I am Stupid - Water damaged my Iphone 4

[Q-Ball]

Hi Guys,

I am currently going through the seven stages of grief - i dropped my iphone 4 in the bog yesterday and now i doesnt turn on. I know its only a phone, but it played quite a handy part in my daily routine so i am quite gutted!

Anyway, i havent got phone insurance, and i know apple won't touch it. I am going to try my home contents policy later to see if they would cover it. I have gone on google and ebay, and there appear to be services that will attempt to fix water damaged phones and claim they have a 80% success rate - does anyone have any experience with these or could recomend one?

sites i have found are iphonefixed.co.uk and gameworlddirect.co.uk

thanks for any advice you can offer.

Q

[Fear345]

Have you tried the usual fixes first ? covering it in rice to absorb the water or wrap it in a towel and leaving in the airing cupboard.

[Goldberg]

Of course you have mobile phone insurance! It's just a coincidence that next month after taking the policy out that you need to make the claim (awaits flaming......)

[Hangman]

Of course you have mobile phone insurance! It's just a coincidence that next month after taking the policy out that you need to make the claim (awaits flaming......)

No flames from me, I was gona suggest the same thing.

[evilsatan]

If you discover you do have an insurance policy remember most policies only cover damage which has been reported within 24 hours.

With electronic devices the general method is to remove the battery immediately and put in airing cupboard or in a bag of rice. With no current running through the circuit you would hope no components will become damaged. The next step would be to disassemble and clean with cleaning alcohol to remove any residue left behind then turn it on and hope for the best. Some companies will use an ultrasonic bath (without liquid).

[Lou_smorals]

Hi
I once did exactly the same thing, so phone was soaked in piss not water lolol, I fell you pain. I used the rice trick and it worked, but being scottish I fished it out the piss damn quick! Rice took 2-3 days to work and NO I DIDNT use the pissy rice afterwards.
LS

[Q-Ball]

thanks for all of your advice guys - it is currently siting in a plastic box full of rice near the radiator. unfortunately i don't have the screwdrivers required to open the phone up so the phone is in fully intact.

I thought about the insurance option but i don't know anyone who would cover me - i got the phone on launch date so is over six months old!

would it be worth sending to a repair company if the rice option doesnt work?

[plug1]

How can you use a ultrasonic bath without liquid ?
Just get it insured and claim next month .

Plug.

[Mr_Maghoo]

I would go and see your local repair shop as they should have an ultrasonic bath.

The success rate will vary from shop to shop, but I have had very good results with various brands of phone.

I do have a 100% success rate with the iPhone 4, had 1 and repaired 1, lol. I am not too sure what the percentage is though from other shops/repairers, but worth a try. If they dont repair then they shouldnt charge.

[krooks]

a friend of mine, dropped his in the swimming pool last week. Used rice to dry it out and it worked a treat. Only problem was wifi didn't work. Took it back to apple, and convinced the girl that the water sensor was activate months ago when applying a screen protector that required spray.

He now has a new iphone! So may want to try all the above!

[eblaster101]

remove 2 bottom screws slide of back cover and undo the battery screw and remove the battery before it gets worse.

[MoNkFiSh]

I think most mobile insurance policies will only allow you to take out insurance on a new phone (you have to provide proof of purchase with a date on it before they will activate the policy) they do this to stop u only insuring the phone once its broken otherwise everyone would do it.

[Goldberg]

A guy at work dropped hi 3G and took out a policy despite the phone been years old.
They 'repaired' the phone no problem.

[RSV]

Check your not covered thru your bank account. If not you can usually get phone insurance from them if you upgrade your account then accidentally loose it next month

[Owl]

Check your not covered thru your bank account. If not you can usually get phone insurance from them if you upgrade your account then accidentally loose it next month

They ask for the IMEI number. I have mine covered through Lloyds TSB. You can do this insurance at any time.

[Lighty]

also mate if you want to try cusc http://www.cusc.co.uk/iphone_insurance I use them, they are very cheap and have made a claim when I lost my 3GS, got an iphone 4 now, was skeptical at first due to their prices but as I said made a claim brand new phone was given as replacement. Dont think you have to do it from new purchase either but not too sure I did it straight away. Maybe a good idea would be to take out hte annual policy that way it doesnt look like your trying to scam them one month down the line when you only paid a fiver! Also you'll then have a 12 month policy to boot (Which you should have thought about in the 1st place to be fair.)

[Q-Ball]

remove 2 bottom screws slide of back cover and undo the battery screw and remove the battery before it gets worse.

Would love to but i don't have the appropriate screwdriver! i have tried 3 smalll sets, but none of them seem to do the job.

I have just come across protectyourbubble - they seem to do the job. Going to try my home insurance first, if that fails, will try the links suggested or protect your buble!

thanks guys!
Q

[RSV]

Was there shit in the pan? I often wonder wether i would put my hand in a shitty bowl to rescue my iphone if this happened

[Mr Men]

Would love to but i don't have the appropriate screwdriver! i have tried 3 smalll sets, but none of them seem to do the job.


thanks guys!
Q

http://www.sourcingmap.com/screwdriv...aign=ukfroogle

[DejaVu]

My HTC Touch HD has also gone to a watery grave, but in my case it went through a regular wash and a spin cycle. I immediately took the battery out and left it in the airing cupboard for 3 days to no avail.

I'm looking into getting it insured, but was worried no-one would touch me.

Will sift through the suggestions on here and hopefully get it repaired/replaced.