Sony Erricsson phone from Tesco

tbw

I bought a W595i from Tesco in August using my doubled up clubcard vouchers. Initially the phone was fine ( I'm talking about a couple of weeks) but then I found the battery needed recharging every 3/4 days - even though I hardly make any calls myself and the phone is used only for emergencies and a few incoming calls.

Over the past month, the re-charge problem has got gradually worse and now it needs a re-charge just about every 24/30 hours. I've checked online and they reckon the battery should last 2/300 hours on standby. Also, the phone has started to stop working intermittently when the battery falls below 20% - I had to walk home 3 miles yesterday cos the b***** phone just wouldn't ring out when I tried to contact my DH to come and pick me up ! The display shows its calling the number but there is no ringing tone and the phone dosn't connect at the other end. Also, my available credit has dropped down to almost nothing (from around £7) even though I haven't actually made any outgoing calls! Its like the phone is doing something in the background that I don't know about. I should have done something sooner but I've only today managed to find the actual purchase note as proof of when/where I bought it.

I can't get through to the Tesco Direct phones helpline - in a queue and I'm not waiting for more than 10 minutes on a high cost number. I was planning to take the phone back to the store where I ordered it but I'm concerned that they will say the battery isn't covered by the warranty. Does anyone know if Tesco tend to be reasonable on such things or must I just bin the darn thing and get a new one? I know I paid with CC vouchers but the full price was £129.

Techhead_2

Whatever you've set going is using data, which eats your credit and uses battery power so you have to charge more often.
So before getting it repaired, why not find out what is using data? Have a look through the manual, or see what programs are running.
Alternatively, you could delete the internet settings.

dmg24

Techhead wrote: »

Whatever you've set going is using data, which eats your credit and uses battery power so you have to charge more often.
So before getting it repaired, why not find out what is using data? Have a look through the manual, or see what programs are running.
Alternatively, you could delete the internet settings.

This was my first thought too - I doubt it is a hardware problem.

OP, what you describe with the phone not dialling out sounds like you were in an area with no signal. It could have been a network fault, or it could just be a blackspot.

tbw

I haven't got anything running - my DIL got me to make sure bluetooth was turned off as apparently that uses power. I wasn't in a blackspot and there was certainly a good Orange signal - its happened several times including today when I was at home. I checked for network problems using my Husbands £10 cheapy from Asda - Orange was up and running just fine. The only way to get it going again when it stops appears to be to remove the battery and sim card, put them back and turn it on again - then it works (Pity I didn't think to try that yesterday before I started walking !!!).

Storck

Make sure you have WiFi turned off as well as that ea s power like mad even if you are not using it.

I had same problem with my phone but turning the WiFi off sorted it out.

tbw

Thank you for your helpful replies. I haven't a clue about the WiFi though! However, something odd has happened - I decided to take the sim card out and put it into my old phone as an interim measure. However, when I couldn't manage to get the sim out easily, I put the phone back together again and charged it up. That was over 2 days ago and, although I've been using the phone a fair bit taking photos and some calls, the battery is still holding its charge (80%). Earlier this week, a full charge was running right out in less than 2 days so it seems that removing the battery and re-inserting it has sorted something out! I don't really see what that can have done but its a vast improvement!

Techhead_2

Yes, it will have stopped whatever was running and using up your credit/battery.

tbw

Techhead wrote: »

Yes, it will have stopped whatever was running and using up your credit/battery.

Its certainly done something - 4 days later I've still got nearly 70% so I'm a fairly happy bunny!