Apple Stores Will Now Decline to Repair iPhones Reported as Missing

[MacRumors]

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will now be alerted if an iPhone has been reported as missing in the GSMA Device Registry when a customer brings in the device to be serviced, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors.

If an Apple technician sees a message in their internal MobileGenius or GSX systems indicating that the device has been reported as missing, they are instructed to decline the repair, according to Apple's memo shared on Monday. The new policy should help to reduce the amount of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repair.

The GSMA Device Registry is a global database designed for customers to report their devices as missing in the event of loss or theft. Devices in the database are identified by their unique IMEI number. An iPhone's IMEI is listed in the Settings app under General > About.

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers are already unable to service an iPhone if the customer cannot disable Find My iPhone, and this policy will help to prevent stolen iPhones that never had Find My iPhone enabled from being repaired by Apple. In the event your iPhone is lost or stolen, be sure to read our guide on the next steps to take.

Article Link: Apple Stores Will Now Decline to Repair iPhones Reported as Missing

 

[upandown]

Why wasn’t this protocol from the start?

What’s the point of having a “missing phone” feature if it doesn’t do anything.

 

[happydude]

hope they also alert the original owner it's been located vs. giving it back to the person who brought it in. otherwise...what's the point. the phone is still not in the original owners hands, fixed or not. police should prob be notified too, I'd think.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is great. I hope it also bricks the iPhone and notifies the original owner.

 

[mansplains]

GSX already tells you whether the device has FMI turned on, Activation Lock. This could be a nice addition for the savvy thieves who happen to get a device with FMI disabled and try to get a repair. Although, I think it would affect someone unfortunate enough to buy from a thief more than a thief themselves.. Who steals a broken iPhone?

 

[GMShadow]

GSX already tells you whether the device has FMI turned on, Activation Lock. This could be a nice addition for the savvy thieves who happen to get a device with FMI disabled and try to get a repair. Although, I think it would affect someone unfortunate enough to buy from a thief more than a thief themselves.. Who steals a broken iPhone?

I suspect it's more "steal iPhone, break it, get Apple to fix it with a new one with no AL enabled and a fresh serial/IMEI, sell for profit".

 

[currocj]

Why did this take a decade?

 

[kyjaotkb]

What, so this means carriers, for instance, let phones reported as missing operate on their networks?

 

[icanhazmac]

Wow, I can't believe this wasn't SOP from the start. They really shouldn't give the device back to the person that brought it in but I understand how that could put the retail employees in danger, bricking the device would be another step.

 

[ponzicoinbro]

Should also include remote detonation feature. If a thief jack’s my phone from my hand I can blow it up.

 

[icolove]

Dumb policy. A used stolen/lost phone can be legitimately purchased. By the time it reaches a repair centre, the previous owner of a stolen or lost phone would have already moved on with life.

This is marketing for morons like their green initiatives.

 

[Black.Infinity]

Shouldn't Apple confiscate that missing iPhone?

 

[tcphoto1]

The Apple Store should keep the iPhone, notify the last known owner and return it. Odds are, the person requesting service will just turn, walk out of the store and try to disappear.

 

[2010mini]

I suspect it's more "steal iPhone, break it, get Apple to fix it with a new one with no AL enabled and a fresh serial/IMEI, sell for profit".

My first thought. If the screen is broken, you can't disable AL. Now once it's reported missing/stolen, Apple won't fix or replace it.

 

[icolove]

Shouldn't Apple confiscate that missing iPhone?

No, they can't legally do that. If there was any insurance on the device that was used to replace it, it would have already be written off. It has no other legal owner than the person bringing it in for repair.

They are free to deny repair, but the million other repair shops will fix it.

 

[bushman4]

This new policy has to be spread on social media etc so that that everybody knows about it. Especially the thieves

 

[Alan Wynn]

Dumb policy. A used stolen/lost phone can be legitimately purchased.

Nope. Since the person who sold it did not legally own it, no one down the line can have purchased it legitimately.

By the time it reaches a repair centre, the previous owner of a stolen or lost phone would have already moved on with life.

Making it harder to sell stolen iPhones makes them less valuable, and discourages thefts, just as Activation Lock has done.

This is marketing for morons like their green initiatives.

No, this is a good thing for consumers. I am curious why it took so long to implement, and I think it is also interesting that it seems carriers do not prevent these devices on their networks.

 

[0920730]

This is great to hear. I remember around 2008 I found an iPod Classic and brought it to the Apple Store in hopes they could find the owner. They wanted no part of it and refused to help in any way. I ended up getting a free iPod (I didn't need) because Apple didn't want to get involved, which is sad.

 

[Alan Wynn]

No, they can't legally do that.

They could call the police.

If there was any insurance on the device that was used to replace it, it would have already be written off.

If the insurance paid for it, the insurance company owns the phone, if not, the original owner does.

It has no other legal owner than the person bringing it in for repair.

If it was stolen, the person who brought it in for repair is not the legal owner, even if he or she purchased it unknowingly. As stolen property, title never changes.

They are free to deny repair, but the million other repair shops will fix it.

Yes, just as lots of people knowingly purchase stolen goods. This just makes it more difficult.

 

[icolove]

The Apple Store should keep the iPhone, notify the last known owner and return it. Odds are, the person requesting service will just turn, walk out of the store and try to disappear.

It doesn't work that way legally.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Should also include remote detonation feature. If a thief jack’s my phone from my hand I can blow it up.

“We’ve removed the Lightning port in order to make room for 200mg of C4 in every new iPhone.”

 

[obviouslogic]

Why wasn’t this protocol from the start?

What’s the point of having a “missing phone” feature if it doesn’t do anything.

There could be many reasons, which is why they haven't turned users away until now. Someone could bring in their own recovered, damaged phone even though it is still flagged as missing. Someone could bring it in for their friend or relative and don't have the ability to unflag it. Etc. If it's under warranty, Apple is still obligated to fix it., and fixing a broken "lost" phone doesn't necessarily make the phone accessible to the person who Brought it in.. would still need authorization to sign in.

 

[icolove]

They could call the police.

If the insurance paid for it, the insurance company owns the phone, if not, the original owner does.

If it was stolen, the person who brought it in for repair is not the legal owner, even if he or she purchased it unknowingly. As stolen property, title never changes.

Yes, just as lots of people knowingly purchase stolen goods. This just makes it more difficult.

No, the insurance on the phone, which is usually just extended warranty replacement plans when it comes to phones. They have no ownership over the device. They don't operate like a regular insurance company. Most regular insurance companies won't insure a phone outside of your home insurance, and you'd likely be denied a claim in a lost or stolen case outside of the home.

 

[icolove]

They could call the police.

If the insurance paid for it, the insurance company owns the phone, if not, the original owner does.

If it was stolen, the person who brought it in for repair is not the legal owner, even if he or she purchased it unknowingly. As stolen property, title never changes.

Yes, just as lots of people knowingly purchase stolen goods. This just makes it more difficult.

Most stolen gear is sold to people that don't know it's stolen. This is just Apple doing dumb apple things for the peons.

 

[icolove]

Shouldn't Apple confiscate that missing iPhone?

They legally can't. There are all sorts of missing and stolen devices that actually aren't. Relationship conflicts is one example.