Just purchased an Iphone 4S, owner had find my iphone turned off, we deleted their icloud account completely and then did settings-general-reset-erase all data and settings which did not require the password for the icloud account but its still locked????

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

If the previous owner is with you and can access the device

Ask them to erase all content and settings by choosing Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. They'll need to provide their Apple ID and password. After the device is erased, you'll can proceed with the device setup process.

These are from a few of the articles apple has posted, I followed these steps and still am locked out, shouldn't they have a record somewhere that these are the steps I in fact followed and get me going instead of assuming I'm a thief? No too like I said I have several back ups of the 4s I've had for a year or so that should show proof that it's mine, you can't back up a phone in the setup process.... We'll just wanted to add more info maybe someone will actually read what I've written and understand my frustration...

Ok so if that wasn't bad enough I decided to try the same thing on another iPhone 4S I've had since it was back on iOS 6.1.3(it was a used iPhone with bad esn when I first got it) I updated to iOS 7 and had my iCloud and find my iPhone active from there I updated to 7.0.6 which I then today updated to this bs 7.1.1 after turning off find my iPhone and deleting iCloud off of it, well after update it is activation locked to the previous owners Apple ID! Apple can't explain it to me and obviously can't do anything to help me.. There have been others calling in with the issue(representative said so anyway) they said something like if the owner back a year or more ago never removed it from iCloud then it could be a glitch and finding 2 iCloud accounts and using the oldest on activation! Yet a lot of people don't have the previous owners information so I'm stuck with 2 paper weights, this one has warranty until June but they can't service it without find my iPhone turned off(which I did before update) and you know they won't replace it:( idk how they're going to fix this one... After a lot of people complain I would hope they'll do something...

I understand what activation lock is and does, we took the steps outlined in apples what to do before you sell your phone(turned off find my iPhone) deleted the previous owners iCloud account off the phone and erased all settings and data but this still happened to me... Also with the second device I've owned it since it was on iOS 6.1.3 and erased no everything signed in to my iCloud and find my iPhone and then updated to iOS 7, then later to iOS 7.0.6 with absolutely no issues until I updated to iOS 7.1.1! The support person said others were having this issue but there still not currently a fix for it...

i didnt think i'd need to get their information because we followed the steps and did a complete reset of the phone... with my old 4s this issue wasnt around even, NO explaination for it, its b.s i have several back ups on my computer but theyre worthless, the device shows up in my find iphone app as offline, yet another thing that cant be explained!

Fraz, I DID have this happen with my old 4s as well, I had it for a while and got it when it was on iOS 6.1.3, from that I updated to a few different versions of iOS 7 and all was fine until I updated it to iOS 7.1.1! I have numerous backups in my iTunes with the serial number in them, they're should be away to use these as proof.. I think what is happening with iOS 7.1.1 is that it is locking to the very first owner... It's very frustrating, I'm wondering if later these people decide they wanting their phone so they were somehow able to log in and lock it? And I like the lock system as I have a total 10 idevices, but it's obvious that 7.1.1 has some serious bugs not just this one there are plenty others..

Sorry Gail I didn't realize I was logged into my other account but I did respond to ya;)

Hey Gail no I didn't think from reading apples articles that I needed to have them do this, I did take a snapshot on the device of their info, but just my luck I FORGOT to send it!:/ I especially wouldn't have thought this would ever be an issue with my 4s that I've had for a year or more:/ they made me an appt for the apple store so I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow, if it would've shown up on iCloud online they could've helped but since it said offline I was screwed.. I didn't even know a device could be reset without entering the info, and I didn't encounter a problem there, OR with the older 1 when I went from iOS 6.1.3 to iOS 7.03 and 7.0.6 only when I updated to iOS 7.1.1 one thing they did say is the way I did it, I always thought doing a restore and update while in DFU mode was best but they said this could've caused it:/ I thought that after reading was only an issue when you tried to do that with a device that wasn't already reset because that's what I think people did at some point to get around something or rather, but the device I had just got was completely erased of all settings and data which you aren't supposed to be able to do without their iCloud and find my iPhone(FMIP) being deleted off the phone and for FMIP to be turned off and I made sure the phone erased which according to Apples support article ht5661 on what to do before selling or giving your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch erasing the device from the handset should be erased and removed from your account, this is quoted from that article..

If you still have your iOS device

Before you sell or give away your iOS device, make sure that you've removed all of your personal information. Follow these steps to protect your data and get your device to its factory default state for the new owner:

Back up your device.

Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

This will completely erase your device and turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.

If you're using iOS 7 and have Find My iPhone turned on, your Apple ID and password will be required. After you provide your password, the device will be erased and removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it.

Contact your carrier for guidance on transferring service to the new owner.

When the device is turned on for the first time by the new owner, Setup Assistant will guide them through the setup process.