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Water damage & insurance

Tex-Twil

Tex-Twil

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 28, 2008
2,501
15
Berlin
Hi,
my iPhone 6 stopped suddenly working. The symptoms are that it started to overheat and then shut off. I was able to boot it once but I saw only a red/back screen (see photos) and then nothing .. a brick.

The iPhone is insured by a 3rd party insurance (not Apple Care) so I sent it there but they claim that it is because of a water damage. I know that Apple devices have some sensors to detect real water damages but I really take care of my hardware and this iPhone was never in contact with water.

Is there a way to know if those sensor reported a false positive water damage?

Thanks for your help

cheers,
Tex


IMG_8554.JPG
IMG_8555.JPG
 
You would have to physically look at the sensors to see if they changed color.

Likely does not matter as your 3rd party insurance company declined coverage.

Have you looked and is water damage not included in your insurance?
 
Tex-Twil said:
Hi,
my iPhone 6 stopped suddenly working. The symptoms are that it started to overheat and then shut off. I was able to boot it once but I saw only a red/back screen (see photos) and then nothing .. a brick.

The iPhone is insured by a 3rd party insurance (not Apple Care) so I sent it there but they claim that it is because of a water damage. I know that Apple devices have some sensors to detect real water damages but I really take care of my hardware and this iPhone was never in contact with water.

Is there a way to know if those sensor reported a false positive water damage?

Thanks for your help

cheers,
Tex
Click to expand...
Yes, water damage sensors have been known to show false positives for some time now.
http://iphone-tricks.com/tutorial/796-iphone-water-damage-how-to-spot
http://appleinsider.com/articles/10...e_of_moisture_indicators_to_deny_free_repairs
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/02/18/detecting-moisture-patent/
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2011/0...y-involving-iphones-liquid-contact-indicator/
http://gizmodo.com/5476147/winter-weather-may-trigger-your-iphones-moisture-indicator

However, it's more likely that your insurer simply doesn't want to pay the claim. Who is the insurer? What exactly does the policy cover/not cover?
 
Take the device to an Apple Store and see what they say...i.e. confirm if it has water damage.

As for whether the policy covers that, check the policy.
 
Interesting that an insurance policy doesn't cover water damage. Wonder what else it doesn't cover? Typically insurance policies cover all accidents....
 
bufffilm said:
Take the device to an Apple Store and see what they say...i.e. confirm if it has water damage.

As for whether the policy covers that, check the policy.
Click to expand...

Givmeabrek said:
Interesting that an insurance policy doesn't cover water damage. Wonder what else it doesn't cover? Typically insurance policies cover all accidents....
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that the user isn't based in the U.S., so Apple Stores and insurance policies will be different.
 
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willmtaylor said:
Keep in mind that the user isn't based in the U.S., so Apple Stores and insurance policies will be different.
Click to expand...

Where he lives is irrelevant - advice still applies.

First get second opinion on whether phone is water-damaged, and is water-damage covered by policy.

Once those two things are known...OP will know what to do.
 
bufffilm said:
Where he lives is irrelevant - advice still applies.

First get second opinion on whether phone is water-damaged, and is water-damage covered by policy.

Once those two things are known...OP will know what to do.
Click to expand...
It is, actually, as Apple Stores are far fewer outside the U.S., and their return/repair policies are different. This isn't even mentioning the assumption of water damage and other coverages of insurance where he/she resides.
 
willmtaylor said:
It is, actually, as Apple Stores are far fewer outside the U.S., and their return/repair policies are different. This isn't even mentioning the assumption of water damage and other coverages of insurance where he/she resides.
Click to expand...

So it's may be harder for the OP to get to a store...don't really see that he has a choice if he wants to get to the bottom of all this.
 
bufffilm said:
Take the device to an Apple Store and see what they say...i.e. confirm if it has water damage.

As for whether the policy covers that, check the policy.
Click to expand...
Not neccesary since water detection stickers are visible from SIM port, no opening req
 
ok thanks for your advice.

I will check the sim tray + bring it to an Apple Store and see what Apple says.

How much water does the sim tray detector needs to get in order to be triggered? As I said in my original post, the phone was never under dangerous situation (water, rain, snow, tropical weather ..) so I find it a bit strange.

Anyway, thanks, I will let you know what is the outcome.

cheers
 
SoN1NjA said:
if the one in the SIM is done, and no other one in, then it doesn't matter

One and done
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that's no longer the case with Apple (although the OP's insurer likely has a different policy). Those sensors can be set off just by moisture so they now open it up to look at the other ones and for signs of water damage.

I remember reading this about a year or so ago, but I can't recall if the article was published here or somewhere else. It's possible it may only apply to certain countries (eg Europe) because of stronger consumer protection laws.
 
steve23094 said:
I'm pretty sure that's no longer the case with Apple (although the OP's insurer likely has a different policy). Those sensors can be set off just by moisture so they now open it up to look at the other ones and for signs of water damage.

I remember reading this about a year or so ago, but I can't recall if the article was published here or somewhere else. It's possible it may only apply to certain countries (eg Europe) because of stronger consumer protection laws.
Click to expand...
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/water-damage-insurance.2036081/#post-24377163
 
Hi,
just FYI, my insurance is actually supposed to cover water damages (it's in the contract) but they refuse to do it. I handed this to a lawyer.

cheers
 
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