Home / Lifestyle / Mobile / Apple / Australian consumer watchdog goes after Apple after iPhone ‘Error 53’ glitch

Australian consumer watchdog goes after Apple after iPhone ‘Error 53’ glitch

Back in February last year, Apple finally acknowledged ‘Error 53', a Touch ID glitch that would brick iPhones and make them unusable. At the time, Apple did offer a workaround for customers but it seems that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wasn't impressed with the whole situation and is now taking Apple to federal court citing a breach of consumer law.

The issue here is that Apple told some customers that it wouldn't fix devices if they were previously repaired by a third-party/unauthorised vendor. Essentially, Apple wouldn't honour its usual warranty. According to the ACCC (which has also sued Valve recently), this was a breach of consumer law as Error 53 made devices unusable by no fault of their own, entitling them to a free repair under Australian law.

ACCC Chairman, Rod Sims, said that “consumer guarantees are not extinguished simply because a consumer has goods repaired by a third party”. He then went on to accuse Apple of “misleading and deceptive” conduct by refusing to fix phones previously repaired by unauthorised vendors.

This isn't the first legal headache that Error 53 has caused for Apple, as The Inquirer points out, a barrister here in the UK has claimed that Error 53 could potentially be viewed as an offence under the UK's Criminal Damage Act 1971. Previously a class-action lawsuit also attempted to get under way over in the US, though that did end up being unsuccessful.

KitGuru Says: Given that Error 53 was a software issue, it seems unfair of Apple to choose whether or not to issue a repair based on whether or not a customer went to a cheaper repair shop first. This does seem like the sort of policy that Apple should be fought on and have to change. 

Become a Patron!

Check Also

Apple launches new MacBook Pro laptops with M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max

Following on from the announcements of new M4-powered iMacs and Mac Minis, Apple has today announced the latest generation of MacBook Pro laptops. 

2 comments

  1. Earning profits by means of the internet is often as trouble free (or rather as challenging) quite as earning profits off the net. Even though a great number of Marketing online trainers say to surely have a undisclosed system making immediate profit, the simple truth is, you cannot find any system you possibly can turn into wealthy instantly just by clicking on a key or paying for a small number of e book. Being profitable on the net ought to have some hard work as well as motivation. If you happen to be prepared to input sufficient time and efforts involved, there are so many procedures for generating some extra compensation online.I am being paid $10 thousand possibly even many more on a monthly basis using this gig.Here is the shortcut to earn while the rest are longer term ideas to make money >>>>> GET.LC/9IKXZ

  2. Making money on-the-web is usually as a piece of cake (or possibly as tough) just as earning money off-line. Though thousands of The world of internet marketing gurus state to have got a top-secret method which will make instant lots of cash, the the reality is, there is not any opportunity you possibly can grow wealthy person over night just by clicking on a key or perhaps paying for some guide. Earning profits on-the-web needs to have hard work as well as willpower. When you find yourself wanting to invest time and effort in it, there are so many ways to getting large profits using the web.I am earning $10 thousand or even more per month with this job.Here’s the quick way to generate money though the others are long term ideas to make money >>>>> DELICIOUSURL.COM//21