Apple Will Soon Send Payments for $95 Million Refurbished Device Class Action Lawsuit

[MacRumors]

Apple last year agreed to pay $95 million to settle an AppleCare-related lawsuit that accused the company of violating U.S. laws and regulations by providing customers with refurbished replacement devices instead of new devices when AppleCare repairs were required.

Administrators for the case began collecting info from impacted customers back in January, and the settlement amount received final approval in April. With everything now set, Apple is ready to begin sending out payments, and customers who are expecting money are starting to receive emails. One of the emails was shared by MacRumors reader Nathan:

According to our records, you are eligible to receive a payment of $28.90 in the settlement for the matter entitled Maldonado, et al. v. Apple Inc., et al., Case No. 3:16-CV-04067-WHO.

As Settlement Administrator for the matter, we're sending you this courtesy email to inform you that by August 30, 2022, you will receive a payment notification email that contains a link to claim your payment electronically. Once you receive that email, you will have until November 28, 2022 to claim your payment.

Please monitor your email inbox carefully for our next email. Additional details about the matter are available at www.ReplacementDeviceLawsuit.com.

Customers who are eligible for a payment will get an email by August 30, and they must respond to the email by November 28, 2022 to receive their money. The lawsuit applied to customers who purchased an AppleCare Protection Plan or AppleCare+ for an iPhone or iPad between July 20, 2012 and September, 30, 2021 and who received a refurbished replacement device.

Apple's repair terms and conditions have always made it clear that the company may use "parts or products that are new or refurbished and equivalent to new in performance and reliability" when repairing or replacing a device, but the lawsuit claimed that refurbished devices are "not equivalent to new in performance and reliability." The lawsuit sought compensation for iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and iPod owners who purchased ‌AppleCare‌ or ‌AppleCare‌+ coverage and were unhappy with receiving an "inferior" refurbished device instead of a device that works "like new."

Though Apple paid $95 million to settle the lawsuit, it admitted no wrongdoing and denies that refurbished devices are inferior to new devices.

(Thanks, Nathan!)

Article Link: Apple Will Soon Send Payments for $95 Million Refurbished Device Class Action Lawsuit

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

As someone who has purchased refurbs on purpose, I'm ambivalent. What is clear, though, is that the lawyers, as always, are the winners here.

 

[icanhazmac]

Apple's repair terms and conditions have always made it clear that the company may use "parts or products that are new or refurbished and equivalent to new in performance and reliability"

Then this is crap, more lawyer BS.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

As someone who has purchased refurbs on purpose, I'm ambivalent. What is clear, though, is that the lawyers, as always, are the winners here.

as they should be
It’s not about money ,it’s about sending a message (sorry couldn’t help ) .
If they don’t get paid very well they may not be willing to go into it
It’s important that big companies like Apple feel threaten by big well paid lawyers and know they can’t f*** with the customers as they do

 

[antiprotest]

Where my $.93 at?

 

[sorgo †]

Almost $30?!?! 😍😍😍

 

[HMI]

Great! I’ll use my $28.90 as a down payment on my next AppleCare+ Plan.

The future has never been brighter!

 

[NMBob]

Well, at least it was more than $1.09.

 

[JPack]

Though Apple paid $95 million to settle the lawsuit, it admitted no wrongdoing and denies that refurbished devices are inferior to new devices.

Had to laugh at that statement. Why settle for $95M if it isn't true? 😄

Sorry, but any refurb that likely uses a salvaged logic board or other component won't be as reliable as a new one. This is true physically and electronically. Issues like the iPhone X green lines and iPhone 7 audio IC are related to drops. Someone in a refurbishment facility would need to examine it using a high powered microscope. That simply isn't possible due to economics.

 

[icerabbit]

When refurbished products come with a NEW battery and/or case - where applicable - how are they inferior?
And it has been my understanding this was always part of the care agreement.

How was this not thrown out?

 

[compwiz1202]

Where my $.93 at?

And it will be AppleID credit, not money

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

I've once had my iPhone 7 replaced 3 times under apple care and every time there was something with the phone. so no refurbeshed is not good as new.

 

[1557750]

I’ve only had a few devices repaired or replaced under AppleCare+. One was literally the day after I received it, on launch and it was the 11. So I knew I was getting a new device as replacement, because refurbishing hadn’t started yet.

But I was wondering if the replacements after a certain amount of time were new that they put aside for replacing, or refurbished.

 

[compwiz1202]

When refurbished products come with a NEW battery and/or case - where applicable - how are they inferior?
And it has been my understanding this was always part of the care agreement.

How was this not thrown out?

And the pic literally states LIKE new, not new, so what's the issue?

 

[compwiz1202]

I’ve only had a few devices repaired or replaced under AppleCare+. One was literally the day after I received it, on launch and it was the 11. So I knew I was getting a new device as replacement, because refurbishing hadn’t started yet.

But I was wondering if the replacements after a certain amount of time were new that they put aside for replacing, or refurbished.

That would be the one thing I would agree with. Regardless of when you got it, if you got a factory sealed device, there should be a time range where you get another factory sealed with an AC+ Claim. But if it's been months, then a refurb. Was there a rule like that, but they were giving refurb?

 

[JPack]

When refurbished products come with a NEW battery and/or case - where applicable - how are they inferior?
And it has been my understanding this was always part of the care agreement.

How was this not thrown out?

Logic board, display, and all other components are salvaged from other devices.

Board level component repairs for liquid damage is performed, but the board will never be as reliable as new. This is because materials like epoxy underfill, which help keep the chips in place, are never replaced.

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

Still curious to know how much you’ll get from that ,mind updating us ?

How much "I'll" get? I have no skin in the game here. But the class members, per the article, are getting $28.90. They may have some moral satisfaction, but they're not the ones getting the windfall.

 

[1557750]

That would be the one thing I would agree with. Regardless of when you got it, if you got a factory sealed device, there should be a time range where you get another factory sealed with an AC+ Claim. But if it's been months, then a refurb. Was there a rule like that, but they were giving refurb?

Not sure on a rule, but it makes sense. And I’ve never received anything but pristine replacements from them, so I never asked.

 

[vanylapep]

I personally hate it when companies send refurbs..

Western Digital send me refurb hard drives (and I had to pay shipping!) and these replacement drives do have other issues.. like vibration or clicking.

 

[fel10]

$28.90

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

How much "I'll" get? I have no skin in the game here. But the class members, per the article, are getting $28.90. They may have some moral satisfaction, but they're not the ones getting the windfall.

i edited my comment lol,hadn’t seen it was mentionned.30 bucks is ridiculous ,nowhere near the price difference between new and refurbished
still my point stands… I suppose

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Why settle for $95M if it isn't true?

Cause a jury could potentially award a lot more. You never know with juries even if you are in the right. Not saying Apple is or isn't, just pretty standard to see companies settle these and get them over with before risking a jury.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The settlement payment needs to be higher. Everything is double the cost right now. This is just profit money for Apple. Come on now!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Im still waiting for my $25 from the 6 series battery settlement. These people won't see that $29 for years

 

[MICHAELSD]

Does this mean that they’ll begin providing new devices for repairs?