By declining my request to disable the Activation Lock on a legally purchased Macbook Pro, they have turned that beautiful computer into a worthless piece of junk. Any other options?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14
> Purchased from a mac tech who buys and sells apple computers
I'd ask that shop to fix the issue or give my money back.
BillEagle wrote:
I don't want the owner's info. Understandable. I would like Apple to contact the icloud account owner linked to the serial number and ask that if not stolen, no longer in their possession, legally purchased from them, etc, to please remove it from their "Find My Mac" feature in their icloud account.
Easily said, simple to do, but impossible to execute.
Apple may not even have access to that information as that information may only be available to the user through their AppleID. At least I would hope that is the case from a privacy & security angle for my own personal information.
Unfortunately this is one of the new dangers of purchasing used Apple products. If the Apple products are not properly prepared for sale by the user, then this is what happens. Unfortunately, even if an Apple device is properly prepared for sale, there are still ways the Apple device can become locked. If that happens and you are not able to unlock it with your AppleID or recovery key, then again Apple will be unable to unlock it for you because there still will be no way to prove ownership even though you may have your AppleID associated with it.
If you want a used Mac, then the best solution is to purchase a refurbished one directly from Apple so that Apple will know you are the legitimate owner (assuming you keep your receipts).
Hello ~ The “Mac” tech should have been well aware of Apple’s policy. You don’t really know where the device came from. If Apple has declined to remove the activation lock …that’s the end of the line. We can’t help you as we are fellow users like yourself.
~Katana-San~
BillEagle wrote:
The Activation Lock makes it literally impossible to do anything with it. I don't understand Apple's reluctance to help. We have receipts and the ownership trail back to the recycler. It's not stolen. Just tell me who the macbook is linked to and I'll contact them to delete it from their account. Simple! But nooooooooooo....
Apple is well know for and has built quite a reputation on its stance on user privacy and security.
As you posted, "lord only knows where they (recycler) got it" and that is exactly the reason for Apple's reluctance to assist with Activation Lock. The feature is held has a theft deterrent, and to allow anyone with less than an original retail purchase receipt to bypass the feature would pretty much defeat that. You believe it isn't stolen, but you cannot be certain that is true.
The same goes for user privacy. There is no way Apple will share with you the personal info of the original purchaser on file, if they have that.
They do have the info needed. They have the serial number that links to the icloud account which has the account owner whom they can contact to remove the macbook from their account. It's locked via the "Find My Mac" feature in a previous owner's account. The original owner (if not stolen) only has to remove it from their icloud account which they can do in 20 seconds and I would have my macbook back again. Simple.
Jim Petri wrote:
I went through this and was elevated 3 times up the chain to higher level “experts.” I offered multiple reasons why their policy bears no merit in certain situations. Each and every time it was “there’s nothing we can do.” Of course, I gave them a list of many things the right person, e.g. someone with actual computer knowledge, could do. Nothing. I even offered to send it back to Apple for some credit. They offered me exactly $0. This ridiculous policy, along with the fact that these new iMacs are 0% upgradable means 0% future business from me, a customer since 1987.
Although if someone stole your computer and wanted Apple to unlock it for them or pay them as a trade-in, I am sure you would feel different. Without the original purchase receipt from Apple showing your name and serial number of the device, there is no amount of proof that you could provide that would show the device is yours and has not been stolen. Apple does not get involved in third party sales and it is not their responsibility to track down the history of the device or contact previous owners, if it was even possible.
The other issue is, the Mac in question may not have been purchased directly from Apple but from a reseller. In which case Apple wouldn't have the info you seek.
It sounds like you bought a previously owned Mac. If so…
If your previously owned Mac shows an Activation Lock window that asks for someone else's Apple ID, the previous owner may need to remove Activation Lock for you.
I don't want the owner's info. Understandable. I would like Apple to contact the icloud account owner linked to the serial number and ask that if not stolen, no longer in their possession, legally purchased from them, etc, to please remove it from their "Find My Mac" feature in their icloud account.
Easily said, simple to do, but impossible to execute.
I went through this and was elevated 3 times up the chain to higher level “experts.” I offered multiple reasons why their policy bears no merit in certain situations. Each and every time it was “there’s nothing we can do.” Of course, I gave them a list of many things the right person, e.g. someone with actual computer knowledge, could do. Nothing. I even offered to send it back to Apple for some credit. They offered me exactly $0. This ridiculous policy, along with the fact that these new iMacs are 0% upgradable means 0% future business from me, a customer since 1987.
Purchased from a mac tech who buys and sells apple computers. He purchased it from an electronics recycling company who lord only knows where they got it. No chance to find the original owner and Apple won't help. The computer ran beautifully for several months until I wanted to update the OS. It immediately locked up and now it's bricked. The Activation Lock makes it literally impossible to do anything with it. I don't understand Apple's reluctance to help. We have receipts and the ownership trail back to the recycler. It's not stolen. Just tell me who the macbook is linked to and I'll contact them to delete it from their account. Simple! But nooooooooooo....
You've already received your answer from Apple.
"If wishes were horses…"
dialabrain wrote:
"If wishes were horses…"
Browncoat?
How do I know my request has been declined? I’ve been waiting for more that 4 days!
My request to disable the Activation Lock on a legally purchased Macbook Pro was declined
