Refund for mobile phone not water damaged

MyNameIsRene

Ok. Let's be clear here. I have treated my phone with respect. I do not actually use my mobile phone in the rain. It has never been in my bathroom. It has never been near water. It has only been in this country, England. I have looked after my phone very well.
So I don't know why the indicator is saying it is water damaged when I do not believe it is water damaged. I think the phone is faulty in that the sensor is not working or is too sensitive.
If I make phone calls and look after my phone I expect in to work for longer than 5 months. I also do not like getting treated like some kind of fraud or lazy person expecting something for free.
So customer service should be there for me to ensure I get treated fairly and honestly.
I am now considerably out of pocket through no fault of my own but for using my phone.

gjchester

grumbler wrote: »

This is arguable. A thin membrane can perfectly stop moisture (unless it's a high pressure), but can't stop the sound. And have Motorola not done this successfully? Was it Defy recently? And there were many other waterproof mobiles, not only from Motorola.

Also, have you ever heard about cheap waterproof radios for shower?

Your right I should have quantified it.

It's do-able, We have waterproof laptops at work, but it costs. and it's not in phones by default, it would add the the manufacturing costs. (The laptops cost over 4x the cost of the non waterproof version of the same unit we have)

Most times they use sealed compartments and then run to a plastic speakers and mikes and rubber plugs to seal the holes up.

And a quick google search says the defy is not waterproof just water resistant.

http://laptopmemo.com/2010/11/05/introducing-motorola-defy-the-waterproof-phone-that-isnt-waterproof/

gjchester

MyNameIsRene wrote: »

So I don't know why the indicator is saying it is water damaged when I do not believe it is water damaged. I think the phone is faulty in that the sensor is not working or is too sensitive.

Ask for photographic proof.

Most phones have more than one sensor, (iphones have 5) usually inside on the circuit board where they can't be splashed or tripped by a drip or two.

If the internal ones are tripped and red then the phone has been in contact with water, and nothing you can do will change that. If they are white you may have somethign to go on.

grumbler

gjchester wrote: »

...And a quick google search says the defy is not waterproof just water resistant...

You certainly have to be an expert to know the difference. I am not an expert, and there is not point in being pedantic in this case when the phone was never used in extreme conditions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterproofing

Waterproof or water-resistant describes objects relatively unaffected by water or resisting the ingress of water under specified conditions. Such items may be used in wet environments or under water to specified depths. Waterproofing describes making an object waterproof or water-resistant (such as a camera or watch).

Splash-proof, rain-proof etc. is definitely something different.

Guys_Dad

Of course, any phone which shows that the phone has been in contact with moisture will most probably have been, unless it left the factory in that state.

But that does not necessarily mean that exposure to moisture is causing your phone not to work - it could be another cause altogether. However, it's a 100% "get out" for manufacturers/repair teams. If they see the moisture indicator is red/blue or whatever, they need go no further.

I would heed the advice of others - get it to an independent repairer, tell them in advance your phone has the moisture indicator showing but ask them if there is anything they can do to test/repair it.

As for what anti-moisture protection phones should have - well they don't!

Moan if you like, but that's where we are and unless you have the cash to take on the phone manufacturers, that's where we will be for some time.

Vodafone

Hi MyNameIsRene,

Unfortunately if a phone is deemed as water damaged, it will void the warranty on the handset.

If you don't have any insurance to cover damage of the phone then we can offer a chargeable repair. You will need to take it in to a local Vodafone store and they will send it off to be fixed and give you a quote on the cost.

If you wish to contact me via email, the address is here. Please include WRT135 FAO Heidi in the subject and a link to this thread and I will pick it up personally.

Best wishes,

Heidi
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

Kingsd316

This was my launch Iphone 4 straight out the box



If you look closely in the middle of the charging dock the white sensor had already been tripped, so you cant be sure it wasnt sent to you like that.

MyNameIsRene

Thanks for the responses. I look doomed to fail trying to get any compensation on my mobile phone. Will get it inspected by an independent repairer to see what can be done. Vodafone has offered me a nearly new replacement at £200 so looks like that's what I'm going to do. It's been an expensive lesson learnt.