initial Activation PolicyID:

The reason you cannot activate the device is someone was using a Beta version software and was not a registered Developer. Most likely the user paid a 3rd party to register the device. Apple flags these accounts and blacklists them for activation. The device is clean and is NOT Blacklisted by the carrier. You can attempt a restore to the latest firmware to be sure the device is no longer running a Beta IOS version. The only other option is to contact Apple and see if they will remove the Blacklisting. Even if you open a Dev account and register the UDID you will not be able to activate it.

Apple's never gotten involved with blacklisting devices or keeping a record of such devices.

I mean, it's really none of their business. Apple does give you recommendations on what to do if your iPhone is lost or stolen. If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support

Now, when you're buying an iPhone, Apple doesn't get involved in third-party used sales. So, why would they have any information about what to do before you buy a used iPhone? The closest thing is the Activation Lock check page, because that's what they handle.

However, I do agree it might be a good idea for Apple to annotate that page to suggest checking with the carrier first as well on a third-party sale.

Looks to me like the report you pulled may be correct in at least one respect. It's blacklisted. That means either someone skipped out on the bill for a subsidized phone or it was reported lost or stolen to the carrier.

Return it and get your money back if you can.

There is nothing to 'try'. If it's blacklisted, it's a brick. If that wasn't disclosed in the auction and the seller won't give you a refund, file a claim with eBay. Doing anything else is a pointless waste of time.

mwwood wrote:

Thanks

purchased from ebay but checked if it was activated or stolen and all came back ok but think i have god a bad phone apple couldn't help

thanks for your help will keep trying thanks again

Do the numbers you originally tried match this device?

Is your SIM card valid?

The serial & IMEI you posted are listed by Apple as

https://www.icloud.com/activationlock/ :

'The device can be activated by a new user'

You need to try Ebay's returns, something is odd here.

Your phone is blacklisted. You're wasting your time. No third party has complete or legitimate access to determine whether it is "clean".

File a claim with eBay and get your money back if you can. If you can't, then recycle it responsibly and consider this a life lesson.

Whatever. You choose to reject reality and substitute your own... go right ahead. You've been told multiple times that they don't have access to the information necessary to make that determination.

Follow the instructions in the message you got. Contact your carrier or Apple Care and see what they say.

You bought a blacklisted phone. I'm done trying to explain reality to you.

You still haven't confirmed where you are reading this IMEI & serial info from - it is from the phone when connected to iTunes or from some other tool (the pasted info doesn't look like iTunes details)?

If it was sent from the seller could be from another device. Carefully compare it to what is printed on the back of the device (in the tiny text).

Whatever the case it doesn't appear to work & Ebay will need to resolve the dispute.

Drew Reece wrote:

Thanks, I wish Apple would make it clear it's only 1/2 the picture.

😟

Not sure why you'd think that. Apple has nothing to do with blacklisting a device from a carrier. They are only involved with Activation Lock.

'Check Activation lock status' suggests to me that the device can 'activate' in iTunes. e.g. Insert SIM & setup device - that's activation right?

The 'activation lock' page has no mention that a carrier could still be blacklisting the device.

I know carriers can blacklist devices but it doesn't occur that Apple are not also checking that info when they confirm iCloud is not locking the device from activation.

Maybe it's just a lazy assumption on my part that an IMEI or SN should be enough for Apple to check this isn't blacklisted too.

'Activation' seems to mean two totally different things to Apple – Activation via carriers and Activation via iCloud. The picture has 2 parts - Apple show you one & don't mention the other.

It isn't user friendly is it?

Apple can not check to see if it's blacklisted. Apple has NOTHING to do with blacklisting. It's out of their hands. Next time, buy from a legitimate source. Why are you still beating your head against a wall and trying to blame Apple for the choice that you made?

the 'Activation lock' page does not mention that carriers can prevent that happening.

It also doesn't mention that the phone might be stolen. Or that your socks don't match your pants. It's irrelevant. To assume that Apple would or should have that information is just plain ... let's say, silly.

TJBUSMC1973 wrote:

Apple's never gotten involved with blacklisting devices or keeping a record of such devices.

I'm glad you all see it so clearly, I do not believe that for one moment that an average user sees it this way.

I'm attempting to suggest some clarity could be brought to situations like this, whatever.

Drew Reece wrote:

TJBUSMC1973 wrote:

Apple's never gotten involved with blacklisting devices or keeping a record of such devices.

I'm glad you all see it so clearly, I do not believe that for one moment that an average user sees it this way.

I'm attempting to suggest some clarity could be brought to situations like this, whatever.

Did you see that part where I said: However, I do agree it might be a good idea for Apple to annotate that page to suggest checking with the carrier first as well on a third-party sale.

TJBUSMC1973 wrote:

Did you see that part where I said: However, I do agree it might be a good idea for Apple to annotate that page to suggest checking with the carrier first as well on a third-party sale.

Apparently not, it's not just me then.

🙂