Re:Five States Are Considering Bills to Legalize the 'Right ...
by djsumdog on Wednesday January 25, 2017 @03:30PM
(#13485707)
In New Zealand, we have the Consumer Protection Act. It has helped considerably. Mobile Station, an Auckland company, refused to warranty my Nexus 4 that died (mobile data stopped working first, but Wi-Fi/text still worked. Then it all died).
I reflashed the stock OS but forgot to relock the phone. They tried to say since I replaced the OS, I voided the warranty. I said the warning screen says "This might void your warranty" but that didn't apply because in NZ, we have the consumer protection act.
I had to go through a tribunal, that went two session each about 2 hours. I wasn't sure if I could make my case. I tried to state phone modification isn't warranty voiding; that people reinstall Windows or Linux onto laptops they purchase and that doesn't void the warranty.
The arbitrator eventually found in my favour because the device had failed slowly indicating a hardware failure and the manufacture didn't offer to repair the device for a fee (you are required to supply parts or repair). It was way too much work for $480, but I'm still glad that protection exists.
I reflashed the stock OS but forgot to relock the phone. They tried to say since I replaced the OS, I voided the warranty. I said the warning screen says "This might void your warranty" but that didn't apply because in NZ, we have the consumer protection act.
https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/consumer-law-and-your...
I had to go through a tribunal, that went two session each about 2 hours. I wasn't sure if I could make my case. I tried to state phone modification isn't warranty voiding; that people reinstall Windows or Linux onto laptops they purchase and that doesn't void the warranty.
The arbitrator eventually found in my favour because the device had failed slowly indicating a hardware failure and the manufacture didn't offer to repair the device for a fee (you are required to supply parts or repair). It was way too much work for $480, but I'm still glad that protection exists.