False claims of liquid damage

Yes I have heard of it before (rarely) but not from Apple itself. If I was you start by contacting Apple Support directly from this web site (top right hand corner of this page). Additionally look at this support article: Liquid Damage and see if that gets you anywhere. Finally go back to where the diagnosis has taken place and complain directly in the strongest possible terms.

One question though: Is it only you that has ever used this computer or is there a possibility that someone you know (without you knowing it) used it also? For a seemingly short (in your view harmless) time? If you can't definitively answer those questions as no then there is (as much as you don't like it) the real possibility that there has been some liquid damage.

Good luck

I am having the same issue. My MBP16 2019 would not power on one morning, so I contacted Apple and took it to the Apple Store. They we're unable to get it to work and advised they would fix it under ACL (Australian Consumer Law) Consumer Guarantee at no cost. 4 days later I a message it has liquid damage and would not be covered and cost almost AUD$3000 to fix.

I had the laptop returned and took it to a local AASP (Apple Authorised Service Provider) who provided a report which confirmed the issue was not a result of liquid damage. The LCI's had not been triggered, nor was there any liquid residue or water marks. The corrosion found was, in his opinion the result of dust build up from normal use and humidity.

According to Apple's VMI (Visual Mechanical Inspection) procedures, this should have been covered by warranty or consumer guarantee in my case, 8 months out of Apple Care+ warranty. They also advised the corrosion was not the cause of the power failure issue. I tried to contact Apple 3 times to advise of the report and they basically ignored me.

I took it to fair trading and Apple's response basically ignore the independent report from on of their own AASP's. I took it to NCAT (small claims court) and Apple finally contacted me. It seems Apple have a policy of any sign of potential liquid damage is liquid damage besides there being 5 different causes of corrosion of which only 1 is liquid damage and not covered by warranty or consumer guarantee.

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They sent me photos. Close ups which made the damage seem worse than what it really is. They would not provide a report though. I have subpoenaed their VMI and a report from their AASP which made the liquid damage claim. In my opinion, the photos don't even look like my laptop as I can not see the same chips on the board from the photos provided my independent assessment.

NCAT starts with conciliation to give the parties an opportunity to reach an agreement and avoid a hearing. Because I am seeking compensation, we were unable to reach an agreement so we now go to a hearing. The decision of NCAT would be binding and if I'm successful, it will create a precedent which could help others. This is what I am going for.

FWIW. it does not have to be someone pouring water on it - it can be "just" that it was used in a humid environment. The testing diagnostics are very sophisticated and the computer has a small part inside which changes color when it has been subjected to humidity or moisture which they will not see until they open it up. At that point, it is probably in the repair depot and no longer at the store.

Just had this exact thing happen to me. I was calling for hours, being directed to different departments, trying to get the pictures. Next day they said I’d have to do a GDPR request (UK based). Went to executive support through t.cook@apple.com, who finally provided me with the images after 5 days. Not impressed, will never buy a MacBook again.

Just had the same thing happen.

Took my MacBook Pro in to get the keyboard fixed (which had been dead for about 12 months). Got told that fix would cost me $1000. But the woman at the Genius Bar said if I got the battery replaced (which was starting to go) it could fix the keyboard issue and only cost me $400. Amazing! Thank you. And it worked.

Well, it worked for two weeks until it completely blacked out! Dead! Nothing!

Took it back to the Genius Bar. Guy tells me it needs a repair that would cost a bit over $1000. But he understands my frustration and will talk to his manager. Came back and said they can send it off for repair and not charge me. He did say however that the repair team could renege on that if they decided.

They did decide! Same thing as you Emily. Claiming water damage and will either fix it for $1000+ or give it back to me unfixed. I have %100 not had any water on it, in it, near it. And nobody else has touched it.

I feel like this is how they cover up whatever they did wrong with the first repair. And get another grand out of me in the process.

We are not Apple. We cannot speak for Apple and cannot intervene with Apple on your behalf. We're just users too.

Your only recourse is to continues to talk to Apple, but if the excess moisture indicators are showing any kind of moisture incursion, which can be exposure to high ambient humidity, you're going to either pay the repair cost or get a new computer.

Search this forum and you'll find other instances similar to yours.

Yes, happened to me too at the Apple Store in Hornsby NSW (Sydney). I had the battery replaced in my 2018 MacBook Pro for $AUD409. It lasted about three weeks and then would not power on at all so took it back and they assured me that the new repair would be covered under the warranty of the first repair. Two weeks later they claim there was liquid damage, caused by me, and will not fix it unless I pay another $471. I told them no liquid got into the unit at all and they would not provide me evidence that it did. I escalated this with Apple Support again and NSW Fair Trading but to no avail.

My Macbook Pro died with three months of the Australian consumer warranty left. I sent it to Apple confident the repair would be free but a few days later was told there was water damage on the logic board and the repair would cost $2500. I've never spilled water on it and am very careful with it.

I needed my laptop back for work and so decided just to pay the bill so I could have my computer back ASAP. I suppose it's possible that the high humidity in Sydney recently caused water damage but it still seems really suss. If'd I'd known how sensitive the Macbook was and it would cost more than half the value of the computer to repair it within three years of purchase I definitely wouldn't have bought it!!

This is happening to me right now, my space key physically fell off, went to Apple Store Meadowhall (UK) and after a quick inspection and an attempted fix the Genius Bar employee informed me that I can send in my Macbook for a repair, completely free of charge as I am still covered by Apple Care+, I agreed and went on with my day.

Two days later I receive an email from Apple saying that a technician has "carefully inspected my product" and that they have found water damage within the keyboard and are now demanding £80 for the repair to proceed, or the other option is send the laptop back to me unrepaired. This laptop has never had anything spilled on it, never, nor do I keep it around any sort of liquid or in humid enviroments, my room is basically a desert too!

I was very confused so of course I got in contact with an advisor minutes later, who told me that there are even photos of this damage! I asked if there is anyway to view these photos and I was told that they couldn't help with this.

Still being left confused once again, I decided to call the Apple Store in which I left my computer in to see if they can clarify this further, they were basically as useless telling me that they cannot help with sharing these photos with me as well as they "don't know much", great, however I did ask if I can escalate this any further and was told that I could ask for a requote (which I am still awaiting an answer to) and that I could be put in contact with someone from the Senior Management team which I agreed to.

I've been booked on for a call back from this SM and after they got my number wrong the first time, I finally actually get to speak to this "SM" who it turns out was nothing but a regular, plain and simple apple advisor, no different from the past 2 people I've spoken with, who basically told me the same thing as the last 2 people and that he cannot help any further and funnily enough has told me to get in contact with Apple Store Meadowhall (who directed me to this guy in the first place) AGAIN, i'm just being thrown around from person to person in a circle for the past 7 hours and I've not gotten a single new response or update, nor was it clarified to me what this £80 I'm supposed to pay would result in, would it be a keyboard replacement? Top cover replacement? Who knows no one is telling me anything.

It's quite annoying how I paid £200 for warranty just to find out it's not even gonna cover a simple repair.

I'm still awaiting an actual answer which unlike the demand for payment, is very slow so far. I'm not sure who I can complain to, or what sort of superior I can get in contact with for a proper explanation, so if anyone has any idea I'd be grateful.

Yes the same thing happened to me. The space bar was acting up and only worked intermittently. I took it to the Apple Store. After running a light diagnostics at the store they said that they don't see anything else wrong with the laptop and then proceeded to send it for repairs. A few days later I received a notification saying it will cost an extra $300 to fix as there is liquid damage and neither the warranty nor Apple Care covers it. I was shocked and called Apple Support to ask them to rerun the diagnostics as I am 100% sure liquid has never gotten anywhere near my laptop and no one else has even used my laptop for a second. It has never been left unattended as I can count with my fingers how many times I took it outside my apartment. I was told that they trust the liquid sensors and will not run it again. I have never lied to get free service in my life. Unfortunately I am between jobs and truly cannot afford to pay this amount. My disappointment is proportionate to my love for the Apple brand and this was heartbreaking. They did not even run the diagnostics again. They may as well have called me a liar!

Had this exact situation happen to me but with an iPhone.

iPhone had a defect covered under warranty.

Got the screen repaired and which I believe compromised the water resistance property of the phone or was done badly or both.

Few days later noticed moisture build up in the lenses. Took it in and Apple said it was water damaged - bear in mind the phone was still working. They took photo of the internals and showed me some water near the sim tray - the amount looked like someone put it there afterwards because if that amount was trapped in the phone it would definitely not still be working.

Eventually the phone completely died the next day after they put the screen back on two times - first time they left some dust on the lens.

Had to buy a new phone.

Seems like very questionable business practice if I’m honest voiding the warranty like this.

 I recently had an issue with my 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro not charging properly, so I took it to an Apple store for assistance. They informed me that my device had an extended warranty period, so it was most likely that they would fix it for free. However, a few days later, I received an email from them stating that my device had liquid damage, despite the fact that it had never come in contact with any liquids. They quoted me a repair cost of around $900. I genuinely feel that this is a money-making scam.

I’m getting hit with this issue right now my laptop has never came near water. Then when I need to get it fixed because my cat walked OVER MY keyboard it turns off. I still hear a boot up sound but no display. Took it to Genius Bar but their reset Mac thing didn’t work because my laptop with a disconnected display got into safe mode while me trying to reverse the keys my cat pressed. When trying to book on the phone even the customer representative to just make a order to send OUT MY MacBook tried to state that I will automatically be billed $99 $199 without my warranty then I told her did you see any damage on my computer when I showed you on camera then says no. Then proceeds to tell my that my MacBook will go under coverage. I mailed in my computer it got delivered at around 6 am then right at 8 am they put my repair on hold saying “will need more information” doesn’t ask for more information then today asks for more information but then the information they need is “There is damage resulting from liquid contact in the main logic board that is not covered by Apple's Limited Warranty, an AppleCare plan, consumer law, or the original quoted cost of the repair.

There is damage resulting from liquid contact in the main logic board that is not covered by Apple's Limited Warranty, an AppleCare plan, consumer law, or the original quoted cost of the repair.

There is damage resulting from liquid contact in the main logic board that is not covered by Apple's Limited Warranty, an AppleCare plan, consumer law, or the original quoted cost of the repair.

There is damage resulting from liquid contact in the main logic board that is not covered by Apple's Limited Warranty, an AppleCare plan, consumer law, or the original quoted cost of the repair.” That’s within my “description for my repairs” what kind on scheming scam is this their details about my broken laptop is that it’s not covered by my warranty so we will require an additional $299 so you wasted your money thinking you invested the security of your product when buying a warranty that they make up to be voided. This is horrible and will be my last last ever Apple product I will make sure my future kids won’t touch a finger on Apple. So ofc I’ll be returning my laptop in hopes that they don’t decide to damage it even further so that my computer definitely work. So I’ll give an update if I hear my boot up sound anymore. If I don’t hear it then I know for sure that they have damaged my computer.