Well just spoke to Vodafone, and they cant budge on the fact its water damaged. They have given me Sony Ericssons contact number and address and take it up with them.

They have applied £5 credit to my account so that i can attempt a software upgrade though, which i suppose is fair enough.

I will try this, and if this doesnt work i shall try and have to take it up with Sony Ericsson... Im also going to inform Watchdog. I see this as a major problem to most people.

Its ridiculous.

I have a question: if your phone has a water detector which hasn't been triggered - can they claim water damage?

They did this to me even though the phone was faulty from the beginning and I reported it within 14 days. They had given me insurance though which means I got a new phone for only £20 excess. I don't know how to argue against water damage or how to disprove water damage.

Nothing you can do, what's to stop them putting it under water themselves to cover from any future claims?

If they would lie about it being water damaged in the first place then they are far from honest.

Despite what some people have said, water needs to get inside the phone to do water damage. Remember that they are not designed to be splashproof, weatherproof or waterproof. They are not designed to be used in the rain.

And its not thousands of people, there are only a few who claim "There is no way that the phone got wet". Bear in mind also, that you are 150miles away from your neice and the problem.

Why do we not hear of this problem when it comes to mp3's or any other portable devices?

I'm not saying that it does not exsist, it does but it seems to be getting said a lot as of late when it comes to mobile phones!

I think other devices such as mp3 are sealed much better than mobile phones.

Just looking at mine I can see how water can get under the keypad, under the screen, in the speaker, behind the battery cover, in the USB port.

There are alot more open spaces with phones.

What about walkmans, portable cd players etc.?

Also i don't know what mp3 you have but the one i got could easily get water inside.

But I mean if they handed the phone back to me and the water detector (which I didn't know existed at the time) was still unchanged?

Actually, the same "problem" does occur with MP3 players. If you look at forums where MP3 players are discussed, owners also complain that "they said I had dropped it so it wasn't covered by the warranty" etc etc.

I'm not saying manufacturers don't make mistakes, but just because you don't get the result you want doesn't mean they are using water damage/dropping as an excuse. And it certainly doesn't mean they are making things up or purposefully damaging equipment.

Not purposefully, but the fact remains that my W850i was more badly scratched when it came back from repair than when I handed it in. And the fact also remains that the Vodafone shop staff didn't mention water damage until I asked them to give me the SIM so I could use another phone whilst the W850i was being repaired. They found that they could not open the phone to access the SIM; the phone was supplied to me with the SIM and battery already fitted (by the same shop) so I had never tried to open the battery compartment.

In my view they were using the possibility of water damage as a get-out in case the phone could not be opened without damaging it.

Hi all, i posted my concerns on the Vodafone E-forum where it is heavily moderated by Vodafone employees.

They were really apologetic about my problems that i have been having, and i also told them i had no phone call from a manager when it was promised! So i recieved an email from a Vodafone employee to say that they want to resolve my issue for my neice, and that they will be phoning me today when they arrive at the office from 11am.

I will let you all know what happens.

Fingers crossed and good for you in taking this approach. If necessary you get through to the Chief Execs department

Right, so i got the phone call just. He was so helpful and sympathetic. He is replacing my neices handset with another handset like for like. The only condition is that they want the old handset to dispose of it... which i dont mind!

So issue resolved! Thanks Vodafone!

excellent news! well done!

I used to have a Vodafone handset once upon a time! I then moved to o2 for better deals!

I had problems with Vodafone regarding the handset not working! I sent it back to them and they told me that it had got water in it. I argued the fact that I never wet the fone (which i didnt) and they sent me a brand new handset! they told me that it could have gotten wet in transit!

I was really pleased because it cost me alot of money back then! But now im on o2!

Good news OP! Glad you have a new handset!

surely moisture in the air means that invariably chances are that eventually there will be some minor corrosive change evident, but which doesn't impact the phone's functioning? especially in damp homes, or condensation forming inside when it's cold outside like now, for example. Or what about people in countries with very humid climates?


it seems to me these companies will seize on any visible signs of moisture exposure, no matter that it's insignificant and not actually responsible for fault.

What looks insignificant now can turn rapidly into a rusty/oxidised circuit board. I know of no company that will repair an electronic device that has evidence of "water damage".

BTW: phones have had "access points" behind the battery for many many years, it is not something that is new.

Some of this seems to not be the result of actual dunking in buckets or oceans though, more just moisture from the air. If a gadget has been for a swim in the sea it's a write off, obviously.

But why should mere atmospheric moisture commonly only affect mobile phones rather than other equipment? Circuit boards are sealed with (typically green coloured) varnish. Most components nowadays are sealed. Why would the switches/keys/buttons be more prone to atmospheric moisture damage than switches used in other equipment?

Most electronic equipment has apertures dotted around its case and almost everything that's earthbound is used in the same humid atmosphere. Televisions and DECT cordless phones are used in kitchens, even in restaurant kitchens, without keeling over. What is the difference separating mobiles from everything else, particularly DECT phones?

Nothing seems built to last nowadays, especially mobiles, the smallest bump or jar and theyre goosed. Got my k810i replace for free a month ago due to my old one having non functioning buttons after 16 months.

My old old nokia 7250i was dropped down the toilet, flushed and it worked after I dried it out overnight, n still goin strong after 6 years!!!

Lol

Well asked, TeaCosy How do the phone companies explain that away....?!!

if your not happy send a email to this guy
Vittorio.Colao@vodafone.com

he is the top dog

i had a problem my ex had a phone in my name and ran up a £200 bill in my name and i had both mine and hers disconnected last week.

i spoke to collections and said tuff its in your name so i will have to pay the £200 and £35 reconnection fee on mine.


i said i can't afford it but i need my phone working
they would not do anything unless i paid it all in full


i sent a e-mail to that guy above and within 2 days i got a call saying all charges would be dropped and i will not have to pay the reconnection fee they also cancelled her full contract that does not run out until feb

Any company that has or intend or do sponser a football team that have no home grown supporters should be avoided like the plague.

Bin Voda and get on the 3 network. Excellent coverage in the UK. Cheap tarrifs and great range of up to date phones.

Myself & OH have had a N95 8GB & N95 for over a year now. Both worked perfectly. Both of us ski regularly and the phones get pretty damp (especially after a white out!) and have not let us down.

just a warning as the weather has been really cold this past week

i've noticed condensation forming on my screen after i've been outside with it.... luckily i have my phone wrapped in cling film

My Viewty got absolutely soaked last year, in June I think. It was switched on at the time, and was drenched for several minutes by an open waterbladder drinking spout pouring water over it. When I got to it the screen was flashing and obviously in distress It got dismantled immediately and dried out for a couple of days - and when it was reassembled it worked again! I was amazed. Sadly the battery drains within hours if it gets much use - I tried replacing the battery for new, but to no avail - so it has spent 50% of it's life since, being recharged. But I am still amazed that it ever worked again at all, no matter as much as it does.