Erase all content and settings query

Question

Hi All
I manage a corporate mobile account for our business. I recently upgraded one of my users from a 4S to a new iPhone, he was not technically minded so I walked him through backing up the old phone and set-up the new phone from the back-up. I had to do this via iTunes as his iCloud was locked out (he'd changed his AppleID and the phone hadn't replicated through). We got the new phone up and running and the user went away happy.
Ordinarily I'd wipe the old phone and redeploy it elsewhere in the business but this one won't let me erase it without removing Find my iPhone and of course I can't because iCloud's greyed out. I've subsequently seen the fix for this in the forums - return the AppleID to it's original name then log back in and remove the iCloud, alternatively log into iCloud and remove the old device from his list of devices.
Unfortunately I don't have access to the user to follow this process - is there no other way to wipe the phone?
I understand the concern about privately owned devices falling into the wrong hands and being wiped and sold etc and the need to ensure that an individuals personal data on a corporate device can be returned to them (we have mobile device management software that allows us to wipe the corporate data on the phone if lost or stolen).
I can prove that the device belongs to the company and that the user's account is active on the new phone. My guess is the phone is bricked unless I can get access to the user and walk them through reverting their AppleID but would be pleasantly surprised if there is a quick fix.
Kind regards
S

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Unfortunately you need the password to remove the account, only the account holder can access these details.