Apple customers with iPhones afflicted with so called “touch disease” will be charged Dh549 to have their handsets repaired.
The fault affects some iPhone 6 Plus devices that show flickering grey lines that get progressively worse and eventually render the phone unusable.
But customers hoping to get their handsets fixed quickly may be in for a wait amid confusion among approved service providers over the repair process which will not begin until December 2.
A queue of more than 70 customers had formed at the service counter of the Apple Store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates within minutes of opening on Wednesday morning.
The queue was for customers to reserve a time and date slot to bring their device to the store. It was not immediately clear how many of those queuing owned iPhone 6 Plus handsets.
In a service notice published on its regional website, Apple said: “Apple has determined that some iPhone 6 Plus devices may exhibit display flickering or Multi-Touch issues after being dropped multiple times on a hard surface and then incurring further stress on the device.
“If your iPhone 6 Plus is exhibiting the symptoms noted above, is in working order, and the screen is not cracked or broken, Apple will repair your device for a service price of Dh549.”
For customers who have already paid for a service repair relating to the issue through Apple or an authorised service provider customers will be reimbursed with an amount that will “equal the difference between the price you paid for the original service to your iPhone 6 Plus and the Dh549 service price,” it said.
An Apple telephone service agent was on Tuesday referring customers to a third party provider based in Dubai’s Tecom district called ABMCare as the Mall of the Emirates store was no longer accepting appointments.
The problem has angered some Apple customers worldwide who have questioned why they are being asked to foot the bill for the fault.
An article published by the US-based Newsfactor technology website headlined iPhone Touch Disease Much Worse Than Apple Admits, generated a number of angry comments from readers.
“Why should we have to pay when it’s Apple’s fault. Fix it! Make your customers happy, Apple,” wrote Damone Franklin.
Don Waltz said: “I’m not normally one to look for handouts from companies after I have bought something. But if this is an engineering issue then the company should stand by its product. If it doesn’t, what good is Apple?”
Apple did not immediately respond to questions.
business@thenational.ae
