Apple: Belkin Screen Protector Warranties

bblondon

Hi Lovely People,

I wanted to start this thread, as I suspect others are frustrated with the same issue. There are numerous threads on Reddit and even on Apple that suggest this is an issue. I'm a sucker, so I buy the premium Apple-retailing Belkin Screen Protectors for my iPhone each time I upgrade. I pay the premium price because I'm neurodivergent, so I find the little bubbles, etc when I fit them (as I used to in the early days) super frustrating, and I like the included warranty, as I'm clumsy and probably need to replace it once a year due to drops. The combo of screen protector and good case means I haven't had to replace the phone before an upgrade in more than 8 years, despite dropping it probably every few months, so it works.

BUT every time (but one) I go to redeem the Belkin warranty, they are "Out of Stock", but Apple always has stock of the same item. So clearly Belkin chooses to de-prioritise stocking their Warranty.

Because the combo is so effective and I'm clumsy, I often find myself buying a whole new screen protector from Apple in desperation. To avoid possible damage to the phone. But this has happened far too many times now, and Apple suggest they can't help.

Surely the contract is with Apple as the retailer? They can't advertise a product with a warranty that isn't honoured? Interestingly, I noticed Apple stopped listing the Warranty on their Screen Protector feature on the relevant pages on their website. But staff always market it, and I always buy in-store. Apple even tries to disclaim their obligations more broadly with the below, but even they have to admit in the last sentence that customers might have greater rights in law.

Warranty

Note: Apple’s One-Year Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Non-Apple-branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty provided by the product manufacturer — please see your product box and literature for details. Benefits under the manufacturer’s warranty are in addition to rights provided by consumer law.

I'm (for some crazy reason) a very loyal Apple customer, and have had a number of issues over the years, where Apple's initial response has been far below what is required by law and/or acceptable levels of service. But because each time these issues have been of meaningful value, I have expended tens of hours "resolving" them. This is not of that value, so I'm not going to go through the extreme pain of trying to get through to a human at Apple who understands consumer law and can override the automated responses. But it's a terrible experience and surely not legal?

For clarity, I do not need any lectures about my choice of product; I know Apple products are expensive, but they are my preference for a large number of reasons 🤣

Woodstok2000

I'm confused. What's your complaint exactly?

GrumpyDil

I think the issue is that OP buys a Belkin screen protector with a warranty from Apple which is apparently commonly assumed to cover accidental damage.

However a quick search suggests it is aimed at manufacturing defects etc.

@bblondon To answer your question you have consumer rights with Apple and the warranty with Belkin. That said, damaging the screen by dropping your phone wouldn't enable a claim under your consumer rights unless Apple sold the screen as being drop proof.

And the warranty coverage depends upon the exact wording of the warranty, although I'd be very surprised if it covers damage caused by dropping your phone either.

Emmia

I use generic ones from Amazon in my phones. I've got one iPhone one Google Pixel and use the same brand on both. The protectors work well, and are easy to apply...

This brand: https://amzn.eu/d/07ba1Jds

MyRealNameToo

Finally managed to convince the Mrs to stop putting screen protectors on her phone and she's gone from 1-2 breaks a year to none in 3 years. Wouldnt go as far to argue that screen protectors increase the risk of breakage but screens alone are vastly more tough than they used to be particularly since the iPhone 15 when they added a bevel


I must admit i dont really follow the OP's question but looking on Amazon the Belkin UltraGlass 2 is currently £14.99 but a replacement under the Belkin warranty for "every day damage" is £9.99. £5 is £5 but for something thats once a year not sure how stressed to get about it

born_again

Do Apple not come with a pre applied screen protector?

For the type of money they cost I would expect them to given, my One plus Nord 4 has one pre applied, as have all my other less then top of range Android phones.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82092777#Comment_82092777

No, Apple claim to simply build tougher screens… they'll sell you a protector if you ask for one but I havent had a hard sell from them on one for a decade… cases are a different matter.

Okell

@bblondon - I think you misunderstand the situation.

You have legally enforceable consumer rights against the seller (Apple) under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, but those rights don't cover accidental or careless/reckless damage caused by the actions of the consumer.

It might be that other non-Apple brands sold by Apple come with manufacturer brand warranties that do cover accidental damage, but as Apple's warranty statement that you quote says, they are the responsibility of the manufacturer giving the warranty, not Apple.

"… Apple even tries to disclaim their obligations more broadly with the below, but even they have to admit in the last sentence that customers might have greater rights in law.

Warranty

Note: Apple’s One-Year Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Non-Apple-branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty provided by the product manufacturer — please see your product box and literature for details. Benefits under the manufacturer’s warranty are in addition to rights provided by consumer law."

Errr… no - I think again you have misunderstood.

Apple are not admitting "… in the last sentence that customers might have greater rights in law…", they are simply trying to explain that a manufacturer's warranty may (or may not) give consumers contractual rights that are in addition to those that the Consumer Rights Act provides. But those "additional" warranty rights are enforceable against the manufacturer giving the warranty - not Apple.

I think your complaint needs to be directed to Belkin, not Apple

NB - I'm not sure it helps talking about Warranty rights being "additional" which implies that they might be better or on top of statutory consumer rights. A more accurate description would be "different" and/or "separate". They might not add anything to a consumer's statutory rights and might lead a consumer in the wrong direction. How often do we see somebody go down the warranty route only to be told they should have enforced their statutory rights

Okell

Notwithstanding my last post I suppose there could be a question whether if apple sell a Belkin product with a Belkin warranty and Belkin do not fulfil the warranty, is apple liable on the grounds that the product was misdescribed?

I don't think so but I'm not sure…

eskbanker

NB - I'm not sure it helps talking about Warranty rights being "additional" which implies that they might be better or on top of statutory consumer rights. A more accurate description would be "different" and/or "separate". They might not add anything to a consumer's statutory rights and might lead a consumer in the wrong direction. How often do we see somebody go down the warranty route only to be told they should have enforced their statutory rights

But surely it's a statement of fact that "Benefits under the manufacturer’s warranty are in addition to rights provided by consumer law", in that there are generally two separate parties to pursue rather than one? Obviously the exception is direct sales from the manufacturer, but I'm not aware of any such companies who'd try to pass off an exact replica of statutory rights as the sum total of their warranty terms, and therefore these would be additional rights…

Clearly, as you say, some punters won't choose the right party to pursue, but that's hardly the fault of companies using terminology like the above to correctly highlight that warranty is in addition to statutory rights.

born_again

Did OP register with Belkin for their warranty?

https://www.belkin.com/uk/support-article/?articleNum=337642