We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Urgent help needed please

Hi All, would appreciate any comments or help offered with the following:
Been with mobile company for 7 years, took out new contract & had the phone for 6 weeks when the touchscreen stopped working, Phone wasn't dropped or got near water & being totally honest, always had a screen saver & gel cover for phone since new, only 6 weeks old. Could see phone screen clearly & see calls coming in & texts etc phone also rang & vibrated but touchscreen wouldn't scroll. Waited nearly 4 days for battery to die to try & re boot to solve the issue( phone doesn't have removable battery) didn't work, then tried software update via Sony site etc & as recommended by mobile company of troubleshooting section of site but again to no avail touchscreen still wouldn't scroll. Returned phone to company for repair who are now saying it is physical damage, after disputing this I asked what this physical damage was, they have stated a cracked screen & water damage. The phone has not been near water with me or been dropped & had no cracked screen. The phone is also according to Sony water resistant up to 100cm for 30 mins & spray jet resistant had it been near water which it hasn't. The mobile company sent the packaging & paid for the return to them for repair not me I purely posted the item. I have received the phone back today( they received on 26/03) & low & behold there is a crack in the screen that wasm't there when I posted. I have disputed their technicians findings but am basically being told I am lying & need to claim off there "free" insurance where the excess is £150! I have now had no phone for nearly 3 weeks, paying £27pm (22 mths to go on contract)for a service not receving or using & phone with damage not caused by me. I do not know what to do & felt very intimidated by the person that did call me from the company basically saying tough . How do I know they didn't drop or damage the phone or damaged in post etc because I know I am not lying. Been with company 7 yrs for mobile & 17 yrs for tv/broadband etc. had house insurance for 22 yrs & never claimed a thing. Any helpful comments suggestions on what I can do would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • pepdavies
    pepdavies Posts: 444 Forumite
    You sent it special delivery right? They have insurance cover for this kind of thing.
  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 8 April 2014 at 6:22PM
    They all claim not to have dropped the phone or gone near water see multiple identical posts .
    One water problem may be condensation .
    Did you take pictures of the phone before sending .
    Water damage is harder but usually means that the water indicators are on .Ask for evidence of water damage .
  • robbies_gal
    robbies_gal Posts: 7,895 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    claim off rm for damage
    What goes around-comes around
  • After a 40 minute telephone call to mobile company this morning they are now taking up the issue with RM.
    Wait for an update however long this may take :o
  • robbies_gal
    robbies_gal Posts: 7,895 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    i think the sender i.e you have to make a claim through rm
    What goes around-comes around
  • mcav
    mcav Posts: 24 Forumite
    This is one of the main reasons I photographed my phone before posting. I don't doubt what you are saying, but when dealing with insurance and warranty claims, you need to understand that thanks to so many fraudulent claims, everyone is suspected.
  • I am now totally fed up with the whole thing & really don't know what to do. They submitted the claim to RM, who then asked me for copy of Cert of post which I sent them. Nothing for 2 weeks then a letter asking for the original packing & item which unless they receive they cannot process, Well I have the item of course but no surprise no packaging as "The company" threw that away when they received the phone which I knew they would have done, this took a 50 minute phone call to tell me that. So I am no further on.
    I feel grossly insulted that I am being classed as a liar & being fraudulent when I am not.
    I don't have £150 to pay for excess & fail to see why I should when I haven't done this damage. I am stuck in a contract & have now had no phone for weeks & still paying
    Surely as they paid for the postage & supplied the packaging it should be down to them to replace my phone & they themselves take the claim up with RM. Is there no such thing as Customer Loyalty & goodwill anymore.
    Anybody any suggestions or helpful comments.
    Is an Obudsman an option or Trading Standards etc or maybe a direct letter to Mr Branson , am willing to try & can't see what have to lose , I am an honest person being treated like a liar.
    Thanks
  • d123
    d123 Posts: 8,746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sue67c wrote: »
    Hi All, would appreciate any comments or help offered with the following:

    Been with mobile company for 7 years, took out new contract & had the phone for 6 weeks when the touchscreen stopped working, Phone wasn't dropped or got near water & being totally honest, always had a screen saver & gel cover for phone since new, only 6 weeks old.

    Could see phone screen clearly & see calls coming in & texts etc phone also rang & vibrated but touchscreen wouldn't scroll. Waited nearly 4 days for battery to die to try & re boot to solve the issue( phone doesn't have removable battery) didn't work, then tried software update via Sony site etc & as recommended by mobile company of troubleshooting section of site but again to no avail touchscreen still wouldn't scroll.

    Returned phone to company for repair who are now saying it is physical damage, after disputing this I asked what this physical damage was, they have stated a cracked screen & water damage.

    The phone has not been near water with me or been dropped & had no cracked screen. The phone is also according to Sony water resistant up to 100cm for 30 mins & spray jet resistant had it been near water which it hasn't.

    The mobile company sent the packaging & paid for the return to them for repair not me I purely posted the item. I have received the phone back today( they received on 26/03) & low & behold there is a crack in the screen that wasm't there when I posted.

    I have disputed their technicians findings but am basically being told I am lying & need to claim off there "free" insurance where the excess is £150! I have now had no phone for nearly 3 weeks, paying £27pm (22 mths to go on contract)for a service not receving or using & phone with damage not caused by me.

    I do not know what to do & felt very intimidated by the person that did call me from the company basically saying tough . How do I know they didn't drop or damage the phone or damaged in post etc because I know I am not lying.

    Been with company 7 yrs for mobile & 17 yrs for tv/broadband etc. had house insurance for 22 yrs & never claimed a thing.

    Any helpful comments suggestions on what I can do would be greatly appreciated.

    First helpful comment, is please learn how to use paragraphs (it's the "Enter" button on the right side of the keyboard).

    You can only pursue what you can prove, so you need to go through what evidence you have before you decide on your next steps.

    Without evidence you would need to try and get a goodwill gesture from the company (Virgin?) or claim on the insurance as advised.
    ====
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.