Apple Just Made It Harder to Get a Lost or Stolen iPhone Repaired
Apple has implemented a new policy that means any iPhone reported as missing will no longer be serviced or repaired at either an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP).
As MacRumors reports, an internal memo sent out by Apple explains how technicians will now be able to see a message on either the internal MobileGenius or GSX systems flagging an iPhone as missing. After that, the technician must decline to carry out the repair, but it seems Apple isn't going any further than that so the customer will be able to leave with the iPhone (still broken).
Apple is relying on the GSMA Device Registry for information regarding iPhones reported as missing. It's a global registry allowing individuals to report their devices as either missing or stolen, in response the mobile industry and associated sectors can react accordingly, assuming they look at the registry.
The new policy begs the question: why did it take so long for Apple to do this? And if your iPhone was stolen and it turned up at an Apple Store for a repair, would you want Apple to simply decline the repair or seize the phone? Perhaps there's a good reason Apple won't go that far, but I'd certainly appreciate my stolen iPhone being found and kept by Apple or an AASP.
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