Apple for I-Phones tech in Phillipines wants $$ to assist me

[adigal]

So, I have a two year old I-phone 3G. Yesterday, it decided on its own that I have to put a passcode in to use it. I can't get past that bar on the bottom, when I slide to put the phone on, it asks for a passcode, and then disables the phone for more time each attempt.

I called AT&T, and they cannot help me, but referred me to Apple "customer service." The woman I spoke to had an accent, and when she looked up my number and saw that I didn't have a warranty (on a two year old phone, of course not!) she told me that I had to pay $29.99 to get service over the phone. I was astounded, so she offered me a second choice: to drive to an Apple store for service. Yeah, right, the Apple store is 1 and 1/2 hours from my house, it would be cheaper to pay for the service. When I asked the woman, who was pretty rude also, where she was located, she said "the Phillipines."

I am beyond disgusted that I pay over $300 a month for cell phones, and cannot get some simple help from Apple. I am further disgusted that these good tech jobs are being done by people in the Phillipines while my fellow Americans worry about their unemployment benefits run out.

I am never buying another I-phone.

[meegbear]

1. Livers don't pay for themselves you know

[hlthe2b]

2. Why not call the apple store and see if they willl help you...?

[adigal]

3. That is what I am going to do

because I don't have $30 to spend to fix this problem. I spent all my money paying my cell phone bill. :(

[RevStPatrick]

4. You didn't buy the Applecare extended warranty.

That would have covered you for an additional 2 years of service.
Otherwise, they do charge $30 per call.
On Apple products, the extended warranty ALWAYS pays for itself because of this kind of thing.
And they probably would help you for free at the Apple store, since it's likely a simple problem.
But the phone support people have to pay for themselves.
Been through this for decades now with Apple products.
You should have sprung for the Applecare.

[adigal]

5. The phone an d service costs enough...it should pay for support

and I don't like the $30 paying for support of people in the Phillipines. taking jobs that should be here in America. I have a Macbook, and an I-phone, and I love my Mac, but can live with a Blackberry, that's for sure.

[Dappleganger]

8. Most all phone support is going to be based overseas.

I am sorry that is the case but it is a fact. Also, the suggestion for additional insurance was wise. iPhones (and Android phones, for that matter) are like mini-computers and repairs can be pricey. If you think that Blackberries are going to be better you are sorely mistaken, however. There's a reason why they are being abandoned en masse for iPhone and Android phones.

You could pay $30 for the service call, then sell the phone, too.

[we can do it]

25. fruitphones suck but whateva

[hlthe2b]

9. Question about Applecare warranties...

I just got a notice that I should consider purchasing soon as my regular warranty (90 days) on my Ipod touch is ending, yet Amazon states I have a year from purchase to buy the same Applecare warranty. Does it cover from the date of original purchase? In other words, do I really get two years of warranty or is it more like it runs concurrently for the first year of regular warranty and extends for one year? (Yes, I know, I need to read the fine print, but thought you might be able to tell me in simple terms...;) )

[Dappleganger]

13. Applecare covers from the date your original warranty ends, I think.

Try to find it more cheaply on ebay from a reputable seller (this is what we always do and have never had a problem). Was it a new Touch? If so, it should be a year warranty on that. The 90-days is for phone support but you can schedule an appt. and take the Touch into any Apple store for repair within a year after purchase for your warranty fulfillment. It is definitely worth it to get Applecare on all laptops, phones, ipods, ipads, imacs. Of course Mac Pro folks will always get it too because of their biz investment. You get a LOT of bang for the buck w/Applecare compared to other extended warranty companies.

[hlthe2b]

14. Actually, Amazon has dropped the price signifcantly...

Down from $59 to $44 for two years. Yes, I purchased a 64GB Ipod Touch and then was given a 8 GB Nano. I think I will only purchase it on the touch, though, since it was almost $400 originally. I can't believe these mark the first ever ipods I've owned... Other priorities always got in the way, but I am incredibly impressed with the technology. Even use the touch for some skype phone calls from time to time, which lets me drop my regular cellular plan way down.

Thanks for the advice.

[glinda]

11. Yes. Been their policy for years actually.

[brooklynite]

30. How to reset an iPhone Passcode

How to Reset an iPhone Passcode
By Jason Artman, eHow Contributor

Every Apple iPhone has the ability to use a "passcode"--a four-digit number that must be entered to bring the iPhone out of standby mode when it has been locked. If you are the first owner of the iPhone and have forgotten the passcode that you initially entered, you can simply reset the passcode by connecting the iPhone to the computer that was originally used to activate it. However, this does not help if you purchased the phone used, and are not the original owner. Put your iPhone into recovery mode to restore the iPhone and clear the passcode.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Apple iPhone
* USB sync cable

1. Connect the iPhone to your computer using the USB cable.
2. Hold the power button on the iPhone down. The screen will change asking you to use a slider to power the unit off. Use the slider.
3. Press the power and home (bottom-center) buttons simultaneously. The unit will power back on. After a few seconds, the screen will change to a warning triangle. The iPhone is now in recovery mode.
4. Launch iTunes, and click on the iPhone icon on the left side of the screen. Make sure that the "Summary" tab is selected, and scroll down until you see the "Restore" button. Click "Restore."
5. Click "Don't Back Up," then click "Restore." The iPod will be reverted to its original factory settings, which will clear the passcode. Note that this process will also remove all other data from the iPhone, including music, contacts, notes and saved e-mails.


Read more: How to Reset an iPhone Passcode | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5647265_reset-iphone-passcode.html#ixzz1GJuV1aLY

[Dappleganger]

6. Did you google the question?

It seems to have happened a lot. I don't know your computer configuration or what apps you have to be able to better direct your query.

BTW, the iPhone has improved significantly. Our older son has dh's old 3G and it works great, but I know we had to do a restore on it once when an app was causing it to act a bit wonky.

[hlthe2b]

10. Big thumbs up on that suggestion...

This is how I end up problem solving most tech issues, lately. I find "tech support" for most products to be so horrendous and time consuming, yet frequently find even obscure issues addressed on some online forum.

[Dappleganger]

12. Same here...

the key is knowing the right words to ask google, but once you find them the answer typically pops up. Or at least it's a direction and can give you an educated guess as to whether or not it's worth the money to pursue expert help. I can pretty much guarantee that AT&T will NOT have the technical answer--their solution is for you to buy an upgraded phone.

Try using "password" as well as "passcode" in the google query, too.

[rucky]

7. Did you try 1-2-3-4?

:shrug:

If it works, I'll only charge you half price.

[adigal]

15. Someone at work helped me

Thanks to those of you who gave good suggestions, and if I wanted to spend an extra $30 to talk to someone whose English is poor and lives in another country, I could have stayed with my Dell applications, and my cheap-o phone. For this kind of money, I expect good customer service. And how sad, that even on a liberal website, we just accept that these jobs are overseas, and that we have to pay for customer service on a VERY expensive phone!!!!

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. I think you're gonna be on your own with that opinion of Apple's support.

My mother has an iphone, really doesn't know how to use it, and every time she has a question she calls up the support line or goes into the store.
Last year she needed to have the battery replaced, they charge like $90 for that. Well she went in to the store and installed a new batt for her for free.

I don't have any of their products myself but I've heard nothing but rave reviews about their service.

[joeunderdog]

18. Anytime I have a problem, I go to the store.

They usually trip over each other to see who can fix it first.

It's why I buy Apple everything. Customer Service.

And their One to One lessons--best deal on the planet. A year's worth of lesson for $99. When I have glitches on my iMac or phone, I bring it in for a 1:1 and they teach me how to problem-solve on the actual unit in question. Amazing deal.

[Shagbark Hickory]

28. I've always found apple products to be user unfriendly and hard to figure out.

lack of buttons and stuff.

If they ever made it easier I think they could skimp on their customer service because fewer people would need to summons a genius for "how do I take a picture"

[zorahopkins]

17. Over $300 A Month?

Really?

Do you pay over $300 a month for cell phones?

I cannot imagine.

[adigal]

21. There's 5 people in my family, 3 teens

As soon as my contracts expire, I am going cheaper or without. I hate big corporation.

[Dappleganger]

26. We have 5 lines in our AT&T plan

and pay less than half that per month, including family texting.

[frylock]

19. get an android!!1

i'm only half joking.

[Lucian]

20. Get an Android phone.

Then you won't have to worry about shit like this.

I have the Droid 2 Global...best phone I've ever used.

[adigal]

22. What is an android? n/t

[Dappleganger]

27. You can get locked out of any phone...

even androids.

[Lucian]

29. I had the first Droid for over a year...

and I never got locked out of it. The OS is stable.

[Dappleganger]

31. That's great!

But what I said is still true.

[we can do it]

23. $300 month wtf

mine is $85 with an additional line

[MilesColtrane]

24. Next time google your problem.

The phrase "I'm locked out of my iPhone" yields links to pages that tell you how you can plug your phone into your computer, launch iTunes, and hit the "Restore" button.

The Apple Support Discussion Board is also likely to have information that can help.

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=201