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Comment by deepspace | Hacker News Reader

Ever since Apple started rolling out stolen device protection, whenever I try to access my Apple account, for example under Settings on my iPhone, the accounts gets "locked out". Then I have to jump through all kinds of hoops, including setting a brand-new password, and verifying from another Apple device, to get it unlocked.

I am terrified that this issue, together with the extra protection, is one day going to lock me out of my phone permanently.

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Now imagine Apple bans your account because you forgot to update your payment details and were on holidays at the time, missing the warning.

Now you're not only stranded without your data, no, all your devices are ewaste too

I can see the charm, totally.

Luckily Apple is not Google, and you can call their support and they can tell you what the problem is and likely fix it.

Eh, there are very frequent social media posts of people getting their Apple IDs banned with no recourse,

I.e random example: https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1cdsqpf/the_final_u...

It's not a significant percentage (rounds to 0.00%) but it does happen if you're unlucky. One of the ways it can happen is what I wrote: have a plus subscription, have your card expire and don't respond to Apples warning that you'll get banned unless you update your payment details.

If you don't, your account is gone after a few weeks.

It's certainly reasonable from Apple's PoV, the customer isnt paying their bills and not responding to their mails. You just get the occasional person that gets fucked by it because they're indisposed, possibly even by injury/hospitalisation or just not checking the mail address they've registered with etc.

Are you implying that Apple+ is a risky business for people who own Apple devices? If so, I'll stay away from it.

The link you posted shows that the user was able to reinstate the Apple ID.

Where after wasting my 2 hours on each of those three calls i.e. totalling 6 hours the Senior Advisor will solemnly ask me backup my data, wipe the device, and reinstall again and pray to almighty it works. If I am adventurous enough I ask them whether it will work their answer will put even the most seasoned diplomat to shame. So yeah right.

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