Just bought an iPhone 5 in second hand and it seems that i need to have the Apple ID from the first owner to use it… Any advice?

What are you talking about ? its not supposed to work that way. You are not supposed to buy a used iPhone legitimately and not be able to get it to work. Apple sells used(refurbished) iPhones themselves. What if they forgot to turn Find My IPhone off and did not respond to your requests, thus locking you out of the phone? Its supposed to work that way?

If the phone is locked to someone else's Apple ID, it was most likely not acquired legitimately by the seller. If you have proof of original purchase of the phone, Apple can help you.

Best of luck.

Thats not true. That is a fundamental flaw in your argument. That it was most likely not a legitimate seller if the Find my iPhone is turned on. You cannot be so far from the truth. That is why this issue is a problem. If your whole argument is based on the idea that everyone is a crook then you are throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Apple is not helping anyone right now and that is the whole problem.

Too, there's no proof that the OP obtained the iPhone legitimately. No one truly believes that all of the people who have claimed, "I forgot my Apple ID, my password, my email address, my security questions and answers, and my birthday" are telling the truth. If the OP did obtain the iPhone legitimately, his second step - the first was to post on Apple's website - should be to make an appointment with an Apple Genius, and discuss the situation.

trajan1 wrote:

What are you talking about ? its not supposed to work that way. You are not supposed to buy a used iPhone legitimately and not be able to get it to work....

The Activation Locks was explained to you many times, you don't want to accept it, it's alright with me. The facts doesn't change because you don't accept.

There is also a support document about what to do if you sell your iPhone

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5661

trajan1 wrote:

... Apple sells used(refurbished) iPhones themselves. What if they forgot to turn the Finf My IPhone on and did not respond to your requests? Its supposed to work that way?

You can always go back to the Apple Store and I am sure you'll be taken good care of and things sorted out.

This Activation Lock was a big request from users as well as Police departments all over the world because stolen iPhones were a big issue in many country. Now the Police also recommend you to update to IOS7.

I think my fundamental assumption is relatively sound. I did not at any point say that everyone was a crook. Lots of people are innocently buying iPhones second hand, only to find they have been scammed. Lots of people are selling iPhones on eBay that are properly, legimately unlocked.

trajan1 wrote:

Thats not true. That is a fundamental flaw in your argument. That it was most likely not a legitimate seller if the Find my iPhone is turned on.

OK. how's this for clarification. Either the phone was not acquired legitimately (i.e. it was stolen or 'lost') or both the seller and the buyer are absolutel idiots for not bothering to remove the lock/check to make sure it was not locked (respectively) prior to completing the sale.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that second possibility. Thanks, Tim! 🙂

My vote as well.

Yep.

Legitimate buyers of used phones, gazelle or nextworth, specifically state that if the device has find my iphone activated

They will not buy the device.

Any legitimate seller of used phones will check the device to ensure it is working.

Ok so they are either crooks or idiots. Thats how you people look at the situation. If i could go to the Apple store and be helped why do you think i would be here debating the issue with you critics? What part of Apple is not helping do you not understand?

Obviously most of you have no good idea about how to deal with this problem other than to assume that everyone is a crook or an idiot. Thats ridiculous considering that the solution is very simple. If a person cant respond to Apple's emails to regarding the status of an iPhone withint 4 weeks then Apple should remove the iPhone from any Apple account and consider it legitimately sold. Its as simple as that.

You're completely missing the point of Activation Lock. Numerous people have tried to tell you about it. You can Google and read further information for yourself. After awhile, it's like talking to a brick wall. Just because you believe something to be true doesn't make it so. You might think Apple "should" do this or "should" do that but Activation Lock was designed the way it was for a reason.

Ok so what is the point of activation lock ? And while you are at it can you tell me why Apple sends me an email everytime something changes on my Apple account? Why does Apple do that?

Ya know... I thought we were talking about solving a problem. Do you have a solution to the problem or not?

If you bought a stolen car, the manufacturer should help you? You must be living in a dream world.

Any seller who disappeared after the product is sold or ignore the buyer request is not a good sign. You got scammed. Apple will not help, it's between you and the seller.

Nobody is talking about buying anything stolen! Sheesh! You just dont get it. If i bought a car from a guy and he forgot to give me the keys or he lost the keys. I can go to the dealer and get a new set of keys for the car. The manufacturer will help me. Now Apple is helping nobody!! Their Found My iPhone feature has a huge flaw in it and is a black eye for iOS7. Its as simple as that. Can you understand that? Do you have a solution to the problem or not?