Bought iPhone - private seller - phone still passcoded

[bluecampbell]

Hi there, hoping someone can help. In November last year I bought an iPhone 8 via Facebook Marketplace from a private seller. We kept it as a spare and a few weeks ago put my sim into it to start using it. However we then discovered that the passcode is still on from the previous owner (the seller's son), so the phone has not been erased.

After researching I think that there are two solutions:

She gives me the passcode so I can enter the phone and erase all the content
She logs onto iCloud and erases the phone from there

I have contacted her and initially had no response, when I followed up I got a message saying "looking into it" but nothing since then despite politely following up again.

I have screenshots of the advert on FB Marketplace, and of our messenger conversation about the sale.

She lives a mile down the road, so I am tempted to say I will bring the phone to her for her to sort out then and there, although of course there is the Covid issue.

I don't want to take it further as it seems to be such a simple fix but I am not sure why she is being so evasive and unhelpful.

Does anyone have any advice on next steps? It cost £250 which I am not happy to lose!

Many thanks.

What a mess. Was it bought in person or ordered? If in person you should have inspected it first. I think your recourse is limited here.

If online, I think again your recourse is limited as you have left it 10 months. Can you prove the device was locked at the time of purchase?

There’s fault on both sides frankly. You could try a Money claim online, but I don’t know whether you’d be successful or not

It is highly unlikely the phone is stolen despite the fearmongering from some posters. Many people forget to wipe and unlock their phones before selling them. A thief would be more likely to wipe the phone (which would also unlock it) to make sure it didn't have any evidence of its origin or anything that could incriminate them. It is very easy to wipe an iPhone even if you don't have the passcode.

Even if the phone is stolen, you are not guilty of any offence. It is only a crime if you know or believe that the goods are stolen. You, quite reasonably, believe it is not.

And there is no need to make any kind of claim against the seller. Follow the link I posted up thread - support.apple.com/en-gb/HT20430. That tells you how to unlock the phone (which will also wipe any data on it).

Burn, Yes, she had the phone in her hand and showed it to me. I took it from her and opened a few apps, just testing the screen really. Think I opened settings and maybe another one but only held it for a minute or so. At that time the phone wasn't showing a lock screen. I didn't put my sim in there and then as the phone was for my husband. She put it into the box and I gave her the money and that was it.
Thinking it through, I would be really surprised if it was stolen. I went to her house to collect it and so I know where she lives!
I'll try the delete link, thanks prh47, and for the reassurance.

Not that this matters, but I think dropping £250 on a contingency phone (that you don’t plan to use) is a bit expensive. It’s a 2nd hand, outdated phone and you could have possibly got more for your money. Especially as it’s password locked!

It’s done now though. Hopefully the seller works with you.

I’d ask her again. I wouldn’t assume it was stolen either.

You were a bit daft not to check it properly though but I guess you know that now 😬

@prh47bridge that article doesn’t apply as the phone is activation locked

@bluecampbell

Burn, Yes, she had the phone in her hand and showed it to me. I took it from her and opened a few apps, just testing the screen really. Think I opened settings and maybe another one but only held it for a minute or so. At that time the phone wasn't showing a lock screen. I didn't put my sim in there and then as the phone was for my husband. She put it into the box and I gave her the money and that was it. Thinking it through, I would be really surprised if it was stolen. I went to her house to collect it and so I know where she lives! I'll try the delete link, thanks prh47, and for the reassurance.

Sounds unlikely it was stolen then as she had it unlocked already.

t is highly unlikely the phone is stolen despite the fearmongering from some posters

This. And the added update that OP saw the phone actually unlocked just confirms that to be the case. It's a very easy mistake to make.

[quote Frappuccinofan]@prh47bridge that article doesn’t apply as the phone is activation locked[/quote]
The OP hasn't said anything to indicate that the phone is activation locked. But yes, it could be, in which case erasing it may not solve the problem. In that situation the OP will need to go back to the seller and get them to unlock the device.

@prh47bridge the indication is where OP stated the seller could log into their iCloud account as a solution; as this how activation lock is remotely removed

Offer her some money to unlock it

[quote Frappuccinofan]@prh47bridge the indication is where OP stated the seller could log into their iCloud account as a solution; as this how activation lock is remotely removed[/quote]
That is from the OP's research into possible solutions. That is an option if the iPhone is activation locked. The fact that the OP found it as a possible solution does not mean the iPhone is activation locked. The chances are that it is but the OP won't know for sure until she gets past the passcode.

@user1471518104

Yes you can. You just need to enter DFU or recovery mode There is a button combination for all apple technology

i'm not sure you can do this anymore due to icloud lock. when i sold my phone i had forgotten to reset it (sat in a drawer for a long time with the battery dead) the new owner asked for the passcode saying he had tried numerous methods to reset it but still needed by icloud password. I was able to remove it online.

Did you get a receipt or anything similar? Or a invoice if you paid online? Apple could remove the passcode if you have proof of purchase.