iPhone blasted by consumer watchdog
By John Pospisil
A US-based consumer watchdog has blasted the iPhone for its lack of user replaceable battery and two-year service contract.
The head of The Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights (FTCR), Harvey Rosenfield, wrote a stern letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson demanding that the two companies address the issues raised by the FTCR.
“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.”
The FTCR is calling on Apple and AT&T to provide free and immediate replacement of iPhone batteries at their stores for the entire life of the iPhone.
“If news reports are correct, the iPhone battery could require replacement within one year,” said Rosenfield.
“The companies have not disclosed if they will charge consumers to replace the battery, or if customers will have to mail their phones to the company and wait for replacement.”
Rosenfield is also outraged by the two-year service contract that iPhone users must commit to before they can activate their phone, and is calling on AT&T to allow contracts to be canceled at any time:
“The companies have announced that … they will also impose a hefty $175 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. ”
FTCR describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan citizen advocacy organization, and says 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.
Somehow, I think consumer rights are probably the last thing that iPhone fans are thinking about now that they’ve finally gotten their hands on the world’s greatest gadget.
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June 30th, 2007
I’m with them on the battery. I don’t understand Job’s fetish with internal, nonuser replaceable batteries.
June 19th, 2009
I’m glad someone is taking a stand. I’ve read up on Harvey Rosenfield and it seems he and his group are doing great things to defend our rights. Thanks!