Apple is conning consumers

My name is Z Gumbi.I would like to write about my experience with my apple phone and dissatisfaction on the matter and how it was handled.

My husband bought me an iPhone 12 in August 2021. It is on a 3 year contract with Vodacom meaning it is still being paid for. Beginning of 2023 my phone started freezing and not backing up to iCloud which is a service I have been paying for. I took my phone to istore pavilion where they could not initially pick up what the issue was as my phone is in gooood condition. After running all the normal tests and not getting any issues, they ran a diagnostic test on the phone which revealed that there is an issue with the motherboard of the phone. I was also told that unfortunately this looks like a manufacturing issue meaning the phone came with this issue when it was purchased. I was shocked…

I was then told to take the phone to Vodacom as that is where it was purchased to advise them of the issue. We went to Vodacom and was advised that since the phone is no longer under warranty I could not be assisted. We went back to istore who advised that because my device is not insured, I must pay R9000 to get it fixed. Off course I was unhappy with this as I hv not done anything to the phone and this is a manufacturing issue.

I called i store headquarters and was given same story that there is nothing they can do.

My question is, apple is selling phones with manufacturing issues and then we as customers are liable to pay for this when the phone gets faulty? This is a ripoff surely. How are we as customers protected from such?

I am extremely unhappy with this as I cannot even get a new phone due to this phone still being on contract but I cannot use it. I am willing to go to the ombudsman with this as this is surely not treating customers fairly…

Regards Irrate customer