iPhone 5 "extensive water damage" but it's never been in water?

wiogs

You could take it apart yourself to have a look to see what damage may have been done inside.

There are four sensors and it is pretty easy to see if there is any water damage or not.

alexeaves

i would send it to an independent repair place if apple wont help - sounds like they want you to pay for a replacement tbh. i used this site before and they werent too shabby, just google: yourapplephoneexpert. good luck! :j:j

GlasweJen

I don't want to open it in case they use this as a further excuse to not help.

I've got a complaint against the store in question and I'm happy to wait for apple to start talking sense because my phone has not had a single bug since I posted this thread.

Johnmcl7

It's understandable that you don't want to open the case but it's going to be difficult to proceed without seeing the state of the other sensors, you've said the one under the sim tray isn't triggered but it could be that one or more of the others have been triggered.

Some of these sensors seem far too sensitive as they can be triggered without any actual water damage to the phone and then used as an excuse not to repair the phone under warranty. It's not a problem specific to Apple but I'm not sure if anyone has had success getting money back if they can prove the phone fault is not a result of water damage despite the sensor being triggered.

Water damage doesn't necessarily mean the phone is completely dead as it can instead cause the phone to behave intermittently. If the Apple store refuse to show you the phone opened up, I'd ask them to get pictures of the damage instead to show you as there's no reason they shouldn't be able to do that particularly if the damage is as bad as they're claiming.

John

Weird_Nev

I had a similar problem with an Xbox.
It RROD'd, so I sent it to Microsoft to be repaird/exhanged. Not an uncommon fault.

When they got it they refused to work on it saying it was water damage and that internal screws were missing indicating it had been tampered with.

Since it had done nothing but sat on a shelf under my telly for 18 months before dying, this was news to me. I lost the battle. They simply refused to reply to my requests for proof of the water damage or the missing screws, it was like trying to argue with a brick wall.

Stupidly, 6 months later I bought another one.

It's an uphill struggle. It's a shame, when apple will simply hand over brand new phones to thieves in exchange for stolen ones and then refuse to release details of this act to police because of "customer confidnetiality". They really are a painful organisation to deal with.

Ratboy

GlasweJen wrote: »

I don't want to open it in case they use this as a further excuse to not help.

I've got a complaint against the store in question and I'm happy to wait for apple to start talking sense because my phone has not had a single bug since I posted this thread.

I've just found out my brother is in a similar situation with his Blackberry phone. It failed, they replaced, but the new one failed and through some clause wouldn't fix it, so he was stuck, but was still contracted, so has to fork out over £100 to buy out of the contract??? So he bought a new one, so he didn't have to cancel the contract

So he mentioned this to me, and know someone that fixes phones, as they won't repair it, to do a do or die approach to the phone. I asked 3 phone shops for cost of repair, one £80, one £60, and the person I know quoted what the parts costs £27 for the screen, £3 for the usb port (but £20 for the repair - as it is SMD, I could not repair that), and also some chip fell out of the phone on stripping it.

So physically repairable for £27+£20+ time, not worth it when you can get them on ebay.

BUT OP, I stated above that he received a replacement, and it was clear on stripping it down, that this phone had been opened in its past, wrong screws fitted (t5 on the outside, should be t4, indicating that it has been dropped), t5 on the inside screwheads worn, due to incorrect tool used. This is from the Manufacturer!

So maybe inform the supplier/Manufacturer, to get an independent check done on it, give them notice of that, if they don't reply within the specified time, get it checked out, then collect all emails etc, contact with them, and take them to the small claims court.

Mainly BIG companies don't contest, as it's pocket money to them to reinburse you.

The Blackberry was a 9360, and both the usb port falling off, and the WSOD, and also the smaller batteries as reported on the web this is a common fault, so avoid!

mustangu

GlasweJen wrote: »

these picture aren't great but you can see my white dot in them.

The battery is located on the other side of the phone. If its only water damaged around the battery area the sim card sensor may not be triggered.

Ratboy

I can see white areas in that picture, but not what I would consider a moisture sensor? That looks like wear and tear?

What I've seen of the moisture/shock sensors is a defined circle.

I've attempted to contact Blackberry, stating 'not fit for purpose', and they fob me off, go to the supplier, we only make the thing! Blummin cheek!

My partner just had a look, is the moisture sensor to the left/half cut off? If so - dont get a job as a wedding photographer! Heads chopped off etc!! That IS a bad piccy!

Personally, and the attitude that Blackberry gave me, I would do as I stated above. Send a recorded letter or email, so they can't deny receiving it, Fix or face court. Get it assessed (as I did), small claims court. Methinks my brother 'may' take that route, to save him buying out his contract.

WilliamO

Send a recorded letter or email, so they can't deny receiving it,

I think you will find with recorded delivery envelopes that these days the law protects companies, unfortunately, as that is only proof that an envelope was delivered - Proof of actual content cannot be used as actual proof (hence the post office's own compensation TOC ranting on about only a certain amount of compensation). Anything could be in the envelope and we'd all being saying we posted Diamonds......:rotfl:

I would actually video what needs to be done and then email that video evidence footage. That way the ISP etc would also have a copy (including the spying FBI and US Government of course )

Ratboy

WilliamO wrote: »

Send a recorded letter or email, so they can't deny receiving it,

I think you will find with recorded delivery envelopes that these days the law protects companies, unfortunately, as that is only proof that an envelope was delivered - Proof of actual content cannot be used as actual proof (hence the post office's own compensation TOC ranting on about only a certain amount of compensation). Anything could be in the envelope and we'd all being saying we posted Diamonds......:rotfl:

I would actually video what needs to be done and then email that video evidence footage. That way the ISP etc would also have a copy (including the spying FBI and US Government of course )

LOL - That seems rather extreme, the OP hasn't even said this is a route he is considering yet! Options!

As the RM are pretty useless at delivering mail, and to be crystal clear - some form of copyright involves send the letter off, but a photocopy is also posted to yourself, or the photocopy is sent to the supplier/all involved.

But when you receive the letter from yourself, DO NOT open it. That is your proof. Or email. email can be traced, just as good.

I state again, Blackberry don't want to know, I think that is disgusting. But it's my brothers phone, that he asked me to assess/repair, if it was mine - I'd give hell!!!!! Really! They churn them out, make millions, and when a few go faulty, nothing to do with us, a common fault? Really?