Nokia Warranty Scam

Mr_Lahey

I have a Nokia N96. Recently the screen would no longer function so given it had a 24month warranty i took it in for repairs.

My local Nokia Care centre is:

The Fonebooth
The Piazza
Huddersfield

When i took it in he made a huge deal about if the phone is water damaged etc the warranty would be void. The phone is in mint condition and certainly has never been anywhere near water. The water indicator on the rear of the phone was still white (it turns red if water touches it)

I just got a phone call telling me that inside it is water damaged and therefore cannot be fixed under warranty.
It is an absolute joke and to make things worse they will not give the phone back unless i pay a £10 admin fee.

The long and short of it is i know for a fact it isn't water damaged (or wasn't) Nokia have wormed their way out of repairing my phone. It is a complete scam.

Pollycat

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

I have a Nokia N96. Recently the screen would no longer function so given it had a 24month warranty i took it in for repairs.

My local Nokia Care centre is:

The Fonebooth
The Piazza
Huddersfield

When i took it in he made a huge deal about if the phone is water damaged etc the warranty would be void. The phone is in mint condition and certainly has never been anywhere near water. The water indicator on the rear of the phone was still white (it turns red if water touches it)

I just got a phone call telling me that inside it is water damaged and therefore cannot be fixed under warranty.
It is an absolute joke and to make things worse they will not give the phone back unless i pay a £10 admin fee.

The long and short of it is i know for a fact it isn't water damaged (or wasn't) Nokia have wormed their way out of repairing my phone. It is a complete scam.

Did you point that out when you left the phone with them?
And maybe insist it was recorded on any documentation that you were given?
They wouldn't have been able to attribute the fault to water damage if you could prove that it was OK when you gave it to them.

Mr_Lahey

Pollycat wrote: »

Did you point that out when you left the phone with them?
And maybe insist it was recorded on any documentation that you were given?
They wouldn't have been able to attribute the fault to water damage if you could prove that it was OK when you gave it to them.

I did point it out, but I was told that it only works if water comes into the phone from the back. How it would ever get in through a screen at the front I will never know.

Kingsd316

I had the exact same thing said to me when i took my N95 8gb to a repair centre in CPW, my phone was also in mint condition and never had water damage, complete joke the warranty!

Pollycat

Is the screen on the Nokia N96 totally sealed at the front?

I have a Sony Ericsson (not in the same league as yours) and can see how water could possibly get into the phone through the front (around the screen and buttons).
Could the phone have got damp (rather than wet) by being in a pocket of your outdoor coat when it's been raining?
Or been in your shirt pocket and in a bathroom when someone's having a shower?

But what's the point of having a water indicator that only works for water entering the back of the phone?
None at all, imho.

Did it come with a 2 year warranty or did you have to pay extra for it?
If you paid extra, it certainly sounds like a rip-off (not a word I generally use lightly).
But it sounds like they have you over a barrel.

paulofessex

Could you not state to them that in return of the £10 admin fee you would like it in writing a report of their findings as you intend to have the phone examined by an independent body (havent got a clue who) and intend to persue them for costs etc should they be wrong about the water damage.

Perhaps speak with trading standards as to who they could suggest could give a second opinion

Mr_Lahey

Pollycat wrote: »

Is the screen on the Nokia N96 totally sealed at the front?

I have a Sony Ericsson (not in the same league as yours) and can see how water could possibly get into the phone through the front (around the screen and buttons).
Could the phone have got damp (rather than wet) by being in a pocket of your outdoor coat when it's been raining?
Or been in your shirt pocket and in a bathroom when someone's having a shower?

But what's the point of having a water indicator that only works for water entering the back of the phone?
None at all, imho.

Did it come with a 2 year warranty or did you have to pay extra for it?
If you paid extra, it certainly sounds like a rip-off (not a word I generally use lightly).
But it sounds like they have you over a barrel.

If water was spilled on it then it could get through the front maybe. But the fact is water hasn't been spilled on it. I know for a fact it hasn't been used in the rain or been near any water because it's my phone and has hundreds of photo's, loads of apps and calendar entries and you take care of things like that.
I would know if it had been near water and it simply has not.

The warranty was Nokia's own and not paid for, but as has been proven, in my case its simply not worth the paper it is printed on.

RHYSDAD

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

If water was spilled on it then it could get through the front maybe. But the fact is water hasn't been spilled on it. I know for a fact it hasn't been used in the rain or been near any water because it's my phone and has hundreds of photo's, loads of apps and calendar entries and you take care of things like that.
I would know if it had been near water and it simply has not.

The warranty was Nokia's own and not paid for, but as has been proven, in my case its simply not worth the paper it is printed on.

I think you may find that goes for any range of warranties on any range of products you may care to mention....An entire industry designed to fleece people out of yet more money that they will never be able to claim on. Remember next time not to line the pockets of the thieving gits....

gordikin

OP, did you not have a problem recently with the tyres on your car... ie the police thought they were 'not quite legal'....and you were a bit upset?..as you are now!

moonrakerz

I have a Samsung E2120, it cost me £14.99. It makes/receives phone calls, it has a camera - which I don't really need.

If it gets wet, I drop it or a camel eats it - I buy a new one at £14.99.
No one will steal it, they are after Nokia N96s !!

It came with a 12 month warranty, what more do I need ?

:D

gordikin

Mr lahlah getting upset?