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Class Action Suit Says Apple Blames iPhone Problems on False Water Damage
By Sarah Pierce
Apple is the target of a class action lawsuit over its use of an unreliable “Liquid Submersion Indicator” to deny warranty coverage on its iPhones.
Anyone who’s ever tried to have a broken cell phone fixed or replaced, whether it’s an Apple iPhone or other manufacturer, knows the first thing the representative does is check to see if the device’s Liquid Submersion Indicator shows the device made contact with water. If it does, the warranty does not cover repair or replacement costs.
Well, according to the class action lawsuit, Apple’s Liquid Submersion Indicator is unreliable and creates “false-positive results.” Independent testing shows it can be triggered by several things, including cold weather, humidity and “other types of moisture that should not cause damage…such as a palm that becomes sweaty after a work-out.” This has caused many customers to be falsely blamed for owner-inflicted water damage and forced to pay for a replacement or settle for a used, “discounted” phone replacement.
The lawsuit notes that the iPhone comes with a more accurate indicator built right into the phone, but that Apple personnel are directed to only use the external Liquid Submersion Indicator and refuse warranty coverage without ever examining the internal indicator to see if the device really made contact with water.
The class action lawsuit is seeking damages for all class members and an order requiring Apple to extend the iPhone warranties.
Updated May 26th, 2010
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3 thoughts onClass Action Suit Says Apple Blames iPhone Problems on False Water Damage
Please add me cause I have 2 of them.
I have recently started having trouble with my IPhone 4S. I took the phone by my wireless carrier, where I purchased it and was told my warranty was void as the moisture indicator at the docking port was red. My phone has never been dropped into water nor exposed to a spill. It has rained in our area recently. If these indicators are so sensitive to humidity one should be informed of this immediately upon purchase so that extra money is not spent buying a warranty that is of no use.
I was not told about the “sensitive” nature to moisture that the Iphones have . If I had I would have never purchased one . I take great care of my phone , and to be told that something as simple as moisture in the air or sweaty palms can ruin a devise that costs as much as this is total stupidity . I also surmised that the added insurance that I bought would cover any problems . To be told that I have to cough up another $168.00 to replace this phone is highway robbery . I would gladly sign up for a class action suit .