24hr Mobility refuses to help with proof that phone belongs to me (which they sent as replacement) for Apple to unlock.

I bought an iPhone 5s from MTN many years ago, dropped the phone and it was damaged. 24hr Mobility replaced my phone and I eventually upgraded my contract however I still kept the iPhone 5s, I still have it. Recently I wanted to use it again.

When I turn it on, it has an “Activation Lock” which is a security feature from Apple. When I use my Apple ID, it tells me my Apple ID cannot be used to activate my iPhone! This is very strange because this phone I got via 24hr Mobility and used it for a while!

I reported the issue to Apple, they wanted me to produce receipts from the store which I bought it - now obviously I didn’t buy this phone, it was a replacement phone - for them to reactivate it. 24hr Mobility cannot give me these receipts - only a slip that does not even prove the phone belongs to me! They used an agent called JCell Bar who also could not assist. I asked them to alter the invoice and insert my names at least so I could forward this to Apple, they could not assist. I am being sent from pillar to post by both 24hr mobility and JCellBar and still my phone is locked!!

When I clicked on “activation lock help”, it says my Apple ID cannot be used because the person to which the phone belongs has used their “find my phone” on my phone!! How can this be if the phone belongs to me? How can this be if it was sent brand new to me in a box as a replacement phone? I still have the receipt from 24hr Mobility to prove it was sent by the as a replacement ohone, delivered to my office!

Now I am stuck with a phone I cannot unlock and these guys are not helping me!

Please help