Mobile Phone Repair Time Limit

bails87

Something mentioned elsewhere has got me thinking (yes, really!)

We always refer to the sales of goods act, and goods lasting a reasonable time without faults.

What about a mobile phone? The networks always try to sell insurance to replace the phone if it breaks, but if I'm sold a phone on an 18 month contract, surely it's reasonable to expect the phone to last 18 months as a minimum. So if it breaks before that through reasonable use (not because of something stupid I've done) then surely the network should be responsible for sorting it.

Or does it come down to me being required to "prove" it's a manufacturing fault, rather than damage through (reckless?) use, before they'll do anything?

Just a thought, feel free to ignore me!

supersonic

I agree with you. Though the contract and handset guarantee could be seperate items, I would argue the contract implies the handset should last at least 18 months. I would expect it to last that long anyway.

The retailer is the person to contact.

El Capitano

bails87 wrote:

So if it breaks before that through reasonable use (not because of something stupid I've done) then surely the network should be responsible for sorting it.

We came across this little gem with my daughter's phone insurance yesterday. Its currently 12 months into a 24 month contract. The phone developed a problem where it wouldn't make or receive calls and it wouldn't sent or receive SMS messages. Phoned the insurance company, they said, as it wasn't damaged through 'accident' or stolen, it wasn't covered.

Fortunately, a phone call to Sony Ericson's helpdesk and subsequent update of the phone's software sorted the problem out.

Moral of the story - stamp on your phone and 'accidently' break it before contacting the insurance company to get a replacement...

Kiblams

They always get you on "water damage" as I was had.

This includes the stuff you would expect like dropping in puddle and spillages, but the fine print includes silly stuff that is unavoidable in everyday use such as persperation (who hasn't had a long conversation on the phone and sweated?) condensation, and even using the phone in fog and mist!

That is only covered by the extra insurance that they sell for about £6 a month extra :shock:

Kiblams

In fact since I bought my new 2nd hand phone (which is actually a slight upgrade over the broken phone) I have worked out that 2 years of insurance comes to £144 which is a lot more than the £80 I paid for the new one

bails87

Touchwood I've never lost or broken a phone, not by accident anyway, can't say I've never indulged in a bit of light insurance fraud!

So I don't see the point in paying for insurance that woirks out as several times the value of the phone over the whole contract.

And just FYI, there's nothing wrong with my phone, I was just wondering. And I always get my phones through the network, so network/retailer are one and the same for me.

VWsurfbum

When i broke my first iphone screen they refused to let me pay to upgrade it to the new model as i was a month away from their upgrade time slot!
I didnt want anything for free, i wasnt asking them to do anything other than letting me upgrade a few weeks early! they wanted £400 odd to upgrade which was the same as buying it as pay as you go!
i managed to get on to a manager after 2 weeks of trying and got my upgrade (free of chrage) and recieved my new phone the next day on a 2 year (now minnimum) contract and the next month when my phone was due for an upgrade they released the 3gS :evil:

xstrathyx

bails it does count.

My sony phone broke before christmas and i had it sent back to vodafone, as it was still within the contract (18 months) it was covered. They did state when i returned it, if it was water damaged they wouldnt repair it without a charge.

I knew mine hadn't gone swimming, so i got it back repaired and updated with different software......result!

Kiblams

xSTRATHYx wrote:

I knew mine hadn't gone swimming, so i got it back repaired and updated with different software......result!

You lucky get! Mine had never been wet, except possibly in my pocket under heavy rain once on a ride (about 6 months before it started being faulty)

cat_with_no_tail

I had this recently with a Nokia E51 I use for work.

The fascia came un-glued less than 12 months into an 18month contract. I took it back and they said they would send it off to be fixed, but I'd have to pay for it because it's not a manufactring problem and is caused by "the user".

I was less than happy with this response and pointed out that the phone lives in the inside pocket of my suit jacket or on the desk, it never gets wet, very rarely ventures outside and only has very minimal use and how is it my fault that Nokia are incapable of using glue that actually sticks things together for normal use.

In the end, they took it back and fixed it for free but they wouldn't have done so if I'd not argued the toss. And it still took Nokia 8 weeks to fix it, 8 weeks to glue a bit of metal back on.

[conspiricy theory] I'm positive that manufacturers do stuff like this on purpose so that they can, A: sting you for inflated insurance, and B; fleece you on stupid repair bills for stuff that's designed not to last. [/conspiricy theory]

VWsurfbum

Cat With No Tail
i'm glad i'm not the only person who thinks like this?
i'm sure apple make my iphone run slow on poupose but only on facebook and the telephone bits, the ones i use the most! :twisted: