HTC water damage

Rocker666

Maybe it's different where you worked but O2 point blank refuse to repair so called 'water damage', and HTC are not interested either, which leaves the consumer with no leg to stand on, doesn't seem right to me.

With smartphones being as expensive as they are, I think they should be more robust. If its honestly true that 'moisture' from a kettle could somehow infiltrate into the PCB whilst in a case in my pocket, then there is no hope...

grumbler

MissKeith wrote: »

...it cannot be proved either way. The old chicken and the egg theory I guess.

No theories if the phone is under warranty. Innocent until proven guilty - as simple as that.

Also, IMO even corrosion is usually a result of the manufacturer's fault. Small amount of water cannot cause any noticeable corrosion on a clean motherboard. The corrosion takes place because this small amount of water dissolves dried chemicals used for soldering that the manufacturer failed to wash out from the surface. By their nature mobile phones are not supposed to be used in an absolutely dry atmosphere and simple measures have to be taken to prevent the corrosion.

JayMcgregor

Rocker666 wrote: »

Regardless of indicators, I know my phone has NEVER been near water, which is why I don't understand how they can claim this. I'm not saying the indicators are the only way to tell if there is moisture damage, my beef is the fact that they won't even attempt a repair or give me any help or suggestions about what to do next.

Unfortunately your tale is quite common, I've heard lots of similar stories. It's an easy get out clause for the manufacturer. I will take it back to CPW, but I don't expect much to be done.

Best bet is to sell it on for parts and buy a new handset. Oh and never buy HTC ever again.

Rocker666

Yeah, I realise that I probably just have to bite the bullet and buy a new handset, but I don't have money to replace it like for like, plus my confidence with HTC has been quashed, so will have to downgrade I think...

I have been looking at these 'sell your mobile' type sites, including the ones recommended on here, but it seems that not many actually accept 'water damaged' phones, even if you submit them as faulty/damaged (which obviously lowers the value).

Does anyone know of the best place to recycle water damaged phones?

grumbler

Rocker666 wrote: »

I was told that basically there is nothing I can do, and I don't have a leg to stand on as I don't have insurance (O2 smugly advised me that if I had took out their insurance at £10 a month I would have been covered)... Told me that they would send the phone back unrepaired. I argued that my phone has never been near water, and that the battery indicator is still white. O2 would only offer the quite frankly ridiculous suggestion that perhaps "I'd been in a steamy bathroom, stood near a boiling kettle, or moisture from sweat when it's in my pocket may have caused it". Laughable.

Surely these phones should be more robust - they say moisture has managed to get inside the circuit board but not set off the water damage indicator on the battery??! WHATEVER!

Does it have only one indicator and only on the battery? Old Desire has at least two.

I don't know what to do... HTC are not interested either, and O2 won't budge. I was offered the only option of purchasing a new phone from them for £350, which I cannot afford. So I am 4 months into a 24 month smartphone contract with no phone....

I'd take O2 to the Small Claims Court (online).

I missed this Watchdog thing, can anyone provide any more information?

See the link above and http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015p7rv/Watchdog_06_10_2011/
Go to 41:30

Rocker666

I'm not sure if it has more than one indicator, it has one on the side of the battery but I can't tell if there are more inside as that would involve taking it to bits.

Thanks for the watchdog and claim links. I have already tried with HTC and they will not repair it. Might just get it recycled and put money towards a new one.

Not sure who will recycle it though, most places won't accept liquid damage phones...

grumbler

The second one was on the chassis under the battery contacts.

visidigi

www.mazumamobile.com will take water damaged phones from my initial check...

Rocker666

Thanks yeah, I just spotted that Mazuma do take water damaged phones... seems like very few offer this service. I hope I get something towards a new one, this whole saga has been one massive pain... :-(

bigadee

JayMcgregor wrote: »

To briefly explain, my HTC Desire Z stopped working three months after I bought it. I sent it in for repair and they sent it back saying it had been water damaged. I've never knowingly exposed to water, they explained that it could have been from 'condensation in my pocket', which I found pretty astounding.

It turns out, after checking the litmus sticker on the back of my phone, that it hasn't been water damaged (sticker is still white). HTC seem uninterested after a number of phone calls and emails (I even spoke to a customer service manager), they repeat the same line over and over again 'we don't repair water damaged phones'.

Any one else had the same problem? And/or had a similar experience with HTC customer service?

Hi

I had the same thing from HTC with my Wildfire, i sent it off as the usb battery hub was not charging the battery & they sent me back a quote saying it was liquid damage & to this i was puzzled as there was never any contact with water or anything else! Now someone else said it could have been from keeping it in a pocket.
3 months down the line & the same thing has happened again & so yet again i contacted HTC customer services who said they would escalate the compalint & i could get a repair under warranty, it came back the other day UN-REPAIRED with a note saying "due to liquid damage it is BER" I contacted them & they said it had overidden the repair & i cant have it done.. They were quick enough to repair it when i paid £40 before.. (should phones be getting liquid damage after being in a pocket?) it never happened with any other make of phone i had! I had a good opinion of HTC when i first had the phone & now well....