Water-damaged iPhone 3GS ...?

altyfc

Hi

I have a 32GB iPhone 3GS which I purchased from Tesco around 6 months ago. I went for the option where I purchase the phone in full at the onset and pay £20 a month for the contract. I didn't take out any additional warranty.

I have just returned from a holiday in France and was walking in some shallow waves with the iPhone in my pocket and got kind of caught out by a couple of larger waves which lapped up to my thigh. I'm guessing this isn't purely co-incidental but the iPhone hasn't properly worked since. I made the mistake of repeatedly trying to switch the phone on after the incident and at first it seemed to work but it hasn't been happy since. I now understand that is the last thing you should do because it can short circuit and instead you should put it in a bag of rice, etc. and leave for a few days. I've done this since but to no avail - the phone still doesn't see to work.

I am left wondering how I now stand. I guess the phone will show water damage when inspected. Do I return it to Tesco for them to look at, or to Apple? Am I likely to have to buy a new phone or might I get away with just paying for a repair?

Any advice welcome... thanks.

altyfc

Also, I meant to ask... might I be better off upgrading to an iPhone 4, or will I be unable to do that with a seemingly damaged phone?

Nostromo

If the sensors have gone red inside the phone an Apple store will charge £146 for repair probably a replacement phone.http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3302
You could try your home insurance or you may be covered by your bank depending on what type of account you have.Some of them have those extra options you pay a monthly fee for and mobile insurance is included in the price.

d123

Nostromo wrote: »

If the sensors have gone red inside the phone an Apple store will charge £146 for repair probably a replacement phone.

Out of warranty service is actually £139 in an Apple Store.

altyfc

Thanks, guys... and if I went into a store (1.5 hr drive for me), would I have to leave the phone with them, or would I be able to return home same day with a working a phone (wishful thinking, perhaps???).

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

Check your home insurance policy. If you had "away from home" or "personal possessions" cover, then that provides insurance for everything you wear and carry in everyday life anywhere in the world, which should include your mobile phone. Also, if you had any travel insurance, check the "single item limit" as if it was a policy that provides up to £500 for each item, you could be covered there too (but always best to claim on home insurance first if you can - lots of reasons but I'll not go into it here).

Home insurers would arrange for the phone to be collected or give you an insured bag to send it off in. Their repairers would look at it and see whether it's repairable (as it's salt water, I doubt it) and then either repair or replace it. You just pay your £50 excess.

Give them a call; it's got to be worth the price of a phone call to see whether you have the cover.

Nostromo

altyfc wrote: »

Thanks, guys... and if I went into a store (1.5 hr drive for me), would I have to leave the phone with them, or would I be able to return home same day with a working a phone (wishful thinking, perhaps???).

They will probably give you a replacement in store as a water damaged phone is not a 10-15 minute fix like a cracked screen etc.

altyfc

I've actually tried to look at the two visible water sensors with a torch and I can't see any signs of them having turned pink. I know there was a BBC Watchdog programme on this a while back and I think there was something about them all having to have gone pink (or at least two of the three) for it to be deemed as water damage so maybe I might be in luck with a visit to an Apple store.

My iPhone was in an Otterbox holder at the time of the incident and it does seem to offer some coverage to those two areas so maybe they prevented water from getting into those particular parts... ?

Oscar_The_Grouch

It's worth making yourself an appoitment to see someone at the Apple Store then. I suggest you phone them and ask for a Genius Appointment.

John_3:16

Not that I have the iphone. But I did have an itouch. I used to listen to streaming in the bathroom. It was by the bath when some water splashed on it. For a while there was water in the screen that dried out. the speaker failed to work after a while. I also notice that the the water sensor did not go red. They gave me my money back so will know buy a new one.

After reading up it seems the itouch has one water sensor were as the iphone has 3. One inside?

d123

http://www.apple.com/uk/retail/geniusbar/

You can book an appointment online now, you would leave the store with a replacement handset in about 20 minutes if they agree to replace it or you pay the out of warranty charge.