Will I miss my iphone? - Rant warning

yoby

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,254
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
Arrrggghh..
Until today I was a jesus Phone owner. Sadly, my original iPhone - Purchased 22nd April 2008 expired on Friday and I've been given the runaround since yesterday to try and get it fixed ! Took it back to the 02 shop where I bought it who decided that my problem was a common one and Apple would happily repair or replace on the spot as it's only 3 weeks outside the 12 month warranty. Made an appointment at the nearest Apple store to the office (Regent Street) and trekked over there this lunchtime.
The guy's there are great, can't fault their service at all, the guy there confirmed it was dead, and seemed genuinely sorry that I'd have to cough up £130 for the repair as the warranty expired in December.

"Hang on a minute I said - I didn't buy it till April?"

"Sorry" replied Craig or Chris or Bob (I missed his name tag) "O2 must have purchased it in advance, there's nothing I can do unless you've got the original receipt, then I can perhaps get the manager to slip it through... "

Had I had the receipt, my tale would be a happy one and I'd be typing this on my newly repaired phone, but that would have been too easy. Given the discrepancy in the warranty expiry, we decided that my best bet would probably be to return to the O2 shop and get them to send it off for repair.

Simple - Perhaps it might have been but the particular shop from which I purchased the phone seems to be staffed mostly by people that spend most of there life either asleep, or deliberately avoiding contact with humans. Unfortunately, my contact there also happened to be the most ignorant, condescending individual I've ever had the misfortune to come across. In a protracted conversation (and I use that word loosely) reminiscent of a scene from Little Britain (**cough** computer said no) because their records show that I purchaded the phone online, there was essentially nothing they were prepared to do in-store, except send it off for repair at my cost.

Exasperated, but not yet daunted, I explained calmly and logically, that I most certainly had purchased the phone in that very shop, not thirteen months previously despite what the computer said. I also reasoned that as they had little or no stock, I missed out on the free upgrade to the 3g phone less than 2 months after I got the original one. Following several circular *cough computer says.....* logic loops, and deadlocked at the "you have to pay for the repair" statement I rather foolishly questioned why, having spent £169 on a phone and £35 per month for the last 12 months I had to then pay another £35 per month to see out my contract on an iPhone tarrif, without a phone that works unless I fork out another £130 to get it fixed (unless my maths is flawed, that's a hefty £929 or thereabouts). the answer was an adamant we're not saying we won't get it fixed, you just have to pay for the repair"

As much as I love the phone, I wasn't remotely happy to be treated like some kind of idiot. Having lost all patience, gathered a small audience and not sworn once I decided that enough was enough and asked nicely for her to cancel my contract immediately. No drama, just cancel the contract. Simple - NOT - Apparently, because I bought the phone online, I couldn't cancel it in-store Arrrrggggggggggghhhh.

On my return to the office, much to the amusements of my colleagues who've spent a fun couple of days watching me go through iPhone withrdrawal I tried calling customer services, only yo get a recorded message telling me that their office had been evacuated due to an emergency - How's that for luck.......

If you've just joined this and couldn't be bothered to read the above, I've still got a dead iPhone which won't charge, or connect to PC or MAC) and 6 month remaining on a pointless contract that was proving to be rather difficult to cancel. And there was me trying to keep this rant fairly short.
 
telephone customer services. never go in store. 2 simple rules. never forget
 
telephone customer services. never go in store. 2 simple rules. never forget

:agree:
I had a similar story with a nokia n95 regarding a firmware update that was available, but not to me as a vodafone contract customer that meant my bluetooth GPS wouldnt work so visited the approved agent and ended up just banging my head on the wall talking to people who had no power to make decisions...so I got onto vodafone via thier helpline and got the update within a fortnight...............having said that I now couldnt live without my new iphone, I would just die without it.....hope you get sorted and take mattys advice go direct.
 
I have to just thank you for the entertainment value. Wonderfully written and I'm looking forward to the next installment...:)

I'm sure you've thought of this but bank statement if you didn't use cash? Best of luck!
 
you give up far too easily. Forget the brain dead in the store and go straight to O2.
 
I did try customer service, but the office was evacuated !
Feel better for having ranted it all out here, but no doubt the blood pressure will be off the scale tomorrow morning when I get on the phone........

Sure the receipts in my desk at work somewhere but not convinced the alien in the store will take much notice as the computer still says I bought it online. Still can't believe how positively anal some of these people can be - I'm not after an upgrade, I just want it fixed. Not too sure I can use a "normal" phone anymore after having spent the parts of my day not on the tube or in a shop trying to send simple one line text messages on an old Blackberry I had indoors. It was that bad I gave up and rang people instead.

I'll post an update tomorrow if I get to speak to anyone on the phone....
 
Even if you have the receipt it will prove you're about 3 weeks outside of warranty so they can still turn round and tell you to pay for the repair yourself
 
My mobile phone has just gone belly up!

I'd love iPhone bu don't fancy paying the monthly fee or paying over £400 for one.
 
I feel for ya... O2? Won't touch them with a barge pole personally...
 
you should have some comeback under the retail laws, ie not fit for purpose.
Ie electrical items have an aggregated life,so if a tv has a life of say 6 years, and goes pop in 3, the 'retailer is responsible for all/or part of the repair replacement, if your phone is in good condition and has died after a year, 'O2' should foot the bill, hth
sorry I cant remember the name of the law, google retail law
 
Fit for purpose is only for the first 6 months, beyond that it is up to you to prove that the item is faulty rather than it is anything you did to it.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple have a clause about any application that they do not manufacture themselves invalidates warranty
 
all together now...1...2...3..ombudsman

I would write a letter, including a copy of your receipt..
with sale of goods act, if the fault occurs in the first 6 months. it's up to them to prove that it wasn't faulty at purchase. however, in the latter 6 months it's up to you.

however, there might be some leeway if 1) apple awknowledge there is a manufacturing problem. therefore the fault was present within the warranty, 2) they are messing you around and decided not state the warranty was starting from their purchase date instead fo yours...which is well out of order 3) you were promised a repair under the warranty as the fault is certainly to do with the original manufacturing state.

Draft a letter, take it to the manager of the store or send it to customer services by 'signed for' post. Tell them you expect a written reponse in 14 days or you'll be contacting the ombudsman with that letter. Perhaps you can just ask for the upgrade you were denied at the time of their stock shortage.


actually how long is your contract? you've had the phone 12 months, 3 weeks....if your mimimum contract is 18 months I'm not sure about this. can you cancel it?? or can they not repair it with a known fault as due to their product you will be stuck in a contract without the service...that's an odd area to be in
if you have a 12 months contract, then surely just cancel and renew, or go for an upgrade. I've seen iphone contracts for 24 months though...what's yours?
 
Last edited:
Write to the boss!

I had problems with TalkTalk re my broadband and Tech Help / customer services were useless. They are so used to dealing with complaints they don't care and can't be bothered - mostly they're reading a script.

After about a week of calling I was nowhere.

I googled to find the email of the CEO and sent him a message at 10:30pm. By 7:30am the following day I had a message from a PA. A phone call followed a few hours later and the issue was resolved that afternoon.

Go to the top. The chief will be more concerned about the company reputation than his minions.
 
Back
Top