Remove unwanted user ID, no password?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Remove unwanted user ID, no password?

Dear all,

i know this might sound dodgy but is a genuine question.

On my iphone 4 I had the problem with the microphone going mute, occasionally. As the phone was way out of warranty I took it to a local repair shop on a visit to guangzhou, china. I watched the repair guy like a hawk for about 30 minutes and saw him play around with my phone in what i assumed was diagnostic. He changed the microphone unit, closed up the phone a returned it to me. I saw then it was set to Chinese and I asked him to change to English. He did so, I paid and went on my merry way. Did not use the phone at all until upon returning home.

Now, I see the repair guy has put his Apple ID on the phone and I cannot erase it before restoring it, since I don't have his Apple ID password!!!???

I'm now concerned he has put malware or spyware on the phone, as I saw him connect to the local wireless network and phone operator, in what I thought was in order to verify the internal antenna connection (sits in the replaced module).

Can someone please explain me the best cause of action ?

Can I just restore the phone or do I have to do anything more convoluted ?

I can prove ownership of the phone.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Posted on Jun 21, 2014 12:18 AM

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Answer 1

imobl

Level 7

21,156 points

Jun 21, 2014 6:13 AM in response to theSandyBear

Return to the local repair shop. When they opened your iPhone, the warranty was voided.

They broke it, so they should fix it. Apple will not assist with your modified iPhone.

You have run into Activation Lock. There is no workaround. You need the AppleID and

passcode used by the shop.

iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

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Answer 2

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 21, 2014 6:29 AM in response to imobl

Hi imobl.

Thanks for your answer.

However;

1. the phone is an iPhone 4 purchased in 2010 - warranty expired years ago, anyways.

2. I am now on the other side of the world, not to return to China this year, even less likely to this particular store.

3. It is MY phone, he (chinese repair guy) put on his Apple ID for reasons I don't know or understand.

4. This iPhone was registered earlier under my Apple ID, but was erased by me as I was having problems with the microphone and I got an iPhone5s.

4. It is not modified, it was repaired, then "hijacked" by the repair guy by putting on his AppleID (1220525751@qq.com) 👿

5. Is there no way by supplying any and all kind of information to someone (Apple) I can get this phone restored and working with my apple ID???

6. Is the phone basically useless to me at this stage? 😠

Thanks....

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Answer 3

Jun 21, 2014 6:35 AM in response to theSandyBear

If you contact Apple customer care with proof of original purchase, they may willing to assist you.

(And, yes, the phone was modified. Apple doesn't sell parts. Therefore, whatever parts were used to replace your phone were either counterfeit or salvaged.)

Best of luck.

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Answer 4

imobl

Level 7

21,156 points

Jun 21, 2014 6:39 AM in response to theSandyBear

Take the iPhone and all your documentation showing you were the original

purchaser to Apple and ask. You will need to do this in the country where

the iPhone was originally purchased (EU is considered one country for this

purpose).

Apple's policy is that if iPhone is opened/repaired by other than Apple or

Apple authorized service provider, no support will be provided.

Contact Apple to see what they say - if they refuse, your situation will be

no worse than it currently is. There have been anecdotal reports of Apple

being sympathetic in situations similar to yours, but the unauthorized repair

may be the deal breaker.

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Answer 5

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 21, 2014 6:42 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks Meg,

so no-one but Apple can repair an Apple product, or at least an iPhone? I actually provided the part, salvaged, original from a trashed sister iPhone 4.

Now I'm wondering if the repair guy actually did an (honest) mistake? He had to activate the phone to see if the antenna connection was ok, and being busy, he might just forgot about it...???

I'll write him an email to his Apple ID, asking him to remove his registered Apple ID on my phone, as imobl hints here

Find My iPhone Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account

Can I find a chinese translation of this one????

Thanks guys, you really help!

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