Apple refuses to send stolen iPhone back to rightful owner

[strike1555]

Apple - great customer service? Yeah, right. I have never heard of such stupidity in a company before.

This woman had her phone stolen from her and the thief attempted to have warranty work performed on it. She was able to call Apple and PROVE the phone was hers yet the idiots at Apple refuse to intervene (even after an officer spoke directly to them).

The morons at Apple can easily take the broken phone and send the replaced one back to the address of the original owner yet refuse to do so.

Epic fail.

http://gizmodo.com/5437979/apple-refuses-to-send-stolen-iphone-back-to-rightful-owner-after-repair

[Maclver]

Very old news..... Please Search

[strike1555]

Very old news..... Please Search

Can't read? It's barely 2 days old.

[Maclver]

the girl didn't file a police report! Not Apple's problem... move along!

[bigchief]

and its a dumb story... the girl didn't file a police report! Not Apple's problem... move along!

The update on the story says even after she filled out a police report apple still refuses to return the phone. I'd be calling me a lawyer.

[UnLiMiTeD558]

and its a dumb story... the girl didn't file a police report! Not Apple's problem... move along!

lol i love how u quickly changed gears like u didnt make a fool of yourself. year 48 hour old story, very old news

[Flhusky]

She failed to file a police report because the precinct was more then an hour away? That is a lil' fishy. :confused:
I've seen police offer rides to the local precinct.
IMHO just another piece of 'Poor me, someone take responsibility for my actions.'
She dropped $600 on a NEW Blackberry, again a lil' fishy. :confused: :eek:

[Maclver]

She failed to file a police report because the precinct was more then an hour away? That is a lil' fishy. :confused:
I've seen police offer rides to the local precinct.
IMHO just another piece of 'Poor me, someone take responsibility for my actions.'
She dropped $600 on a NEW Blackberry, again a lil' fishy. :confused: :eek:

Thank you! this girl is trying to get attention thats all it is!

[Consultant]

As other people point out, the story is full of holes.

So this person did not want to spend a few hours (supposedly 2 hour travel, plus some time at the station), but rather spend 12 hours on the phone with AT&T instead?

"So I call AT&T... and over the course of 12 hours I speak to a bunch of people"

Right.

Is it more likely that this story is distributed by someone who cannot do math or a liar can't get the story straight?

[UnLiMiTeD558]

why is that so hard to beleive? she didnt say she talked to them for 12 hours straight. I deal with that crap all the time, my friend did the same with apple, not having the phone stolen but spent hours with them over their screw up. You call, they transfer you, you talk to someone for awhile, put you on hold, transfer you, get an anwsering machine, they call back a few hours later, talk some more, then transfer you more, then say will call you back.

Never dealt with customer service about something that has to go beyond the customer service level? Very time consuming, friend of mine spent 3 days talking to apple when they sent him a phone for the wrong carrier

[mojoe24]

why is that so hard to beleive? she didnt say she talked to them for 12 hours straight. I deal with that crap all the time, my friend did the same with apple, not having the phone stolen but spent hours with them over their screw up. You call, they transfer you, you talk to someone for awhile, put you on hold, transfer you, get an anwsering machine, they call back a few hours later, talk some more, then transfer you more, then say will call you back.

Never dealt with customer service about something that has to go beyond the customer service level? Very time consuming, friend of mine spent 3 days talking to apple when they sent him a phone for the wrong carrier




What?

[UnLiMiTeD558]

Live in canada, all the major carriers here carry the iphone. Rogers, fido, telus, bell. Hes with rogers, they sent him a fido phone

[strike1555]

As other people point out, the story is full of holes.

So this person did not want to spend a few hours (supposedly 2 hour travel, plus some time at the station), but rather spend 12 hours on the phone with AT&T instead?

"So I call AT&T... and over the course of 12 hours I speak to a bunch of people"

Right.

Is it more likely that this story is distributed by someone who cannot do math or a liar can't get the story straight?

Uh, there could have been many reasons. Bad weather, no vehicle, e.g.

It's pretty hilarious that your only defense is to bash the person. So much for "full of holes", eg?

You Apple apologists crack me up.

Next please.

[scaredpoet]

You Apple apologists crack me up.



Okay then you're right. Apple is a horrid, horrid company.

Now that we've admitted this, has the cosmos re-aligned and is she getting her phone back? No? Oh well. /Thread.

I'm SO sure Motorola would've helped her if it was a Droid, right?

[strike1555]

Okay then you're right. Apple is a horrid, horrid company.

Now that we've admitted this, has the cosmos re-aligned and is she getting her phone back? No? Oh well. /Thread.

I'm SO sure Motorola would've helped her if it was a Droid, right?

Apparently straw man arguments are your forté, LOL.

[blancoBronco]

I don't really see your point. Are you just trying to bash Apple and AT&T? Or would you do this if it was Motorola and Verizon? They didn't replace her phone because they had a reason, they just don't disclose what that reason was

I agree it's wrong, but what are you gonna do?

[calvy]

thanks the lawyers in our country. I'm sure Apple's lack of willingness to do anything for tracking and returning stolen phones has to do with any type of lawsuits they could face for wrongly accusing someone of possessing a stolen phone.

And while you are at it, thank them for forcing me to hit OK on my navigation system everytime I turn my car on.

Also, no other manufacturers would do much to help either. So why bash Apple for it?

[Maclver]

Also, no other manufacturers would do much to help either. So why bash Apple for it?

because he has nothing better to do......

[scaredpoet]

Apparently straw man arguments are your forté, LOL.

Clearly trolling is yours.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Everybody is being blamed but the robber. The policy is not that stupid, people sell iPhones all the time and it would be chaos if the current policy was changed.

[Dan73]

Pretty funny some of you are jumping on her for not filing a police report. **** happens.

When it comes down to it, if they have her phone she should be able to to get it back. Plain and simple, and you'd ALL be pissed if you were in her position too, don't lie to yourself.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Pretty funny some of you are jumping on her for not filing a police report. **** happens.

When it comes down to it, if they have her phone she should be able to to get it back. Plain and simple, and you'd ALL be pissed if you were in her position too, don't lie to yourself.

It's not there job to do so. It's the authorities(cops) job.

[strike1555]

Clearly trolling is yours.

Since you have been unable to provide a counterargument, apparently the problem is you.

because he has nothing better to do......

You seem to still be smarting after being torn about about the "old news" comment.

It's not there job to do so. It's the authorities(cops) job.

Do you have problems reading? (Apparently so, since you don't even know the difference between "their" and "there" - LOL) The authorities directly spoke to Apple. And still they refused to help.

Would you rather have the police directly go to Apple and physically remove it? In that case you should go to North Korea, communism would fit great for people like you.




Man, tearing up these Apple apologists is easy. Isn't there anybody here that can provide a decent argument?

[Dan73]

She dropped $600 on a NEW Blackberry, again a lil' fishy. :confused: :eek:

You should read the article again.

"(I bought a blackberry—$600 is a TAD ridiculous for a new iPhone)"

$600 for a new iPhone is ridiculous, so she bought a (assuming cheaper) BlackBerry.

[blancoBronco]

Man, tearing up these Apple apologists is easy. Isn't there anybody here that can provide a decent argument?
What does it matter? Why are you here on an Apple related website trying to bash Apple and their consumers? Do you think that you're better because you're "winning" an arguement on the internet about something that none of us have any control over? Your comments and actions are very troll-like. You're saying that people who use Apple products are lower and dumber than you because Apple did something that you think is wrong. If you think they did something wrong, why don't you tell Apple about this? But you've done nothing about it except come here and bash them and their followers for it

[Michael CM1]

This story is a loaded first-person blog post pretty much. The $600 new BlackBerry is the icing on the "how dumb you be?" cake, and there are a lot of holes as people have said.

Anybody can easily claim that their phone was stolen when maybe it's in the middle of some bad break-up by a couple. I have no way of knowing whether that's true with Alisa, but it happens. Anywho, there's a lot not explained as to how it was determined to be hers and what the law is in this situation. Isn't a one-hour trip to a police station worth $600? If it takes three hours combined, that's a $200/hour trip instead of buying a new BlackBerry.

I hear about this kind of thing way too often. YOU may know it is stolen, but put yourself in the shoes of others. If it takes a police report, file one. Of course you could end up with Dudley DoRight and end up getting a ticket for an accident you didn't cause because the other person lies like happened to me. But she should've filed a police report on something stolen of value like that.

[Dan73]

The $600 new BlackBerry is the icing on the "how dumb you be?" cake, and there are a lot of holes as people have said.


...sigh

Please read this (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=9033809&postcount=24)

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Do you have problems reading? (Apparently so, since you don't even know the difference between "their" and "there" - LOL) The authorities directly spoke to Apple. And still they refused to help.

Yawns at another pointless grammar check. Do you get your rocks off grammar checking people on forums? :rolleyes:

Help how? By asking them to send it back to her. So freaking lame and opens a world of opportunities for scammers.



Would you rather have the police directly go to Apple and physically remove it? In that case you should go to North Korea, communism would fit great for people like you.

No, but if you actually read the article a bit more carefully instead of accusing others of not reading it, you would know that she has the address in her email.

OMG @ the possibilities :eek:


Man, tearing up these Apple apologists is easy. Isn't there anybody here that can provide a decent argument?

Oh Please, Your like the biggest freaking troll in these forums.

[Michael CM1]

...sigh

Please read this (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=9033809&postcount=24)

Ah, that makes it a bit more palatable. However, how did she get a new BlackBerry at a reduced price and not an iPhone? AT&T is hardly lenient at letting people buy expensive phones at a discount.

[Dan73]

Ah, that makes it a bit more palatable. However, how did she get a new BlackBerry at a reduced price and not an iPhone? AT&T is hardly lenient at letting people buy expensive phones at a discount.

Possibly grabbed one off ebay, but doubt it.

Also how is ATT about giving out new sim cards? Will they just give you one if you request it? Somehow I doubt it.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Also how is ATT about giving out new sim cards? Will they just give you one if you request it? Somehow I doubt it.

Actually ATT gives out sim cards like candy. If you lose you phone or sim card, just give them your number and show your ID and they will give you a new sim in minutes. Of course the old sim will be deactivated.

[strike1555]

Yawns at another pointless grammar check. Do you get your rocks off grammar checking people on forums? :rolleyes:

Help how? By asking them to send it back to her. So freaking lame and opens a world of opportunities for scammers.

No, but if you actually read the article a bit more carefully instead of accusing others of not reading it, you would know that she has the address in her email.

OMG @ the possibilities :eek:
Oh Please, Your like the biggest freaking troll in these forums.

Perfect example since you demonstrate a complete lack of comprehension. Apple would have the old phone in their possession. How can the lady with the stolen phone scam Apple when they have the phone in question with them? Don't you have any common sense?

Argument fail.


This story is a loaded first-person blog post pretty much. The $600 new BlackBerry is the icing on the "how dumb you be?" cake, and there are a lot of holes as people have said.

Anybody can easily claim that their phone was stolen when maybe it's in the middle of some bad break-up by a couple. I have no way of knowing whether that's true with Alisa, but it happens. Anywho, there's a lot not explained as to how it was determined to be hers and what the law is in this situation. Isn't a one-hour trip to a police station worth $600? If it takes three hours combined, that's a $200/hour trip instead of buying a new BlackBerry.

I hear about this kind of thing way too often. YOU may know it is stolen, but put yourself in the shoes of others. If it takes a police report, file one. Of course you could end up with Dudley DoRight and end up getting a ticket for an accident you didn't cause because the other person lies like happened to me. But she should've filed a police report on something stolen of value like that.

She filed a police report and did everything as required. She didn't count on the fact that Apple would still refuse to help.

Apparently Apple condones criminal activity.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Perfect example since you demonstrate a complete lack of comprehension. Apple would have the old phone in their possession. How can the lady with the stolen phone scam Apple when they have the phone in question with them? Don't you have any common sense? Argument fail.

Did I say the lady is scamming anyone? I'm simply saying certain policies are in place because not doing so opens the flood gates for scammers and maybe other possible problems.

I'm pretty sure Apple has already heard every story imaginable and only a few percent being truthful.

Her story is unfortunate, but it's not Apple nor AT&T that robbed her in the subway.

All that she can do is give the address to the cops for an investigation. Or hire a PI.

Protocol is Protocol ......Now get that through your biased head.

[blancoBronco]

She filed a police report

Really?

[blancoBronco]

Ya she got one, but when it's done that late after all she went through, what difference will it make?

and it looks like you've already taken these classes: http://www.urban75.com/Mag/troll.html

[pellets007]

Very old news..... Please Search
and its a dumb story... the girl didn't file a police report! Not Apple's problem... move along!
Thank you! this girl is trying to get attention thats all it is!It is indeed amusing to see your comments change as other users call you out. She isn't trying to get attention, she's trying to get her phone back. If doing so required her to go the media, then she knew how to escalate an issue.

She failed to file a police report because the precinct was more then an hour away? That is a lil' fishy. :confused:
I've seen police offer rides to the local precinct.
IMHO just another piece of 'Poor me, someone take responsibility for my actions.'
She dropped $600 on a NEW Blackberry, again a lil' fishy. :confused: :eek:No, there was a dash separating the comments. Her statement is the equivalent of saying "I bought a Blackberry because $600 is a TAD ridiculous for a new iPhone." Not that she bought a $600 Blackberry. And the poor girl said the phone was stolen. She wants someone to answer for that, but she's not pointing to Apple or the police. She simply wants their help to return her phone.

because he has nothing better to do......
Yes, when your iPhone is stolen and some crook takes it in to get warranty repairs I'm sure you'll be singing the same tune.

Also, no other manufacturers would do much to help either. So why bash Apple for it?
What? So now other companies have to set the precedent? If this were any other company the deal would be the same. It just so happens that Apple has a lot of publicity and MacRumors is a "Mac community discussion forum."

What does it matter? Why are you here on an Apple related website trying to bash Apple and their consumers? Do you think that you're better because you're "winning" an arguement on the internet about something that none of us have any control over? Your comments and actions are very troll-like. You're saying that people who use Apple products are lower and dumber than you because Apple did something that you think is wrong.
I'm honestly quite sick of the word "troll" thrown around on this board. He's not bashing people that buy Apple products. What he is bashing however, are the comments like, "Very old news..... Please Search," and "...its a dumb story..." and for that I do not blame him.
If you think they did something wrong, why don't you tell Apple about this? But you've done nothing about it except come here and bash them and their followers for it
Couldn't that be said about half if not all of the threads on here? And again, just because this thread (not to mention the rare few on the first page) doesn't show Apple in a positive light doesn't mean the creator is bashing Apple's "followers."

[realeric]

I do believe all of the Alisa's story. I do also understand the reason why Apple couldn't return the stolen iPhone to Alisa original owner.

Alisa filed a police report after some weeks later. The robber "DID" change the broken phone with a NEW refurbished iPhone at the Apple Store. The robber might be happy with the new iPhone now.:mad:

The robber has a new iPhone and Apple has a stolen iPhone now. This is a problem. If Apple returned the iPhone to Alisa, Apple would lost $600. I do believe her, but what if she and the robber knew each other? So I guess Apple couldn't simply return the phone to Alisa. :D

[greygray]

I do believe all of the Alisa's story. I do also understand the reason why Apple couldn't return the stolen iPhone to Alisa original owner.

Alisa filed a police report after some weeks later. The robber "DID" change the broken phone with a NEW refurbished iPhone at the Apple Store. The robber might be happy with the new iPhone now.:mad:

The robber has a new iPhone and Apple has a stolen iPhone now. This is a problem. If Apple returned the iPhone to Alisa, Apple would lost $600. I do believe her, but what if she and the robber knew each other? So I guess Apple couldn't simply return the phone to Alisa. :D

Finally a decent answer to all the bickering back and forth.

[samcraig]

Furthering that last post.

It's not Apple's responsibility to return the device. Could they "in good faith" - sure. But they aren't obligated nor should they be forced to or criticized unfairly. And no - I'm not an apologist. But as another has said - Apple has no idea what actually transpired with the incident. Police reports are a dime a dozen. While taking a risk - people corroborate to commit fraud all the time.

[VulchR]

So ... let me get a few things straight:


iPhone warranties are transferable? If not, then either Apple has made a mistake or the alleged victim is not telling the truth. If so, then somebody please do tell how one transfers the warranty to a buyer of a used iPhone and how to notify Apple of this.
In these days of rampant terrorism (and other crimes), the mobile phone industry has no way to brick a phone that has been stolen? Or automatically feed information about the stolen phone (GPS, texts, numbers called) to the police so that the thief can be caught and the phone returned? Doesn't each phone have an IMEI that can be used for this sort of thing?

[NinjaKid]

What I find strange is that if the phone was stolen, how did she know it was taken in for warrenty repair work?

[aristobrat]

What I find strange is that if the phone was stolen, how did she know it was taken in for warrenty repair work?
When Apple does warranty repair work, it typically sends an email to the address that was used when the product was last registered.

So ... let me get a few things straight:

iPhone warranties are transferable? If not, then either Apple has made a mistake or the alleged victim is not telling the truth. If so, then somebody please do tell how one transfers the warranty to a buyer of a used iPhone and how to notify Apple of this.
Apple warranties are associated with the device itself, not the person possessing the device.

In these days of rampant terrorism (and other crimes), the mobile phone industry has no way to brick a phone that has been stolen? Or automatically feed information about the stolen phone (GPS, texts, numbers called) to the police so that the thief can be caught and the phone returned? Doesn't each phone have an IMEI that can be used for this sort of thing?
[/LIST]
The thief was using T-Mobile service, while the victim was using AT&T. So while you have a logical point (T-Mobile should be able to track the IMEI number and pinpoint the thief's location), now you have to prove to T-Mobile that the person possessing this phone is actually a thief. I'd assume that a police report would be enough to do that, but when it comes to stolen cell phones, it seems like nobody (manufacturers or carriers) will do anything about it.

[Slip Jigs]

Epic fail.



This term is played man. I think some of you people just look for reasons to use it like it's really cool. Epic Schmepic.

[renewed]

This term is played man. I think some of you people just look for reasons to use it like it's really cool. Epic Schmepic.

Epic waste-of-a-post. ;)

[mrochester]

Surely the police can pursue Apple for being in possession of stolen goods? If Apple have swapped the phone out for the criminal (or someone else who bought the stolen goods), that's for Apple to swallow the cost of.

[LIVEFRMNYC]

The best the police can do is try to get the person name/info from Apple. She said that she already had the address in the email. And even if they achieve that(which is a long shot without a court order) chances are that the person that sent it in on a warranty isn't even the robber himself.

[tritonj]

apple is just protecting their own interests here. there is far too much fraud that happens nowadays, just imagine if she is the one committing the fraud and apple sends her the phone instead of the guy who sent it in for the repair, think of the fallout. and before everyone passes judgement on apple just remember that none of us actually know the whole story

[cderalow]

apple's policy re: stolen equipment is to blacklist the serials of stolen goods, so that they are not eligible for warranty repair.

[mkrishnan]

As I go through to delete insults, bickering, name-calling, and so on, it occurs to me that very little is left in this thread. So, I think it's done.