HT204045: Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in Africa

Learn about Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in Africa
killerchris

Q: Sleep/Wake Button  Replacement by Vodacom??

I have a 16 Gb iPhone 5 obtained on contract with Vodacom in South Africa.  The phone started having problems with the wake button about 6 months ago.  I lived with the problem for a period of time and then stumbled across the "Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program" by Apple, a program that occurs on a global scale according to the Apple website. 

 

I entered my phone seriel number into the Apple website and confirmed that the phone is eligible for the free replacement as it is a factory defect.  Great ... so far ..... great ..... but ....

 

In South Africa the replacement programme is apparently supported by the service provider, in my case Vodacom.  I was instructed by the Apple store to return my phone to Vodacom and they would repair it as Vodacom has the service deal with Apple.

 

After taking my phone to Vodacom they sent it to their central repairs.  The phone has been gone for almost a month now.  Now I have received an SMS from Vodacom saying they will not repair my phone for free and it is not their job nor liability to do so.

 

So my question is simple: 

 

Q:  WHO IN SOUTH AFRICA IS RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SLEEP/WAKE BUTTON IN TERMS OF THE GLOBAL APPLE REPLACEMENT BUTTON REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME ???????

 

Apple tells me it is Vodacom.  Vodacom says they have nothing to do with it and it is my problem. 

 

At the end of the day I have no phone, no support from either Apple or Vodacom, and basically have no plan to get my phone (a factory defect) repaired !!!

 

What do I do??

 

Anybody???

iPhone 5, iOS 9.1

Posted on Nov 4, 2015 1:47 AM