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warranty service on AT&T non-iPhone plan

H

hobo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 13, 2005
124
0
My black cover on the bottom of my iPhone is loose, and I don't want it to fall off. I was debating taking it in for service, but it's jailbroken (and unlocked!) on 1.1.4, and I don't have an iPhone plan on AT&T.

Does anyone have experience with Apple warranty service on non-activated iPhones? It was dropped (by a friend, of course... ugh) and has a couple dings, but I just don't want to risk this black cover falling off.

Should I activate it on an old firmware and relock it, then take it in and see what they can do? I don't feel like activating a 2 year contract all of a sudden just to get the phone replaced...

Thanks for any help.
 
Here is what I would suggest...

Completely restore your baseband and your firmware and activate your iPhone with iPhuc or any of the other tools out there, but make sure that you don't wind up jailbreaking your phone.

After that, just make sure that when you take it in you remove your SIM card and put it into a spare phone that you have. Take it into one of your local Apple Stores and say that you have the following problem but that you can't afford to do the whole advance replacement of your phone or to get a service phone.

If it is as you say where there is an obvious physical problem, they shouldn't have a problem accepting it.

They *MAY* just give you a new one right there, but they may have you come back in a few days to pick it up.

Moral of the story is to make your story seem as plausible as possible.

That is exactly what I did when I had a similar problem a while back.
 
Last time I checked you can cancel new contracts within a certain number of days.

If I was you I would sign up and cancel it after Apple replace the phone.

Of course restore it to original condition first before taking it in!

But if you ask me its a better solution as THEY WILL change it for you whilst risking it any other way means they could blacklist your phone and your'll never get it fixed!
 
projectle said:
Here is what I would suggest...

Completely restore your baseband and your firmware and activate your iPhone with iPhuc or any of the other tools out there, but make sure that you don't wind up jailbreaking your phone.

After that, just make sure that when you take it in you remove your SIM card and put it into a spare phone that you have. Take it into one of your local Apple Stores and say that you have the following problem but that you can't afford to do the whole advance replacement of your phone or to get a service phone.

If it is as you say where there is an obvious physical problem, they shouldn't have a problem accepting it.

They *MAY* just give you a new one right there, but they may have you come back in a few days to pick it up.

Moral of the story is to make your story seem as plausible as possible.

That is exactly what I did when I had a similar problem a while back.
Click to expand...

I don't get the "can't afford to get an advance or service phone". Can you explain? Like money-wise can't afford?

what about IMEI match? I checked my warranty online and it said something like "please activate your phone!" so I'm doubting it.

Is it worth erasing my phone to try to get a new one?
 
Listen to me... Ignore everyone else who suggests otherwise.

If you take your phone into Apple and its even activated then they will know you hacked it and won't help you.

Your only option is to either sign up for AT&T and cancel it after its fixed - which I am sure you can - just check first with them!

OR

Totally wipe your phone - undo everything and leave it on the slide to unlock screen with the original SIM it came with in the phone and say it was a gift and before you activate it you wanted to get the lose part fixed.

But lets be honest here - they may not believe you and refuse and black list your phone so you never get warranty on it even if you signed up on an official contract OR they may give you a new one and insist you sign up for AT&T while your there.

I am going to be totally honest with you unless your phone is as new and looks like it has never been used I don't think any excuse will work.
 
I'm in the same situation. My iPhone keeps thinking my earphones are plugged in thus I cannot use it without the earphones connected. I tried cleaning the jack with a Q-tip and it works but only for a little while.

Anyone have any experience getting their hacked iPhone serviced?
 
You can convert your line to an iPhone plan and then unchange it within three days and get a full refund. Or within 30 days and pay the activation free plus data plan for that month.
 
pay as you go

also you could activate as a pay as you go. just put in all zeros when it asks for your ssn. then it will activate the legal way, but i think you can just cancel the contract.
 
Does the apple insurance cover damage to the phone that isnt due to hardware or software failure........

If i dropped my MacBook and cracked the screen, apple wouldnt replace it as it was my fault so why would they give you a new phone?
 
You never know.

I'd be less worried about it being accidental damage than it being on a non-activated phone.
 
I brought my previously unlocked phone in (restored it with ziphone).
They said "I can't touch the phone if it's not activated with AT&T". I was thinking that was a BS line, so after reading the warranty info, it makes no claim that the phone "must" be activated on AT&T.
Easy way to get a new phone without hassle, buy a "GoPhone" card for (and from) your local AT&T mall kiosk and plug the SIM in. Walk into the Apple store and say "please fix or replace". You are doing nothing wrong, and are 100% entitled to the warranty coverage. If they say no, speak to the manager. I did and she apologized, told me the phone "technically" doesn't have to be activated with AT&T, but it's "the best way to track and maintain your iPhone".
please!

I left with a brand new iPhone.
 
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