Consumer Advocates Fighting AT&T, Apple iPhone Policies
Jul 10th, 2007 | By James Lewin | Category: iPhone, Podcasting StatisticsThe Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, has warned Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the CEO of AT&T that they need to agree to new consumer safeguards in connection with the Apple iPhone that will be introduced to much fanfare later today.
The group is asking Apple and AT&T to address two serious potential problems:
- Battery replacement. Unlike all other handheld phones, the iPhone battery is not user replaceable. FTCR calls upon the companies to provide free and immediate replacement at their retail locations for the life of the iPhone.
- Cancellation penalties. The companies have announced that consumers must agree to a two-year contract for AT&T wireless service to activate the iPhone; they will also impose a hefty cancellation fee for early termination. FTCR says that such fees are unnecessary, and that consumers should be permitted to cancel the contract at any time based upon device failure, loss or theft, inadequate wireless service/coverage or any other reasonable basis.
“The introduction of the iPhone has been heralded as a major evolution in the multifunction cell phone,” said Rosenfield. “Apple and AT&T should take this opportunity to adopt policies and practices that respect the rights of their customers.”
FTCR is a non-profit, non-partisan citizen advocacy organization. It has brought several lawsuits on behalf of the public challenging the practices, services and charges of wireless companies including AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobil and Nextel. The group has also sued Apple on behalf of customers who bought the second-generation iPod Nano and were charged for replacement of its defective screen. That design has since been discontinued.
The FTCR is nuts. One with regard to free battery replacement, It is not free to get any cell phone battery replaced. I agree that it should not be the $79 plus shipping that it will cost, but paying for the cost of the battery itself is not unreasonable. Secondly, the fees that Cell phone companies charge to cancel a contract early are standard practice for the industry. Why would they presume that AT&T would just do away with this for the I Phone users. I don’t think that it is right that the cell companies charge these fees. There is no escaping the practice. For the FTCR to say that the idiots who rush out to buy a piece of technology that is newly released deserve special treatment is ludicrous.
battery replace should be available at att&t stores and apple (walk-in)
The only reason most cell phones have a termination fee is because they are subsidized by the carrier. The iPhone is not subsidized by AT&T which is why the fees are unnecessary.
I think getting a free battery is a little too much, but the FTCR is saying free replacement, so maybe they mean you pay for the battery, and apple replaces it for you for free which is reasonable.
AT&T Wireless corporate Office scammed me with the iphone, my iphone was stolen, and I wanted to replace it and asked AT&T to allow me to get it at $199.00 instead of $399.00, since I had just paid full amount five months earlier..They refused, and worse than that, they sabotaged my four lines that I have with them and pushed my upgrade dates by 6-8 months more, so that I have no chance of getting the $199.00 price in the near future and be forced to pay full price…
I have sent out a complaint to the FCC, and BBB, but still no result…I have proof of what I am claiming.
I desperately need help, I cannot let them go on doing this scam to customers , and I also need to get what’s rightfully mine..
Please help guide me as to which direction should I take to make this info public, and get AT&T’s attention about this sabotage.
Thank you