iPhone is sending a stinging ELECTRICAL SHOCK on my skin when charging.

If the charger is not defective then it is something with the house wiring (I did read that you tried it at two different locations). Normally, these types of chargers (actually switching power supplies) have isolation from the house AC. Try this experiment. Reverse how the charger is plugged into the wall by just turning it over so that one blade of the foldable AC plug is now in the other half of the socket (this holds true for the other blade obviously also). Then see if you you still get the tingle on the rim. This is caused by part of the AC voltage being applied to the ground of the iPhone via the charger. It could indicate a wiring issue in the house wiring (neutral not wired correctly) or a defective charger. The fact that it happened with your PB indicates to me a house wring issue.

I think they did not charge anything extra for the shock treatment.

Seriously as someone else said if it is doing this then take it back and exchange it.

Defintely sounds like something with a bad ground.

Important! Take your finger out of the socket - NOW! (Little humor there...)

Tim...

3Ghz Mac Pro w/8GRam, 3TeraHD, 2 SupDrives; 13" BlackBook; 80G iPod, 8G iPhone Mac OS X (10.4.9) 30" Cinema, HPColorLJ Printer, LaCie 600Gig External & LaCie DVDRW/CDRW Drives

Perhaps it's time to purchase a new pair of shoes 🙂

Whenever the metal rim around the cover on my iPhone touches a thin part of my skin, forearm, belly etc. I feel a slightly painful stinging electrical shock like a red hot needle touching the skin. It only happens while the battery is charging and stops once it is full.

Well you're not alone. Mine did the same thing to me, in my kitchen while it was charging, then in my car when I was charging it in there. I've used it before when it was charging, and it didn't do that. Today was the first time. Did you take yours back or get anyone to help you?

I'm not feeling it in the slightest.

That sounds bad. I know it's a hassle to return, but badly grounded electonic devices are an accident waiting to happen.

My two cents,
Aym

Unmmmm...iTaser?




iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.10)
iPhone 8GB

get out of the tub...

Take it back, Why bother posting here? If it is defective it will be replaced.

I agree. The charger is double shielded, so I would suspect the house wiring. If you want the problem solved, you'll probably have to bring someone in to do some electrical detective work...

The OP already said he experienced the same symptom with his Titanium PowerBook...

This makes me feel that this is a grounded wire issue. Or, ungrounded ground wire for that matter.

Any ideas about what is happening, electrically?
You have a ground problem in your home electrical system.
As previously suggested, you should consider calling an electrician to have a look at it.