then? speak to the peson who is logged into it. ??????WTF.

So that s my story, can you assist in this please..... Ipad air 2

Posted on Jun 2, 2021 4:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Community+ 2024

Level 10

291,740 points

Jun 2, 2021 5:02 AM in response to Delboy59

Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.

If you have the necessary documentation, Apple have recently introduced a new portal though which you may be able to request release of an Activation Lock:

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support & start an Activation Lock support request.

Sorry, but as described, the iPad is useless to you.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

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Answer 2

AKRBTN

Level 6

8,533 points

Jun 2, 2021 4:56 AM in response to Delboy59

We're just other iPad users, so no we cannot do anything. The iPad is probably stolen. Apple doesn't keep tabs on devices anyway, and even if they did, the person it is locked to is probably the rightful owner and is more likely to want it back than to help you to use it. This is how activation lock works.

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Answer 3

Delboy59 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2021 8:14 AM in response to AKRBTN

As I stated, Apple checked their system not reported stolen or lost. The cs person could see the name and the account but would not tell me. If it was indeed stolen and she had emailed him/her they could have said that. I used my account to contact them so they could say it was stolen I would have taken it to the police and told them who I got it from and got my money back. So 2 happy people not just one. But they did nothing at all.

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Answer 4

AKRBTN

Level 6

8,533 points

Jun 2, 2021 10:13 AM in response to Delboy59

Just because it’s not reported stolen doesn’t mean it isn’t. In any case I am not sure it would be reported to Apple anyway. Apple isn’t going to be at all interested in getting involved in this matter in the way you’d like them to. All they’re interested in is ensuring that a device cannot be used by anyone other than the person who last activated it (until such time as that person frees it up to sell or give to someone else). As you bought from EBay you could open a claim with them as the device isn’t usable. Or you can ask the seller for a refund. If they are acting in good faith they should recognise that the product isn’t in saleable condition and should have no issue with refunding you.

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Answer 5

Delboy59 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 2, 2021 11:31 AM in response to AKRBTN

If only it was that simple. eBay don’t want to know, as it was my fault for contacting them first, as I had gone directly to the seller. The seller gave me some information and promised to contact them ( the college he bought them from) but it went past the 30 days when eBay will refund money. I contacted him a few times but the college was closed due to Covid and now it’s too long after the event to be able to contact him via eBay and I didn’t get his email. But again you’re missing the point. They put this security in place and an honest person has no recourse. If it’s stolen I’ll return it, if it isn’t (as it wasn’t theirs it belonged to the college) they should remove it from their account. Seems simple to me but apple will not assist when they have the ability to do so for a loyal customer for over 15 years.

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iPad locked

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