LoverIDanced

Q: Second hand iPhone

Hi all, this may have been asked a million times but I can't seem to find and answer to my query

 

I have just bought a second hand iphone 6s, I fear that the previous owner could one day just report it lost or stolen and I will end up with a fancy iPod touch. Is there a way to register the IMEI or the phone in some form to say that it is now ME that owns it and thus stopping the previous owner from claiming it is his?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 15, 2016 8:47 AM

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Q: Second hand iPhone

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Mar 15, 2016 8:49 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 15, 2016 8:49 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    Have you been able to sign in to the phone with your Apple iD?

    That is the first step you need to make the phone your own

    Please let us know

    In other words - Settings - iCloud - whose Apple ID email do you see?

    Plus do you have a record of the sale in terms of documents / receipt / email?

  • by LoverIDanced,

    LoverIDanced LoverIDanced Mar 15, 2016 8:52 AM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 8:52 AM in response to ManSinha

    Yes. The phone was sold as brand new including the plastic protector so it's as if I bought it from the shop so I have been able to get it all restored from a back up for an older phone.

     

    I just want to make sure that it stays mine.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 15, 2016 8:55 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 9 (50,252 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 15, 2016 8:55 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    Have you attached your Apple ID to it and activated Find my iPhone.

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Mar 15, 2016 8:58 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 15, 2016 8:58 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    Then also register with Apple at the link below and you should be good to go

    Enjoy your iDevice and please let us know of any issues

    Do I need to register my Apple product? - Apple Support

  • by LoverIDanced,

    LoverIDanced LoverIDanced Mar 15, 2016 9:06 AM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 9:06 AM in response to ManSinha

    That link just checks my serial and shows me that I have apple service and support. It doesn't show that that support is for me, just my device and he must have already done something as it's only until September. Sorry if I'm being a bit thick.

  • by LoverIDanced,

    LoverIDanced LoverIDanced Mar 15, 2016 9:07 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 9:07 AM in response to Csound1

    Yes, as above. But that doesn't stop the previous owner reporting it stolen with his network.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Mar 15, 2016 9:15 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 9 (58,419 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 15, 2016 9:15 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    LoverIDanced wrote:

     

    Yes, as above. But that doesn't stop the previous owner reporting it stolen with his network.

    No, there's really nothing you can do about that. I suspect, though, that most carriers would only accept such a report if the phone had been active on the caller's account.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Mar 15, 2016 9:21 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 6 (15,941 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 15, 2016 9:21 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    LoverIDanced wrote:

    That link just checks my serial and shows me that I have apple service and support. It doesn't show that that support is for me, just my device and he must have already done something as it's only until September. Sorry if I'm being a bit thick.

     

    You are not being thick. The link will only help you get support or register for AppleCare. Since you bought a second hand phone the warranty will only extend for one year from the date of the original sale so the previous owner must have bought it in 9/15 and you are limited for coverage until 9/16.

     

    Who is you cellular/mobile service provider? Obviously you have an account with them and the previous owner cannot terminate that. I think your only concern is the remaining warranty, other than that I don't think you have to worry.

  • by LoverIDanced,

    LoverIDanced LoverIDanced Mar 15, 2016 9:33 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 9:33 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    That would be a good solution as this one hasn't.

  • by LoverIDanced,

    LoverIDanced LoverIDanced Mar 15, 2016 9:35 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 9:35 AM in response to elcpu

    I don't really mind about care and warranty as these things always last a good few years for me.

     

    Nah he couldn't terminate my mobile account but that's not a factor as the IMEI isn't tied to my network (BT Mobile). I wonder if they would have some way I could register my IMEI with them. Could be worth a call.

  • by ZikzakCorp,

    ZikzakCorp ZikzakCorp Mar 15, 2016 9:48 AM in response to LoverIDanced
    Level 4 (1,033 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 15, 2016 9:48 AM in response to LoverIDanced

    Honestly, there is no way to stop a previous, legitimate owner for filing the phone as lost or stolen. It's actually a common scam, to sell a phone and then report it stolen so the user can file an insurance claim to get another one. This is one of the problems with buying a second-hand phone. As long as you removed the previous Apple account, that would prevent it from being iCloud locked, but there's no way to stop the IMEI from being blocked by their carrier as being stolen. But there's no way for them to report the phone stolen on a carrier that they weren't subscribed to. For example, if I had a phone on AT&T, I couldn't report it lost or stolen to T-Mobile, because I didn't have the phone on that carrier. So in that sense, you'd be fine.