Theoretical Situation…

AT18 wrote:

Hi, this already happened to me, but I wanted to see what could've been done.

So I dropped my iPhone 6 and it got water damage (fell out of pocket into toilet, it was stupid of me). My parents went to the Verizon Store in the area and they said that we had to get a new device. We had to pay off the rest of the iPhone in cash, over $500 was remaining, and I also had to get a new phone number. This was because they said that the old phone number would take up to two billing cycles to transfer over.

My friend cracked his screen and it had a bend so the whole thing had to be replaced. He went directly to Apple, who said he had to pay for a replacement iPhone, which was $299. He popped in his old sim card and the phone worked as it did before. He had an iPhone 6, too, and it was an out-of-warranty replacement cost.

Could I have also went to the Apple Store and receive a replacement like my friend for only $299, even if it was submersed in water? Also, could it have also went like my friend's case if my dead phone's sim card was still okay? If so, could paying for the original phone as I went (Verizon plan) not be affected, and I could I have kept my old phone number? If I put the old sim card into the new phone — given that the old sim card was fine — I wouldn't have to have needed a new number, right? So what did the sales rep mean by "it may take up to two billing cycles to get my old number" mean? Again, this is just one way it may have turned out differently. I just want to see if I had more and/or better options at the time.

Yes, you could have gone to Apple and gotten an out-of-warranty replacement and used your existing SIM.

The reason that Verizon had you get a new number was because it can take a while for the Device Payment plan you had on your old number to be removed and allow you to get a new phone. It shouldn't take two billing cycles but, in certain circumstances, it can take a day or two.

In addition to the excellent information that Meg has provided, remember this one thing. Verizon takes care of your service, Apple takes care of your devices. All warranty service is handled by Apple. They are the first place to visit when something goes wrong with your device. If the phone malfunctions, make a Genius Bar appointment with Apple. If you break something on the phone, make an appointment with Apple. If your cellular service suddenly stops, if you have accomplished the user troubleshooting tips, then visit your carrier to check, but if they cannot fix it, then see Apple. As you have found, even when you have done something that voids the warranty (user damage such as the water) you can be afforded an out of warranty replacement for a cost much lower than the purchase of a new device. Be careful and good luck with your phone. 🙂