Database Info

Anyone return their phone for warranty?

(service is AT&T)
When I bought my phone, I got full warranty on it (been paying $5 for it monthly)
Its all scratched up and now I want to return it for a new phone or a refurbished one. My current phone has been flashed with a new ROM, which was against the warranty policy.
Has anyone returned a phone like this for warranty after flashing back the original software/ROM? Were they able to find out?
Also, would it be easier if I just threw my phone into the lake and just asked them for a replacement? (I'm fully insured)

flash it back to the original rom.
and restore the SPL
and.. you should be all set.. you do need a good reason to have it fixed...

I can't just say that it's been banged up and has scratches? And that I've been paying $5/monthly for this?
Also, what would happen if I said I lost it,and they send me a replacement raphael, and ended up finding my orginal one under my bed. would they be able to find out that I still have my old one?

banged up and scratched is a normal thing. unless there is something broken in some way shape and form, then you can use that warranty. that's like saying the manufacturer have to give you a new car if your car has a scratch from daily use.
dunno what you can do if you say it's lost, but your phone does has an IMEI which is a very unique and if it ever connects, they can technically make an inquiry...and you might get charged for the price of the full phone. (only a possibility, but don't leave it to chance) Live with the scratches and next time, get yourself something like Bodyguardz or invisible armor...

theomni said:
I can't just say that it's been banged up and has scratches? And that I've been paying $5/monthly for this?
Also, what would happen if I said I lost it,and they send me a replacement raphael, and ended up finding my orginal one under my bed. would they be able to find out that I still have my old one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wear and tear is not something that's covered under the $5 a month insurance plan.
If you tell them you lost it (and that acutally DID happen to me) they'll bill you the $125 dedcutable on your next bill - and they didn't replace the SD card mine came with either (they did send me a SIM card and another wall charger though).
Once you've lost the phone, that flag the unit so it won't work anymore and yes they will find out you still have it if you try to use it by putting yer new SIM chip in it. Plus techically this is considered 'insurance fraud' which is a crime you can get in a LOT of trouble for. There was an article I read about 2 weeks ago that said these companies are now keeping an eye on forums like this one trying to catch people doing such things. I suspect if everyone was honest we'd be paying $1 a month instead of $5...
Anyway - I know you can buy replacement screens pretty cheap - heck of a lot cheaper than the $125 deductable as matter of fact.

I really want to get this thing replaced. What if I accidentally drop this on my driveway and run it over with my car. WIll they still charge me anything extra? This phone has plently scratches on the screen that it becomes annoying to use the touch screen. Also, the face plate over the home, back, call send and end buttons is coming off, and the sliding mechanism has become a bit herky jerky.
So I guess whatever happens, I will have to pay up to get it replaced or fixed, despite their "fully insured" that I'm paying?

you need a probably cause to have it replaced... not just suddenly a car ran over it. trust me.

theomni said:
I really want to get this thing replaced. What if I accidentally drop this on my driveway and run it over with my car. WIll they still charge me anything extra? This phone has plently scratches on the screen that it becomes annoying to use the touch screen. Also, the face plate over the home, back, call send and end buttons is coming off, and the sliding mechanism has become a bit herky jerky.
So I guess whatever happens, I will have to pay up to get it replaced or fixed, despite their "fully insured" that I'm paying?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said - even if they replace the phone it's still going to cost you $125 for the deductable. Just spend 30 bucks and order a new screen and face plate.

Dropped TP2! Verizon Options?

Hey everyone,
I need some help determining my options for getting a replacement Touch Pro 2. Last Saturday night I dropped the TP2 and it now has a large scrap on the bottom corner. Obviously this is frustrating since it’s only two weeks old! What are my options to receive a new one? I have paid for insurance over the last few years and have never lost or damaged a phone? Can I get a new one this way? What about swapping the phone within the 30day window? Would that work or will Verizon say I damaged the phone and they can’t swap it out? Is there anything I can do?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!

just exchange it

Is it really that easy? What will they say if the notice the scratched portion?

If you pay for TEP/insurance, user caused damage and loss is usually covered with a $85 deductable (for Verizon anyway, might be higher/lower for you).

$85 on top of the $489 I have already paid? I think I'm going to call and say the phone was scratched since day one and it really has been bothering me lately. Think that will work? They really won't know.
Now what would happen if they get the phone and notice not a small scratch but more of a scrap on the phone and think it's the user's fault? Would I be in trouble or will the phone just go right back to HTC to be refurbished?
Anyone else have any experience with something like this?

A scratch isn't really damage, do you expect the phone to be in pristine condition forever? It's wear and tear, I'd ignore it and not abuse the insurance system. What if you drop it and break it a month from now and want to exchange again? And then 8 months later? The insurance program has a limit, I'd not waste it on a scratch. Remember, how awesome your phone looks doesn't reflect on you as a person.

Sorry to hear about that but an option is to wait and see if you can get some sort of hardcase or silicone cover to hide the scrape/scratch
I haven't even activated mine yet until I can get at least some sort of protection on it.

Ok, here's an update. I just realized since i havent texted too much since the drop, the phone actually shuts off when I slide it open. Something happened. Now the mark isn't too bad, but if I send it back to Verizon saying it's a defect and they investigate the phone, will I be charged for two if they feel it was my fault?

These guys are smart enough to know a defect from a mishandling.

well, i am swapping mine out on Friday. I simply popped out the backlight button and said that it popped out when I was closing the keyboard. The only issue they had was getting the replacement into the store, since the stores dont have them yet. I got the phone about 2 weeks ago.
Why in the world would you have paid 489 for the phone? thats crazy. I would just do the exchange in store instead. Just go in and dont say anything about the blemish, just show them it shutting off. surely they will swap it out after ordering a replacement.

Two things. First I sold my Storm on Ebay for $250. So I actually only paid $239 without renewing a contract or anything.
I went to the store last night and had them take a look at it. They saw no evidence of damage (the mark is really minor, just frustrates me that it happened two weeks in!). They agreed and marked the account saying that the phone was defective. The manager actually searched online and said this is a known issue with both the Sprint and Verizon versions that there's something wrong with the ribbon connecting the two sliding pieces.
Anyway they have shipped me a replacement phone which should be here on Thursday. I'm not 100% convinced I actually damanged the phone. This issue was happening on Saturday night before the drop, I think.
I think I should be ok. Just frustrated I now need to reapply the Ghost Armor on a second phone!

[Q] Has anyone received a refurbished inspire from att yet?

After returning my captivate for various issues 4 times, att offered me a different model refurb phone, but all of the options they offered me were very unimpressive. The CSR said they would be able to switch me out for an inspire as soon as they got refurbs in their warehouse. This was about a month and a half ago and every time I call them back it takes at least a half hour for someone to finally tell me they dont have any inspires yet. Anyone know how long it takes for them to get refurbs in stock and when I can switch for an inspire?

i'm not sure if i am getting refurbs or not through the ATT insurance, but they allowed me to switch my shattered captivate out for an inspire. Do all refurbs come in a dedicated ATT refurb general box?
The 2 Inspire's i have received from them have both been in the original packaging with everything wrapped in original packaging, all manuals, original plastic cover on the phone, etc. But, the both boxes had been opened, the sticker was torn. The refurb captivate i got from them was in a box that said "refurb" on it and didn't have original packaging and such. 90 day warranty on the captivate, 1 year warranty on the HTC from what they have told me.
So to answer you, yes, i believe there are refurb Inspires out there. Imagine how many people have switched between all the new android phones trying them all out. Those get used as refurbs too.

When did they send you the inspire for the captivate? I have not tried calling them in about a week or two. Also do you have the insurance that you pay for or was that exchange just through warranty?

i received my first inspire about a week and a half ago....second one was this past monday.
and yes, this is through the $5 insurance offered by ATT through a company called Asurion or something. Great company to deal with actually. a shattered captivate + 125 bucks is much better than paying for an early upgrade/using an upgrade/buying used

Well, as I see it, this is indicative of a good quality phone that people are happy with and keeping, for the most part.
I'm on my second inspire, but the first one went back for something rather minor, yet not proper... loose camera lens cover.
Having had a Captivate, it was a different situation altogether. There were obviously fundamental hardware defects that affected a large number of units. Random shutdowns and nearly non-functional gps, along with other inconsistencies from batch to batch.
Sent from my Inspire using XDA Premium

secretsquirrell said:
After returning my captivate for various issues 4 times, att offered me a different model refurb phone, but all of the options they offered me were very unimpressive. The CSR said they would be able to switch me out for an inspire as soon as they got refurbs in their warehouse. This was about a month and a half ago and every time I call them back it takes at least a half hour for someone to finally tell me they dont have any inspires yet. Anyone know how long it takes for them to get refurbs in stock and when I can switch for an inspire?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YAY!! It's not just me! LOL!! Sorry - I've been dealing with this same problem for YEARS with AT&T's refurbished Pieces of crap!! SO, I Feel your pain!
I just ditched my X10 for the Inspire...And had to go all the way through Retention to get it. Ended up upgrading my line and my wife's line to new phones, and only ended up paying $79 bucks for each phone (She got the Torch, since she doesn't like NOT having a keyboard) then they paid for overnight shipping and we called it good.
I've found (through dealings with them A LOT) that the easiest way to get problems handled is through their retention people...while most of them will be MORE than willing to help you, After your 4th Device exchange, you SHOULD have been eligable to get a new phone PERIOD...or at least, that's what I've gone through with them.
Good Luck though - Maybe try their retention people and see what they can do for you...Just go through all the trouble shooting BS with them, and get to a point where you tell them that you want to Cancel...They are required (by some policy) to send you to that department...THERE is where good things happen

secretsquirrell said:
After returning my captivate for various issues 4 times, att offered me a different model refurb phone, but all of the options they offered me were very unimpressive. The CSR said they would be able to switch me out for an inspire as soon as they got refurbs in their warehouse. This was about a month and a half ago and every time I call them back it takes at least a half hour for someone to finally tell me they dont have any inspires yet. Anyone know how long it takes for them to get refurbs in stock and when I can switch for an inspire?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^I don't want to burst your bubble here, but most likely a refurbished unit is going to have *something* wrong with it. Every single Inspire I've played with at AT&T stores has had something wrong with it that has annoyed me, from slightly mis-aligned screens, to the volume/rocker buttons that are too recessed, to loose/creaky sim/sd covers, so the loose/wobbly cameras. Same for the captivate - the screen will be too blue, the side rails of the phone will bow out at weird places and then there's the obvious Achilles heel with the GPS. Even the 'magical' IP4 has certain problem areas like creaky home buttons and overly sensitive volume rockers.
I think your best bet, if you want the Inspire, is to press ATT for a new one, and pick it up at the store and inspect it before you take it home. That's probably the only way you'll get out of the seemingly endless return/exchange loop you've fallen into. And make no mistake, ATT keeps track of every phone you have swapped, regardless of whether it was their fault or yours and all of that is stored in a customer index score which may or may not prevent you from receiving 'consideration' in the future as you're definitely costing them more than the average customer due to these equipment exchanges.
I am in a similar boat, having swapped the Captivate now three times. I finally have a 'decent' one, as in the three-button combo works; the screen produces natural whites, and the GPS almost works. I'll take my chances with this as ATT will not swap for an Atrix (and judging from those forums, the build quality of that device is also questionable) and it seems the Inspire has similar teething issues. Not to mention the battery life/battery door/other annoyances that would just supplant the current ones with the Captivate.

(btw, see this post for an issue I'm sure neither of us would be too happy to encounter on our nice "new" refurb'd Inspires...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032783 )

Replacement phone question.

I've had my shift since feb. Rooted since day one.
Phone works, keyboard works, speakers work, everything works. Battery seems to drain faster, but hell, its a year old and gets used extensively.
I have the $8 insurance thing through them since day one. Never once used it.
My phone has been dropped more times than a $10 crack whore. Dented, scratched, chipped, etc. But as I said, all works.
Do you guys think sprint would replace it with a new phone under the insurance plan? Has anyone done this? Does it have to be broken to be replaced? Does the deductable apply? Should I try to replace it in a sprint store, radio shack, or does it have to be done via phone/snailmail?
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium

If the phone is still in good working order, cosmetic damage will not get you a replacement. Unless that damage is to the screen ( cracked screen ) . If your screen is just scratched they will not do it. As for a good place to try and possibly get a replacement. I would try the Sprint Authorized Repair CenterIt's where when I've had an issue with my phone It's been resolved every time. But experiences vary a lot from what I've heard.

Or if you really want a new phone just throw it on the floor till it does break and say someone tried stealing it and it fell in the middle of the street while a car ran over it

Find a friend at a sprint store and have them send you a REPLACEMENT. ASURION IS A LAST RESORT.

Thanks guys. I don't know if there's a repair center around here, but I'll check.
As far as the "accident", I've considered many options. Such as a drop in the potty during #2... and bringing it to the store in a bag with poo attached. Bet I wouldn't even have to unroot!!!
I will probably try the replacement path first. The salesman I used was a straight up guy, or seemed to be. I may take a ride up to huntsville this weekend and see if he still works there. Hopefully.
I guess I'm foolish for not knowing, but the insurance that comes from a true sprint store, is that assurion? I thought it was something they handled directly. I guess the confusion comes from different posts I've seen here. Didn't one of you guys break hinges a while back and get a new phone? What was your situation as far as sprint, insurance, etc.?
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium

Well the cofusion usually comes from Sprint spliting up what they do " in house " , vs what they call an " insurance claim ". Although from my understanding if you do not have T.E.P. , then you cannot make an insurance claim. They do have guide lines, but I've seen different stores interperate them differently. The biggest thing IMO is that if they do not resolve the problem in house ( at the repair center / store ) then they try and make it an insurance claim. You then have to contact Insurian, that realy sucks. Because then you most times end up paying the deductable, which is now $100 .

my earpiece went out last saturday. i brought it to a repair center and they kept it for a few hours. They told me they couldn't fix it, so they ordered me a new one, but it was on backorder and didn't know when it will be in. Been calling everday and a no go.

jsp254 said:
I've had my shift since feb. Rooted since day one.
Phone works, keyboard works, speakers work, everything works. Battery seems to drain faster, but hell, its a year old and gets used extensively.
I have the $8 insurance thing through them since day one. Never once used it.
My phone has been dropped more times than a $10 crack whore. Dented, scratched, chipped, etc. But as I said, all works.
Do you guys think sprint would replace it with a new phone under the insurance plan? Has anyone done this? Does it have to be broken to be replaced? Does the deductable apply? Should I try to replace it in a sprint store, radio shack, or does it have to be done via phone/snailmail?
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
updated reply from me: DO NOT REPLACE YOUR ORIGINAL PHONE IF THE ONLY PROBLEM IS COSMETIC DAMAGE.
I have swapped 3 Evo Shifts already. I speak from experience. I actually sent the last replacement back because the microphone did not work properly.

[Q] How do I go about getting a WORKING phone from t-mo?

I purchased the G2X about 4 months ago and it's been nothing but a nightmare. I've been with t-mobile for 5 + years now and I've never had a bad experience up until now.
The initial handset worked fine but then the wi-fi stopped working. I tried EVERYTHING. I sent it back, paid the $20 fee and got a new one a week later. That phone started messing up as well. It started with random reboots (even after factory resets to stock) along with it freezing overnight (on stock rom as well). Now, the funny thing is right before I go to send it back I spill a TINY amount of water on the back of the phone. Out of habit I immediately pull the battery out... What happens next? The small droplets of water on the battery slide down RIGHT ON TOP OF THE WATER SICKER! /facepalm. I got to eat a hefty fee for that.
ANYWAYS, back on track, I get a new one (my third and current phone) and it does the SAME thing again. Freezing overnight, overheating, wifi is sketchy. I OC'd it to 1.2 GHZ and it runs fine and then stops working. Regardless if I fried it the damn thing wasn't working to begin with.
T-mo is offering to send me yet another handset (and another $20 warranty fee im assuming) but I don't want another one of these ****ty phones from them! Not if they keep failing on me. I've expressed this each time and each rep won't listen to me (or maybe they can't understand my English since they're all from India). Is there anything I can do? Or do I just keep going through this process. I hate this phone. Hate.
Has anyone else been having problems with tmobile? I remember loving their service back in the day... Sigh.

So you've obviously had/have root are using custom roms/kernels mixing and matching things around? Some of these are lemons that's without a doubt. I have no issues but you might just want to ask to be transferred to a manager or supervisor, get the fee waived or try and get a different phone replaced.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

Keep pressing them. I raised holy hell with them and they replaced mine several times. I literally went through about eight or nine. (But I never waited longer than two weeks though.) I lost count. Out of those, I got two good ones. Problem free they were. Both of which I dropped.....now I have another crappy one. sigh.
But there really are good ones. People here are more than happy to tell you all about theirs LOL. Maybe you'll get lucky.
If you don't want another, maybe you can try for a replacement and you'll luck out with a NEW unopened one. This could be sold unopened and the proceeds used to get a Sensation or Galaxy Nexus.
But there really are some good ones out there. My estimate is 25% are good. Maybe a higher percentage of the newer ones? But the problems you describe are classic.....been there done that.
consumerist.com is a good source for executive email addresses............the squeeky wheel gets greased.

Thank you so much for that link. I'll go ahead and start e-mailing trying to get this resolved. I'm so sick and tired of sending phones back.

When the water got on the Water Sticker and you had to eat it and buy a phone, why did you by a G2x instead of something else at that time?

GTWalling said:
When the water got on the Water Sticker and you had to eat it and buy a phone, why did you by a G2x instead of something else at that time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it was still under warranty and -ANY- damage that voids that will only cause them to charge you the $75 fee (+ tax). That was cheaper than buying my own parts to fix the screen or purchasing a new phone. They sent me a refurb one that is currently stuck in a bootloop =/

I have been through this before if you don't want the phone tell them to switch you into something that is the same in performance. They have to do it. After you have returned a phone more then 2times and don't let them tell you that you can't because its all bull go up the food chain if you have to
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

You can also threaten to cancel your service and they will transfer you to customer retention department and they can do alot more than the ordinary cs rep with customer retention you should get some results