Apple Care won't fix deep scratch, should I crack my own screen?

[Annonymouse]

I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max and somehow managed to get a deep scratch bear the bottom of the front glass.
I purchased Apple Care and took the phone in but they said it doesn't affect functionality so they won't fix it.
While I understand why they can't fix every little scratch, this one is deep and is very noticeable and uncomfortable to run my finger across, and I expect to keep this phone for 3-4 years.

So, the strange predicament that they put me in is this; if I "accidentally" crack my own screen (in the safest way possible, in order to avoid breaking any other element of the phone) then in theory they will agree to replace the front glass/screen and I'll have the outcome I wanted.
I really don't like the idea of this but I'm not seeing any better option.

Does anyone have any anecdotes, tips, or general help regarding this? Thanks in advance!

 

[chabig]

I really don't like the idea of this but I'm not seeing any better option.

Is paying for a screen replacement an option?

 

[Annonymouse]

Is paying for a screen replacement an option?

I don't see the option in the care app and the Store staff didn't mention it, a new screen without Apple Care is about £380 so I expect this would be the charge, given I pay for Apple Care and if I had accidentally cracked it, it would be included, this doesn't seem like a fair price. If it was around £100 with Apple Care then I'd pay it

 

[russell_314]

Just smash it with a hammer but make a video of it on YouTube. The views might pay for your new phone 🤷‍♂️🤣

 

[Splitrail]

A screen protector may have prevented the damage, and eliminated the whole problem, including this discussion of potential fraud.

 

[JPack]

I’d be more bugged by the permanent service history message in Settings after the display replacement, but that’s just me.

 

[Bigwaff]

this discussion of potential fraud.

ah.. where's the fraud? Screen cracked. Doesn't matter circumstances of cracked screen.

Does anyone have any anecdotes, tips, or general help regarding this? Thanks in advance!

Is it AppleCare or AppleCare+. I had a similar situation w/ iPhone Xr w/ AppleCare+, although, I waited until just before the 2-years ran out (on the off chance it was actually dropped and cracked horribly). I think it cost me $50 to get the screen replaced under AppleCare+.

 

[JPack]

ah.. where's the fraud? Screen cracked. Doesn't matter circumstances of cracked screen.

Of course that’s not the case. T&C indicates coverage from “unintentional and unexpected” external events, like just any other accidental warranty program in the world. Now whether or not they know is an entirely different matter.

 

[Splitrail]

Thanks that's super helpful advice, I'll do that then, that will sort it all out. Brilliant. Now, where did I put that time machine?
I've had iPhones since 2007 and never scratched another display in all that time, without a screen protector, this is an anomaly and your pointing out of obvious 20/20 hindsight is completely unhelpful. Your advice may as well be "you shouldn't have scratched it"

Good point!
Why DID you scratch it if it's so important to not have that scratch? 🤔
"anomaly" 🤣
More like carelessness.

 

[NoBoMac]

Moderator note

We have closed this thread since it would be against forum rules to provide instructions for warranty fraud.