Rooting phone voids warranty

martin_j

I took out a 2 year contract with Vodafone in July which included the new Samsung Galaxy S3 - last week the phone died - it couldn't get past the Samsung logo on start-up. I googled the symptoms and it is called Samsung sudden death an apparently known issue. I contacted Vodafone who told me the phone was under warranty so I sent it back to be repaired and was shocked when I received a call from the workshop yesterday telling me that my phone had been rooted which had voided my warranty and I would have to pay £100 to have the phone repaired. I was advised to ring customer services if I disputed the claim which I did. They told me (after 15 minutes) to contact the workshop as they couldn't help......
I rang the workshop back and asked them to explain the problem - they told me I had downloaded some illegal software which caused the problem. I have only ever downloaded apps from the app store and nothing illegal, they couldn't even tell me what the illegal download was. I am so fed up with Vodafone as this is the 2nd time they have screwed me over and I asked to cancel my contract, to which I was told I could do but I would have to pay to come out, so I'm out of pocket either way.
Does anyone know anything about rooting? This could affect numerous amount of mobile phone warranties.

jb66

vodafone are saying the rooting caused the problem,so you have to pay to get it fixed, youve screwed yourself over this time

martin_j

but i don't know how I have rooted the phone - I have only downloaded apps from the app store - so tell me how I screwed myself?

Emy1501

jb66 wrote: »

vodafone are saying the rooting caused the problem,so you have to pay to get it fixed, youve screwed yourself over this time

Why? Op says he didn't download anything and Vodaphone cant't even tell him what he downloaded.

Vodafone me will need to confirm what was downloaded and how it's caused the problem.

If there is evidence that this is a common problem them OP should simply give Vodafone 21 days to repair or legal action

Herongull

Rooting does void a warranty, but the software certainly isn't illegal. I root all my phones.

I think some rooting software may be available from the apps store.

But if you didn't root your phone, then they can't use this to get out of the warranty.

Do you have a superuser app on your phone? Once you've rooted your phone, you have superuser privileges.

martin_j

I don't have a superuser app on my phone - I only have apps like twitter - facebook etc I don't have any games

gjchester

Emy1501 wrote: »

Why? Op says he didn't download anything and Vodaphone cant't even tell him what he downloaded.

Vodafone me will need to confirm what was downloaded and how it's caused the problem.

If there is evidence that this is a common problem them OP should simply give Vodafone 21 days to repair or legal action

Unfortunalty I've been there and done that, although I did do the rooting..

Read the warranty, changing the phones software to a version from a non authorised source voids the warranty. Samsungs Warranty states - The warranty is invalidated if the defect is caused (howsoever) by misuse, neglect, and tampering or incorrect adjustment.

Vodafone DO check the OS is an "approved" one and reject phones that have been flashed. Yes it sucks, but they are within the warranty terms.

You can't root a phone by accident, there is always a set combination of actions to do so. On the S3 it's Turn your phone off and wait for it to completely shut down. Press and hold the volume down key, the home button and the power button all at once and wait for a few seconds.

If the phone has been rooted (and Vodafone will supply a printout if this is the case to show it) then the OP or someone who had access the OP's phone has done the rooting and thus voided the warranty.

Herongull

It is hard to imagine anyone rooting their phone without realising it.

You will just have to be firm with vodafone and insist they repair the phone.

Emy1501

gjchester wrote: »

Unfortunalty I've been there and done that, although I did do the rooting..

Read the warranty, changing the phones software to a version from a non authorised source voids the warranty. Samsungs Warranty states - The warranty is invalidated if the defect is caused (howsoever) by misuse, neglect, and tampering or incorrect adjustment.

Vodafone DO check the OS is an "approved" one and reject phones that have been flashed. Yes it sucks, but they are within the warranty terms.

You can't root a phone by accident, there is always a set combination of actions to do so. On the S3 it's Turn your phone off and wait for it to completely shut down. Press and hold the volume down key, the home button and the power button all at once and wait for a few seconds.

If the phone has been rooted (and Vodafone will supply a printout if this is the case to show it) then the OP or someone who had access the OP's phone has done the rooting and thus voided the warranty.

it will void the warranty but not vodafones liability under sale of goods act unless they can show the rooting was the cause of the phones failure.

Also OP says he didn't root it and there Vodafone will need to provide evidence it was rooted and this caused the phone to fail

I also get the impression that google are not to fussy about what goes in to the app store so assume Vodafone are saying its faulty download that's caused the phone to fail

martin_j

when my phone died i tried rebooting by holding down the on/off button and the volume up to try a hard reset as suggested on google (this obviously didn't fix the problem) but i still didn't get past the Samsung logo

sdduk

I agree with gjchester Unless Vodafone is trying to pull a fast one which is not Unknown for them then VF have to prove that it was rooted

You do get options when rooting phones so you would know its being done you do have to go into boot options to install the root also you have to enable the debugging mode on any of the Samsung Galaxy range which is not a default setting thing.