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iPhone X Apple Made Me Turn Off Find My iPhone So They Could Send Me A Replacement Phone

M

matty1551

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 7, 2009
289
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Long story short, I have an iPhone X with defective hardware (audio issues when recording video). Apple chat support offered to mail me a replacement X. I would be able to keep and use my current X until the replacement arrived.

However, in order to set this up I'd need to TURN OFF and LEAVE OFF find my iphone. Since I'm in a bind, I reluctantly agreed but this seems really unsafe. Now, while waiting for the replacement, I'll have no way to track or wipe my phone in the event it's lost or stolen.

Any idea why they would make you do this?
 
FMI is a anti-theft feature. Apple requires all Apple product for any repairs or exchange or trade in or returns to have FMI turned off. Apple can denied your replacement if you failed to turn it off and charge you for the replacement device because it possible you're not the right owner if you cannot turn it off. If you get a replacement device, erase your device and mail it out. There's instruction included.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201557
 
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Banglazed said:
FMI is a anti-theft feature. Apple requires all Apple product for any repairs or exchange or trade in or returns to have FMI turned off. Apple can denied your replacement if you failed to turn it off and charge you for the replacement device because it possible you're not the right owner if you cannot turn it off. If you get a replacement device, erase your device and mail it out. There's instruction included.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201557
Click to expand...
I can totally understand turning it off right before sending it in but this rep told me I had to turn it off right then or she couldn't even set up the repair case.
 
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BugeyeSTI said:
What’s the big deal? If you want a replacement you’ll follow there instructions...
Click to expand...
For him, the big deal is if something happens to his phone while he's waiting for the replacement.

OP, I'm assuming this is just Apple's way of reducing the chance you will forget to turn off FMI before shipping your old device, this resulting in them denying you credit for it.

I agree that you shouldn't have to do it.
 
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Five_Oh said:
For him, the big deal is if something happens to his phone while he's waiting for the replacement.

OP, I'm assuming this is just Apple's way of reducing the chance you will forget to turn off FMI before shipping your old device, this resulting in them denying you credit for it.

I agree that you shouldn't have to do it.
Click to expand...
Or as @JPack stated, it’s not your phone if you can’t turn off FMI..
 
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Five_Oh said:
For him, the big deal is if something happens to his phone while he's waiting for the replacement.

OP, I'm assuming this is just Apple's way of reducing the chance you will forget to turn off FMI before shipping your old device, this resulting in them denying you credit for it.

I agree that you shouldn't have to do it.
Click to expand...

Five_Oh said:
I guess the "leave it off" portion is the problem.
Click to expand...


The intention is to minimize the chance of OP selling or gifting the defective phone prior to receiving the replacement.
 
JPack said:
The intention is to minimize the chance of OP selling or gifting the defective phone prior to receiving the replacement.
Click to expand...
Agreed. But it is also risky, as the OP stated. What if his phone was lost or stolen while waiting for the replacement?

I think it should just be on the individual to make sure FMI is disabled before sending it in. I believe Apple charges for the new phone until they receive the old one anyway.
 
Five_Oh said:
Agreed. But it is also risky, as the OP stated. What if his phone was lost or stolen while waiting for the replacement?

I think it should just be on the individual to make sure FMI is disabled before sending it in. I believe Apple charges for the new phone until they receive the old one anyway.
Click to expand...

I agree it's slightly risky for the OP but I suppose it's the cost of doing a warranty replacement.

The credit card authorization can be placed on a fraudulently obtained card. In that scenario, Apple can blacklist the replacement device, but they are still out roughly $300 for the cost of the hardware.
 
This is a good example of living in fear over what-if’s. If it’s that big of a problem shut the phone off and put it in a safe or safety deposit box until the replacement arrives in couple of days.
 
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burgman said:
This is a good example of living in fear over what-if’s. If it’s that big of a problem shut the phone off and put it in a safe or safety deposit box until the replacement arrives in couple of days.
Click to expand...

Most people don't have car accidents frequently, but I bet they wouldn't be willing to drop coverage for a few days.

And it's not "a big problem". It's just an added risk that some feel is unnecessary.

YMMV
 
Yes you have to turn it off otherwise Apple won’t be able to gain access to the phone when you send it back to them. They’ve sent you a replacement but they still want to be able fix your phone and sell it on as refurbished or use it to replace someone else’s phone when it’s faulty.
 
Shanghaichica said:
Yes you have to turn it off otherwise Apple won’t be able to gain access to the phone when you send it back to them. They’ve sent you a replacement but they still want to be able fix your phone and sell it on as refurbished or use it to replace someone else’s phone when it’s faulty.
Click to expand...

Of course Apple can remove Activation Lock. Apple will even remove the lock for owners who have lost their password but can provide proof of purchase. I've explained the real reasoning above.
 
burgman said:
This is a good example of living in fear over what-if’s. If it’s that big of a problem shut the phone off and put it in a safe or safety deposit box until the replacement arrives in couple of days.
Click to expand...

That’s not feasible for everybody, because they may have to use that defective device until the new/replacement phone arrives. For example, if the defective phone display is ‘Yellow’, or one of the speakers does not work, the phone itself is still functional, but they don’t have a back up phone to use just to put away the defective phone in a safety deposit box.
 
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Wow - how many times do people here actually have their phone stolen or lost?

I love the findmyiphone... but if I had to turn it off for a week... no big deal at all. Bang. Done!
 
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