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Level 1

17 points

Am I due compensation? Apple Watch Skin Burn.

I bought an Apple Watch on the 1st Jan. After charging the watch, I wore it for around 24h. When I took it off I noticed that my skin was burnt (1st Degree Burn) a minor burn under watch sensors. Since contacting Apple, the case was escalated to a Senior IOS person and Apple Engineers whom asked for pictures 3 days later from original contact made on the 2nd of Jan. 8 Days later they asked for more images of me wearing the watch and not. It then took 8 days for a response from the Senior IOS person who was waiting for the Apple Engineers to respond. The result from the Senior IOS person was to read a web link on Apple on how to own an Apple Watch. Throughout all contact with Apple, they suggested I get my money back before the cut-off point.

Fast Forward to Today 19/01/16 I took the Apple Watch back to the Curry's Store I bought it from to get my cash back. Spoke to the returns desk manager and he asked why and what reason I wanted to return the Apple Watch, I told him my life story with the Apple Watch and he asked to see the burn mark that occurred between the 1st and 2nd of January and I complied, His response was, omg that's right under the Apple Watch Sensor, are you sure it's not a skin irritation. I then responded by showing him my other wrist that had also worn the Apple Watch that has no markings, skin irritations or burn marks, I also showed him how I wear the watch (correctly) and that I kept it clean. He then agreed that the Apple Watch would have caused the issue of burning my wrist and so Agreed to refund me my money. He was astonished as to what and how Apple customer service responded to my issue. I got my money back, cash. However the inconvenience of all this has cost me time, effort, cash, travel and I got a 1st degree burn and overall disappointment. Am I due compensation.

It is important to note that I have had no skin irritations from the watch other than the burn, I have held the watch with both hands, rubbed the watch on my arms, face and legs to see if a reaction occurs and worn it on both wrists with no further problems. Apple Watch Space Grey 42mm Sports Band.

Posted on Jan 19, 2016 2:47 PM

Best reply

ukjames Author

Level 1

17 points

Posted on Jan 27, 2016 1:38 PM

Located in the UK, no freckles on my skin anywhere on the body dark black hair and tan skin tone, made it to the age of 24 with no allergies, no hay fever or even the dreaded chicken pox. I am almost certain that I have no allergies to anything that everyone has come in to contact with, I own pretty much every apple device possible, mac pro retina, mac pro, iPhone 3, 4 ,5 5s and 6s and all the iPods and no real problems bar the Mac Pro Retina had a defect - Apple resolved that issue fast. Getting back to the watch, I wore it on both wrist as requested by Apple, no reactions, skin irritations bar further problems on the other wrist, they then understood that if I were to get a skin irritation it would appear on my skin elsewhere. It was a 1st degree burn, I have 1st Honours, but not in medicine and let alone you don't need one to identify a burn, even visited mother and her years of experience identified it as a burn, could be chemical or heat burn. Getting back to my problem, after charging it from out the box on the table, I wore it for around 24h's straight, even during sleep. If i had a burning sensation during sleep, I probably missed it. Google 1st Degree Burns and you'll learn that a min of 44' can burn skin in temperature and or chemicals can burn skin. The watch was hot after it's 1st charge but as the same as the iPhones and Mac's I guessed it would be fine one it cooled, to which point I wore it.

End - Got money back, the manager of Curry's is taking it further as I wasn't the 1st customer in that week to bring an Apple Watch back that was in the NYE sale. He recently got back to me via e-mail saying the returned watch's are being returned to Apple's specialist dept. to test and what not. Even today 27th Jan, 27 days later there is still a little scar from the burn mark. Skin irritations usually don't scar and disappear after a few days. I am disappointed about my experience from the Apple Watch, wouldn't really recommend it as there are many others on Social Networks, Social Websites that are reporting the same issue with visually similar pictures and burn marks in the same areas. Not the wrist strap but under the watch face. My case was elevated with Apple from first contact and they last told me they are reviewing the case and will confirm if any compensation is due from a defect in the watch. End of the day, in the UK if you buy an electrical product no matter what and there is a defect or problem with the product that causes any problems, you get your money back and compensation. Not sure on circumstances with the USA.

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43 replies

Feb 26, 2016 4:15 PM in response to wsennis

TThey have offered me a refund after I discovered it's actually a software issue and a design issue after long discussions with their engineering team they are in agreement with the proof I have provided and I have been offered a full refund upon of them receiving the return of my watch via courier but my burns are bad and not skin irratated related (no allergies) I also provided medical proof to back this up and they have been calling and emailing me to return the watch but telling me will take 15 days for a refund which I'm far from happy with, so at the moment seeking legal advice about the matter as they seemingly from what I'm gathering have no intention of rectifying the issue in this watch and the new upcoming watch2

deggie

Level 10

167,225 points

Feb 26, 2016 4:19 PM in response to Savvyxone

What software and design issue? How did you "discover" this?

What was the doctor's diagnosis?

Feb 26, 2016 4:27 PM in response to deggie

AS I mentioned in my previous posts I'm an engineer and sometimes when looking for the cause of a problem it's literally hitting you in the face, I can't discuss what exactly I have found due to the ongoing legality issue but what I can say is turn on the heart rate monitor and look under the watch while wearing and you will see where the lights come on and also the area that reflects off the skin...... Now imagine your in a sunbed lying down in an enclosed unit and compare the similarities.

sorry can't say anymore but if you do what I just said and think why how light reflects off of other nearby objects 😉 you may understand the design flaw.

BY the way have also got a Samsung gear fit and there's a reason as to why there is only 1 led on the back for the heart rate monitor on those units.

deggie

Level 10

167,225 points

Feb 26, 2016 4:46 PM in response to Savvyxone

No, I'm pleased to say I don't know what you are talking about as it makes no sense whatsoever. And no it is not just the same as an LED light.

You never said what your doctor said about the burn. Will it require surgery? Hospitalization?

Feb 26, 2016 4:51 PM in response to deggie

OK explain to me in detail why it is not the same as an LED light please in detail and I will tell you more if you can't prove me wrong on what I have said I won't be commenting on this post anymore as your replies are silly as you clearly have no engineering background if you don't know how a simple heart rate can be taken using an LED bulb and some simple coding

deggie

Level 10

167,225 points

Feb 26, 2016 4:53 PM in response to Savvyxone

You do know that LED's emit light in different spectrums and different temperatures, right?

So what is your engineering degree in and where are you working using this degree? And what was the doctors diagnosis?

KiltedTim

Level 10

196,786 points

Feb 27, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Savvyxone

Savvyxone wrote:

you have no clue as to what I am referring to.

Apparently, neither do you.

Suzie118

Level 1

7 points

Mar 19, 2016 8:43 AM in response to ukjames

I've come late to this forum, but just a few thoughts. Firstly, any electronic device can go wrong and overheat. iPhones often do. So I'm guessing that a VERY few Apple watches may develop a fault. Secondly, any time I've given myself a 1st degree burn, it has hurt, and I have felt the heat. That's what my nerve endings are for. Not just a bit red, but actually painful, both at the time and afterwards. So if it doesn't hurt at the time and it doesn't hurt afterwards, it's not a 1st degree burn. It may be an irritation, a reaction to something in the watch or strap material, and as someone's already pointed out, you'd have to have prolonged contact for this to show up. Last point - stuff happens, and some people will have a skin reaction to a variety of materials. That's the way it is, and you can't get compensation for it, although a nice company (Curry's seem to be nice) will take the product back if it doesn't suit you. Incidentally, to get compensation, you have to prove that you have sustained injury that is uncontestably due to the product in question (not just what you think, so you'll need medical reports), and that said injury has caused you quantifiable monetary/quality of life type loss, i.e. you lost income, had to pay medical fees, or you're permanently scarred. I think ukjames did well to have his money returned, but that's really the end of the story.

Dec 27, 2016 10:44 AM in response to ukjames

This happened to me too after wearing the watch outside in a hot climate. I had a burn that matched the sensors under the watch. It then proceeded to burn, blister, peel, and scar. Please be careful how you proceed. Senior management at Apple has been nothing but difficult to deal with. I sent in my watch so they could "investigate" what was happening, and when I asked for it back after sighting what has been happening with the Samsung Note 7 batteries overheating, they will not answer my emails or give me my watch back.

Dec 27, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Kendrickkoch

Kendrickkoch wrote:

This happened to me too after wearing the watch outside in a hot climate. I had a burn that matched the sensors under the watch.

What did your doctor say when you showed them your wrist?

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,799 points

Dec 27, 2016 11:06 AM in response to Kendrickkoch

Kendrickkoch wrote:

This happened to me too after wearing the watch outside in a hot climate. ..

Be sure to keep Apple Watch within the operating and storage temperature ranges advised by Apple:

Keep Apple Watch within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

And also to remove Apple Watch if it becomes uncomfortably warm, as advised in the Apple Watch User Guide (Important safety information > Prolonged heat exposure):

https://help.apple.com/watch/#/apdcf2ff54e9

Dec 27, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Never once has Apple support told me to reference this page, and the warning was posted after I had already bought the watch. All Apple has referenced me to look at is the allergens and not wearing it too tight, which It was not tight on my wrist at the time of the burn.

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,799 points

Dec 27, 2016 11:41 AM in response to Kendrickkoch

Kendrickkoch wrote:

Never once has Apple support told me to reference this page, and the warning was posted after I had already bought the watch. ...

The Apple Watch User Guide references the important safety information and handling guidance:

For example, under "Set up and pair with iPhone":

"WARNING: To avoid injury, read Important safety information before using Apple Watch."

The Safety & Handling chapter of the User Guide also references the support article that was linked in my previous reply:

Keep Apple Watch within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

Am I due compensation? Apple Watch Skin Burn.