Dropped and Broke iPhone XS Max, Still $1000 Owing. Solutions?

Saul Goodman on 09/12/2020 - 20:55
Last edited 09/12/2020 - 23:28

It's a bad situation but I dropped my 11 month old iPhone XS Max, screen has cracked and there are now bad calling problems and image quality issues. So it looks like just a screen replacement ($250-$500) is not going to fix the problem. iPhone repair through Apple looks to be $939 at minimum. I am on a month to month plan with Optus but the phone bought through Optus still has around $1000 owing - You can buy a brand new one for cheaper on eBay now.

Does anyone know if I have any options or can anyone work out the best solution if there is one?

Addition: Thanks for the replies, especially the condescending ones. To clarify, it did have an almost $100 case but landed in a way it made no difference. 98% of the time it had a protective cover but it was removed to be replaced 2 days prior. Just bad timing in that regard. This is the first time in 20 years of owning a mobile phone I’ve broken one or even made a crack on any screen. Regardless I guess I’m just really irresponsible according to most people.

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Comments

  • whooah1979 on 09/12/2020 - 20:57

    Use your applecare.

    • modsec802 on 09/12/2020 - 21:04

      Obviously OP didn’t pay for AppleCare+

      • whooah1979 on 09/12/2020 - 22:00
        +4

        That's a shame.

        Best of luck.

  • Lexan on 09/12/2020 - 20:59
    +1

    Sounds like you didn't use phone cover.

  • solidussnake on 09/12/2020 - 21:01
    +3

    Pay off that phone per month and just add a new phone to your current plan and take better care of it or just get AppleCare or device insurance .

    Also consider a 12/24 month insterest free like HSBC and get one from a retail store ?

  • modsec802 on 09/12/2020 - 21:04
    +7

    Sell your bitcoin

    • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2020 - 20:44

      profile created in 2010.. bet he didnt buy enough..

  • DannyC on 09/12/2020 - 21:04

    A few options:

    • Get Apple to quote to repair it and stump up for the cost of repair

    • Either clear your data and sell it as is, and use the funds to fund another phone.

    Slap a protective case and a tempered glass screen protector on to protect your investment next time.

    • modsec802 on 09/12/2020 - 21:06
      +1

      sell it as is, and use the funds to fund another phone.

      OP won’t make enough to cover amount owning let alone fund another phone. I sold a pristine XS for $650 recently

      • Willco88 on 09/12/2020 - 21:07
        +3

        Yeah nobody wants a broken phone

      • DannyC on 09/12/2020 - 21:32

        OP will make a big loss for sure. No way around it since it is not covered under any insurance or AppleCare.

  • Willco88 on 09/12/2020 - 21:06
    -4

    Hahaha a $100 lifeproof case is a small investment to protect a $2000 phone!!!

  • CyberMurning on 09/12/2020 - 21:12
    +1

    Sell your Bitcoin?

    • modsec802 on 09/12/2020 - 21:24

      Didn’t read previous comments 😉

      • CyberMurning on 09/12/2020 - 22:41

        Duh…. I'm slow…

        • Caped Baldy on 10/12/2020 - 09:22

          Have a +1 on me. Only 7 mins too slow.

  • brendanm on 09/12/2020 - 21:13
    +6

    It's almost like financing a $2k phone and not putting it in a case is a bad idea.

    • Daabido on 09/12/2020 - 22:16
      +1

      Sounds like rubbing salt into a wound.

  • Quantumcat on 09/12/2020 - 22:17
    +6

    Do you have home and contents insurance? It could be covered.

    BTW getting a loan for a luxury depreciating asset isn't a good idea. If you need a loan to afford it you can't afford it. Doesn't help you now though.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 09/12/2020 - 22:34
    +2

    If it’s under warranty you might have luck with apple store replacing under ACL.

    I dropped a weight on my phone at gym with a spider crack which resulted in the phone turning into a brick. Went to apple store and the Youngblood said no good, either claim it on insurance or buy replacement phone.

    Started an insurance claim and they sent me back to apple store to get a quote for repair/replacement. More learned staff member there “consulted the manger” and in turn said the phone would be replaced under ACL warranty.

    • serideth on 09/12/2020 - 23:02
      +5

      That's more the Apple store going above and beyond, there's no warranty under consumer law that forces them to cover damage caused by the user.

      • Tee Rex Arms on 09/12/2020 - 23:05
        +1

        Their take on it was the product shouldn’t have stopped working completely based on the damage it received. I wasn’t arguing and it went up and down the chain and still had a good outcome.

        • Caped Baldy on 10/12/2020 - 09:24
          -1

          Seems highly likely dropping the phone damaged something else. Extremely unlikely to get repaired under ACL as it's hard enough to get stuff repaired when you're in the right. Unless OP goes full Karen.

    • original15 on 09/12/2020 - 23:03
      +2

      Did you tell them you dropped a weight at gym on it? Unreal outcome imo

  • bobbified on 09/12/2020 - 23:01

    Does anyone know if I have any options or can anyone work out the best solution if there is one?

    What options were you hoping for? Optus isn't going to write-off the $1000 owing on the phone. Your only option is to stump up some additional cash to get a new phone (doesn't have to be an expensive phone) and continue paying off the existing phone on your plan.

  • Saul Goodman on 09/12/2020 - 23:02

    Thanks for the replies. To clarify, it did have an almost $100 case but landed in a way it made no difference. 98% of the time it had a protective cover but it was removed to be replaced 2 days prior. Just unlucky.

    • avoidfullprice on 09/12/2020 - 23:25

      Yep. Happened to my S4 many years ago. Case broken, so removed it for a day. Nek minit - screen meets stairs. 11 months old too. Unlucky

      Now I only buy sub $500 phone…

    • bobbified on 10/12/2020 - 07:51
      +1

      To clarify, it did have an almost $100 case but landed in a way it made no difference.

      98% of the time it had a protective cover but it was removed to be replaced 2 days prior.

      So did it have a case on it or not?

      • Saul Goodman on 10/12/2020 - 12:44

        As I said, it had a case on it.

        • bobbified on 10/12/2020 - 12:46
          +1

          but it was removed to be replaced 2 days prior.

          You also said this ^, so I was a bit confused.

          • dtxau on 10/12/2020 - 14:44
            -1

            @bobbified: Seen a lot of these threads where:

            • Comprehensive car insurance elapsed a few days earlier

            • Insurance of any sorts cancelled a few days/weeks earlier

              And now the protective cover was removed a few days earlier

  • higherdestiny on 09/12/2020 - 23:31
    +3
    1. Keep up the existing repayments (what other choice do you have).
    2. Buy a Google Pixel 4a.
    3. Never buy an expensive iPhone again.
    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/12/2020 - 00:02

      Never buy an expensive a fragile iPhone again. FTFY

      • garetz on 10/12/2020 - 05:47

        They are all fragile, that's inherently part of the product.

      • Fredfloresjr on 10/12/2020 - 08:01

        the hate is real. Obviously a die hard android fan.

  • stirlo on 10/12/2020 - 10:59
    +1

    If you're in Melbourne this guy is amazing (he fixes the difficult to fix phones for other repair shops when they can't do it themselves) https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Electronics/Pauls-Mo… I doubt he'd be more than Apple to repair and I'm sure he could do it.

    Otherwise sell broken phone on eBay and replace it with something else while continuing to pay back optus. I've destroyed 3 iPhones since 2008 so if this is the first time you've broken on you're still ahead of me :P

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