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DankIllini

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 19, 2012
34
41
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.
 
Sorry for your stolen iPhone.

AppleCare only applies to the phone/serial number linked when you originally purchased your iPhone.

You cannot transfer AppleCare over to your friend broken iPhone.
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.
How do you figure?

Apple doesn't owe you anything. AC+ is a warranty not a loss or theft recovery program. If you had the phone and it was damaged then Apple would honor it's comittments under the program, either as a warranty repair/replacement or an ADH incident.

Nowhere in the terms is Apple obligated to replace a lost or stolen phone. You aren't "wasting" anything.
 
How do you figure?

Apple doesn't owe you anything. AC+ is a warranty not a loss or theft recovery program. If you had the phone and it was damaged then Apple would honor it's comittments under the program, either as a warranty repair/replacement or an ADH incident.

Nowhere in the terms is Apple obligated to replace a lost or stolen phone. You aren't "wasting" anything.

His meaning is clear. People often justify the cost of AC+ by thinking in terms of phone replacements. He clearly understands the gist of AC+ but since he can't use his remaining "available replacements" as the phone is gone, he is looking for a possible loophole.

In that sense, it is natural to feel as though an "available replacement" is wasted because it could have used it later if needed if you only still had the phone.

Not sure what's so hard to understand about the concept.
 
His meaning is clear. People often justify the cost of AC+ by thinking in terms of phone replacements. He clearly understands the gist of AC+ but since he can't use his remaining "available replacements" as the phone is gone, he is looking for a possible loophole.

In that sense, it is natural to feel as though an "available replacement" is wasted because it could have used it later if needed if you only still had the phone.

Not sure what's so hard to understand about the concept.

Wrong way to look at it. Some members here buy insurance coverage (e.g., homeowner, etc.) on top of AC+ specifically to cover lost or stolen phones because we know AC+ doesn't cover lost/stolen iPhone.

You can even skip AC+ and buy insurance coverage instead in case of loss or theft if you're contend with extended warranty coverage in the 2nd year provided by many major credit cards (for warranty work).
 
...but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.

Every year millions of AC+ go to waste because nothing happens to the iPhones.

Some of us don't bother with AC+ and are satisfied with extended warranty coverage provided by Amex (or equivalent) assuming we are careful with our phones. I have way too many careless friends who keep their expensive phones lying around unattended and I keep telling them "Your phone will be stolen someday."
 
You can transfer remaining AC+ to another working phone. And yes Apple will check the phone before transferring so no you can't transfer to your friends broken phone. But could one get prorated refund on unused portion on the stolen phone with police report?
 
Every year millions of AC+ go to waste because nothing happens to the iPhones.

Some of us don't bother with AC+ and are satisfied with extended warranty coverage provided by Amex (or equivalent) assuming we are careful with our phones. I have way too many careless friends who keep their expensive phones lying around unattended and I keep telling them "Your phone will be stolen someday."

How do you figure it is a waste?
 
Apple care is JUST CASE. If you don't use it it has not gone to waste. When I buy insurance I always hope I do not have to use it.
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.

-AppleCare+ is tied to the device. Whoever stole your iPhone has the ability to get a replacement. You can't get a replacement on another phone, and you can't transfer your AppleCare+ to a new phone.
-You do have the option for a prorated refund of the unused AppleCare+ service. You may want to call Apple to get some money back, especially if the phone was recently purchased.

Sorry to hear your phone was stolen.
 
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I know this doesn't really help the OP, but reading situations like these, it makes me glad that I have loss/theft insurance with AT&T. Especially since now (well, soon), the deductibles for the iPhone is going down. And yes, I have AC+ also for easier replacement of potential damages to my phone. And yes, I'm aware that's a bit over the top but hey it gives me peace of mind and that's priceless to me.
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.

You can get a prorated refund of the AppleCare that is left on your phone. Call AppleCare and they will send you a check.
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.

This is why I tell people to invest in some sort of insurance. Apple care is not insurance, it's only a high end warranty service (which is good don't get me wrong). Best to get both if possible. You never think it'll come in handy until times like this.
 
So you were robbed of your phone and didn't actually have it stolen. Big difference between the two.


How did you come to this conclusion? Yes i was robbed and of course the phone was actually stolen. A previous poster said i should have kept my phone in my pocket, like my negligence led to the robbery. That didn't happen and that poster is a **** for insinuating me as the victim was at fault.

But anyways that is besides the point. I wasn't trying to scam apple, my friend has an iphone 5 that just recently died without applecare, i have an iphone 5 that was stolen with apple care. i was wondering if they were transferable. Obviously you all have answered my questions, i wasn't implying i was owed anything by apple. It was a simple question. Not sure were all the ******** came from.
 
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How did you come to this conclusion? Yes i was robbed and of course the phone was actually stolen. A previous poster said i should have kept my phone in my pocket, like my negligence led to the robbery. That didnt happen and that poster is a **** for insinuating me as the victim was at fault.

But anyways that is besides the point. I wasn't trying to scam apple, my friend has an iphone 5 that just recently died without applecare, i have an iphone 5 that was stolen with apple care. i was wondering if they were transferable. Obviously you all have answered my questions, i wasn't implying i was owed anything by apple. It was a simple question. Not sure were all the ******** came from.

It's semantics. To steal means to take something that doesn't belong to you. To rob means to take something from a person by force. This distinction is important because typically you have 100% control over your iPhone getting stolen by keeping it on your person at all times (if it's not in your pocket, it's in your hand and if it's not in your hand, it's in your pocket). On the other hand, you can't necessarily control getting robbed of your iPhone (especially at gunpoint).
 
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How did you come to this conclusion? Yes i was robbed and of course the phone was actually stolen. A previous poster said i should have kept my phone in my pocket, like my negligence led to the robbery. That didnt happen and that poster is a **** for insinuating me as the victim was at fault.

But anyways that is besides the point. I wasn't trying to scam apple, my friend has an iphone 5 that just recently died without applecare, i have an iphone 5 that was stolen with apple care. i was wondering if they were transferable. Obviously you all have answered my questions, i wasn't implying i was owed anything by apple. It was a simple question. Not sure were all the ******** came from.

Sadly, this is the way it is on this forum. Their excuse is always that other forums are worse, but I've not seen it. Well at least you weren't shot.

The only option for your friend is an out of warranty replacement by Apple. Maybe you can pay that fee and he will let you have that phone.
 
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Sadly, this is the way it is on this forum. Their excuse is always that other forums are worse, but I've not seen it. Well at least you weren't shot.

Trust me, we'd be far more empathetic had the OP mentioned he was robbed of his iPhone rather than merely had it stolen. There are far too many people who are careless enough to leave their expensive phones lying around screaming "Steal me!"
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.


Sorry to hear about your loss, Dank. If you have much remaining time left on your AC+, you could ask for a prorated refund of the warranty fee based on the remaining time left of coverage.

Best advice I could recommend is to take your friend's iPhone to the Apple Store and request an OOW replacement. It would cost around $269 for a replacement swap, and some of the refund on your AC+ could help subsidize that cost. You have a very nice friend giving his 5 to you. :) Sent from my iPad.
 
I just had my iPhone stolen and I know AppleCare doesn't cover stolen phones. However I have AppleCare, can I use my friends broken iPhone to get a replacement via AppleCare or are the serial numbers tracked and is that not an option? Not trying to cheat the system but I have a replacement available via AppleCare that will go to waste as my phone was stolen.

No joke...take the SIM card tray out of the phone and run it over with a car so it stops working. No way of identifying it at apple
 
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