Activate lock 24 days

This is a business account that I’m having such an issue. My

employee was fired back in 2023, and she changed the password on the iCloud

account; and the phone stayed dormant until we could fill that position. Last

month we finally found a replacement, but the phone was stuck in SOS mode. I

spoke with Verizon CS and Apple CS they told me it could be a number of things

causing that and it is best to restore your phone....but it kept asking for

password to remove the account. So originally put a request to recover password

and they sent me a email that they will text the recover password and instructions

to the nonfunctioning locked phone.) So after speaking with Apple Customer

Service that walked me through restoring the phone and it did, but after

connect to Wi-Fi it is asking for the password-welp big mistake so now it has

an "Activation Lock" So I submitted a request to Corporate Activation

Lock removal with Proof of Purchase. So I they sent me an email stating they

removed the Lock on 11/5.. but nope "activation lock still there after umpteen

time restoring it. I went back to recover password and this morning it said 2

hour and they will text me the reset instructions to alternate number

provided...That didn’t come so I went back to the website and it now say 24 day

(REALLY??) so I called Apple CS and they asked me once again to restore my

phone same result>>>>So the CS sent me to his Senior Support who

was not at all helpful..she asked me the exact same question over again and

didn't offer any solution. We can’t control the unlock process and a business

account will just have to wait 24 day. Well, “recovery” already changed the from

only 2 hours left to 24 days. (WHAT!!) So I guess I’m supposed to shut down my business

until they decide to unlock the phone or provide proper Customer Support? I won’t

lie, I am Livid and at my wits end with these phone and wondering if I should

pull all of my Corporate account.