Apple Will No Longer Repair iPhones Suspected To Be Stolen
By Alexa Heah, 30 Mar 2022
Apple will now reportedly no longer repair an iPhone if it’s been reported as missing in the GSMA Device Registry, as per an internal memo seen by MacRumors.
Starting now, should a nifty thief bring in a stolen phone to be fixed, the technician on duty will be alerted that the device had been reported as missing, and will decline any repairs.
As iMore notes, the registry extends to the entire globe, so smartphones can’t be shipped out or brought overseas to bypass the rule.
This new regulation hopes to crack down on the number of stolen iPhones being brought to Apple for repairs, in which the customer may hope to gain entry into the smartphone by having it reset by technicians.
Currently, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers have already been declining servicing iPhones if the customer is unable to disable the ‘Find My iPhone’ option, with the new rule targeting stolen phones (or ones found on the street) that do not have the feature activated.
[via MacRumors and iMore, cover image via Vlad Teodor | Dreamstime.com]