Iphone 6. Apple say its been water damaged - it hasn't!

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Level 1

4 points

Iphone 6. Apple say its been water damaged - it hasn't!

Hi All,

Has anyone else had the same issue as me, being told something has been water damaged even though you know that it hasn't?

The lock button on the iphone 6 stopped working and then within 1 day we had lines from the top of the screen to the bottom and the phone would not work.

The phone was posted back to Apple as requested and then had an e-mail back saying that it had been water damaged.

I told him that the phone had been no where near water, liquid or anything other than it had been hot in the UK and it rained one day but the phone was in its case in a pocket. This guy from Apple told me that the water indicator inside the phone could be set off by HUMIDITY!! Seriously I've never heard anything so ridiculious in all of my life! What do Apple think that people do who live in, say Singapore / Caribbean etc.

I have both friends and family who live in humid places and their iphones work perfectly!
I'm really not happy as I know there is a fault with this phone. Firstly the lock button stopped working and then these lines appeared.
It's not a case of I got it wet or spilt liquid on it as I didn't.

If I did get it wet I'd be over the moon to only have to pay £55 for a replacement by using my applecare.

I'm very upset, disappointed and concerned at this fault. I have an apple ipod 5 which had exactly the same issue as this iPhone 6 and Apple replaced it as there was a fault with it, it was not water damaged either.
I would like this case to be looked into further and asked for it to be looked into further whilst I was on the phone only to be met by a brick wall so I have e-mailed Apple but so far no response.
Very disappointed with Apple.

Would love to hear anyone elses feedback - has anyone else had a similar problem / issue?

iPhone 6, iOS 8.4

Posted on Aug 4, 2015 12:08 PM

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Answer 1

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Aug 4, 2015 12:37 PM in response to k8frommars

Here in the UK you have a further option. Via your Citizens Advice Bureau you can make a complaint under the acts covered by Trading Standards. Here is a link. Be aware, it can be a lengthy process. As an alternative, do you have domestic or personal insurance that may cover the situation.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/ Sorry, forgot the link.

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Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,519 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:05 PM in response to k8frommars

And yes, humidity can get into the iPhone. Usually not from a humid environment as you describe but by being taken into a closed environment, such as a bathroom or steamboat, and moisture permeates the phone. And the results would be similar to what you are describing.

As another option you can contact Apple Customer Service and plead your case but if the internal moisture sensors were triggered it is going to be tough to sell your case.

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Answer 3

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,990 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:19 PM in response to k8frommars

There are Three (3) LCIs in an iPhone, one visible from the outside - and therefore possible to be set off by a a splash (or Humidity???)

" ... there is a LCI in the headphone connector, the dock connector, and near the SIM-card slot ... " - wikipedia

The only way you may have any luck with Apple is to put your eyes on the LCIs that you "cannot see" from the outside by "watching" an Apple tech or Apple Authorized Service Provider's tech "open the case in front of you" - good luck with all of that.

DO NOT Open the case yourself !! They can tell that too.

Humidity that set off the SIM-card slot (visible) may not be able to explain the extensive symptoms you describe, but submersion might and would surely have set off the internal LCIs.

If I had a spouse, child or friend that had "opportunity" to have handled my iPhone, I would keep that possibility in mind - no matter what they "say" did not happen (my Son lives by "DENY, Deny, deny" mantra, even if caught red-handed.

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Answer 4

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,990 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:21 PM in response to deggie

apologies... your post was a Phantom OR I visited seconds before you posted 😊

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,519 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:25 PM in response to ChitlinsCC

Yes, they our friendly phantoms are still with us. BTW, the iPhone 6 only has one external sensor: Liquid damage to iPhone or iPod isn't covered by warranty - Apple Support

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Answer 6

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:34 PM in response to k8frommars

Then in the UK the best solution would be to take it to an Apple Store genius bar .They will have a record of the rejection ,however you can at least discuss it face to face with their technicians and debate the issue and understand why ...............and you never know the outcome

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Answer 7

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,990 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:35 PM in response to deggie

deggie wrote:

Yes, they our friendly phantoms are still with us. BTW, the iPhone 6 only has one external sensor: Liquid damage to iPhone or iPod isn't covered by warranty - Apple Support

Yep. Got lucky this time with the PPs. Thank you for the clarification, but I am pretty sure that I got the same point across in the first sentence "There are Three (3) LCIs in an iPhone, one visible from the outside - and...."

I am endeavoring to make my writing more concise and curb my illustrative tendencies - I refrained from posting the link you gave and the image from it, although I had (and still have) them at the ready... then thought better - still a work in progress, I fear.

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