iPad 4 Serial issue with iMessage/Facetime Problem

[Prescription]

I recently purchased two iPad 4's, all work perfectly fine. Only issue is neither will connect to iMessage or Facetime using my icloud login. I rang Apple tech support, and after about two hours going through various options, and getting put through to senior tech support, because they couldn't find the serial on their database, I was told both were fake.

I can connect both to iTunes and they both show up all correct in the details, serial matches whats on the iPads etc. I can log into my iCloud and see all my previous purchased apps, downloads, pictures etc.

Is it possible just because the serial numbers for these iPads aren't on the Apple database that they are fake? I'm going to take them into an Apple store to check them over to see if they are fake, but that won't be till Wednesday.

In the mean time does anyone know of any reason why I can't connect either of them to iMessage or Facetime? I've gone through all the options I can find, signing out then back in, disable/reenable, factory reset, restore, pretty much anything I can think of and anything I've Googled.

I open either of the apps and I input my login details, then I get the error "An error occured during activation, please try again" and it's been this way since I picked them up three days ago. I purchased them from eBay and I've tried to get in touch with the seller (a business seller with thousands of feedback), but alas no contact as yet.

I've read online that if they were ex-demo units, then that'll be the reason the serial won't show up on the Apple database. But Google a bit further and lots of people have had serials not show up across Macbooks, iPads and even iPods. So, it's not a standalone problem.

If someone could walk me through trying to get iMessage and Facetime to work, that'd be great. Failing that, I'll have to try and get a refund via the seller.

Thanks all

 

[Stiggy]

Where did you get them from, and how much did you pay?

 

[Prescription]

eBay, £318 for two.

 

[Stiggy]

eBay, £318 for two.

Do you think £159 is a realistic price for an iPad 4? It sounds too good to be true.

I'd get a refund, if you can.

 

[Prescription]

I've no idea, there's quite a few on there for around that price or less from business sellers and private sellers, it's the base model, wifi only and 16gb, no box but came with sealed headphones, cable and plug.

I've since taken it to Apple store and they've confirmed both are genuine, but couldn't get imessage or facetime to work either. Their only suggestion was to take out applecare and have it fixed/replaced at further cost.

I'm just going to return them for a refund.

 

[JayCee]

Strange that an Apple Genius couldn't fix the issues.