Mobile Phone Insurance Issue

marc81

Apologies if this is not in the correct section.

Last year I had a problem with my phone and I claimed through my insurance who couldn't fix it so sent me a replacement. My original phone was a HTC One M8S and due to availability they sent me a HTC One M8 Eye, which at the time I agreed to as it was pretty much the same as my own. Ever since receiving it I have not been able to update the software (it's stuck on Android 4.4.4), i've perservered as I thought eventually it would push through to V6 but hasn't. This has never been that much of an issue but now the software is so old that it's affecting some apps and even has issue with overheating - something that was a firmware fix in some updates. I've contacted HTC and also EE about the lack of updates and they have said it is because i've been given a non UK phone, it was actually issued in UAE... apparantly the 'Eye' model was never even released in the UK.

I just wondered where I stand with the insurers as obviously it's been a while since I received it but it's not a problem that arose straight away. I've contacted them and they're getting back to me. The company in question is Lifestyle Group on behalf of Barclays. Do you think they should replace it with a UK phone?

Thanks,

Marc

Blibble

Is there anything in your Barclays T&Cs about how the replacement handset is found? Is it on a new-for-old basis, and does it stipulate that the replacement will be a UK model under this?

It may be difficult to take the handset back due to the length of time that has elapsed - Barclays' supplier would not be able to take it back as it is used and not re-saleable. The only way I can see you getting it taken back is by Barclays admitting it isn't a suitable replacement under the above conditions (basically, getting Barclays to admit it is their liability and that they should foot the bill).

Nasqueron

If it's not exactly a new phone (out April 2015) given the way technology changes you might as well root it and manually install the newer version of Android

I've seen reports that Indian users of the HTC One M8 Eye got 5.0 in May 2015 so it should work ok