Promised a free repair for iPhone Manufacturer Defect but now they want to make me pay R2400

<p>A few months ago my iPhone 6 Plus started giving me weird touch response issues. The phone would freeze or not respond to touches. A friend of mine suggested I take it to the Menlyn iStore. </p> <p> </p> <p>Upon visiting Menlyn iStore, Angelo was very friendly and helped me with the problem. He said there was a manufacturer recall programme underway for phones with "Touch Disease" - the same problems I experienced. </p> <p> </p> <p>Angelo explained that if the screen wasn't cracked, the phone would be repaired or exchanged for free. If the phone was cracked, there would be a fee payable. Thankfully my phone was never dropped before and was in pristine condition. Angelo also mentioned that in past cases, customers did have their phones repaired or replaced for free.</p> <p>The only catch was that I would have to wait a few weeks because it would take them time for a stock shipment to arrive - which wasn't a problem at all. I thus booked it in on the premise that my device was going to be fixed for free due to a manufacturer defect/recall programme. </p> <p> </p> <p>A few weeks later, I received a message from Core Service Centre asking me to authorise the repair. I noticed a quotation attached, but with what Angelo told me, I thought this would be later subsidised in full as per the recall programme. So just in case, I "accepted" the quote <strong>without prejudice</strong>. If I didn't "accept" the quote, the device would have been sent back to the store so I had to. Also, it's general practice to have to ask the owner for permission to repair the phone. So that was my "authorisation."</p> <p> </p> <p>Shortly after, I received notification that my phone was available for collection. I drove to Menlyn and visited the store - only to find out that I would be "liable for the full repair cost of R2400". Of course I couldn't pay such a shocking figure. After all, it was a R15,000 phone and such a phone should be free from manufacturer defects. I could understand a small surcharge of maybe R500, that I'm willing to pay, but not something like a shocking R2400.</p> <p> </p> <p>Whether I like it or not I can't afford to pay that. I'm not going to accept back a phone that freezes and is as useful as a brick, due to manufacturer defect either. And I was promised a free repair anyways, with no reference to surcharges anyways. Past experience even had phones being replaced for free. My phone was never dropped or cracked, and was pristine, meeting all criteria that Angelo mentioned. </p> <p> </p> <p>As per store policy, they couldn't give me my phone, and sort out the payment dispute later. Disappointed and disgruntled, I left. I tried emailing Tim Cook's direct customer service email address but had no response either. I turn to HelloPeter so hopefully this matter can be resolved and I can get my repaired phone back with no cost as promised. </p>