iPhone 4S - Serial Number of a replaced product
Hello everyone!
I've got a problem with my iPhone 4S and I hope someone here can give me a hint on how to fix this...
Last year in March I was on vacation in Las Vegas (I live in Austria/Europe) and bought a new unlocked iPhone 4S GSM in the Apple Store in the Forum Shops in Las Vegas including AppleCare+ (I just learned that iPhones can only be serviced in the Country where they are bought - my bad).
Lately I was browsing through my Apple support profile and noticed that my iPhone was not registered there. So I tried to enter the serial number of the device and got this message:
We're sorry, but this is a serial number for a product that has been replaced. Please check your information and re-enter your serial number. If your information is correct, you may need to contact us.
I knew this could not be true so I called Apple Care here in Austria and first I was told that - according to its serial number - my iPhone has been replaced, and that it never should have been sold. I also was told that I have no chance of getting any service for this device despite the Care Protection Plan because the device is invalid due to its status as "replaced". And last but not least I was told that I could never receive any service for this device because American devices cannot be repaired in Europe (I was not aware of this fact and would have expected the salesperson in the Apple Store to tell me because I definitely told him that I am from Austria).
Meanwhile I wrote an email to the store where I bought the iPhone from but it's two days now and I have not received an answer (or any indication that my email was received) yet.
Is there anything I can do?
Yours,
Michael
iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.3