Dear Sir /Madam,
GREETINGS!
Im Raja, Insurance Surveyor and Loss Assessor.
I bought one samsung mobile Samsung M21 on Jan 2021 and used the same for my official and personal purposes. Model number SM-M215FZBDINS bearing serial RZ8NB1JNREH
On 26.08.2022 morning at around 8.30 Am, I got a notification from my phone to update the software and based on that I had downloaded and updated the software accordingly but after some time, my phone screen freezes and restarts many times.
Later I called & went to the nearby customer care centre on 30.08.2022 & on 05.09.2022 at Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and told the issue and they checked my phone and told me that the problem is due to the motherboard problem and informed that it would cost around Rs.6000 for fixing the issue being out of warranty and the phone was surrendered to them for repairing purpose and job sheet was provided to me mentioning as " DEVICE AUTO RESTART".
Thence i wrote a mail to samsung service head and informed them that my phone has a problem only after the update provided by the Samsung Co. and stated many times there is no fault in my side and clearly and humbly requested to fix my phone without any cost but they denied to do the same being out of warranty of my phone, However i continuously followed uo the service team through call and mail.
On Oct 5 2022, one mail was received from the samsung as below,
#QUOTE#
This is in regards to your complaint for your Samsung Product category name, Model number SM-M215FZBDINS bearing serial RZ8NB1JNREH
As per the inspection done by our Service Engineer your product is liquid log because of improper usageWe regret that we would not be able to accede to your request for repair at discount.or FOC
We request you to permit us to repair the unit on a chargeable basis, for which repair estimate is Rs 6245/-
#UNQUOTE#
Please note that the subject mobile phone was surrendered to the service center on 05.09.2022 about 01 month ago and the service sheet/ Job sheet was provided after a thorough check/inspection mentioning the complaint as " Device Auto Restart".
Apart from the same, no remarks for liquid damage were reported by the service team at that time of my visit or even on my follow ups for past 30 days and now they repudiated my request and claim stating the reason of " LIQUID LOG AND IMPROPER USAGE:"
Then I wrote a mail on OCT 6 2022 requesting them to clarify on below points to samsung and awited for their reply,
1. What has your service team done for the past 01 month ? Has it would take 01 month to confirm / identify the liquid log on any device against complaint?
2. I would like to bring to your notice that I have visited 02 Authorized service centres of Samsung 1. at Mannady, Chennai and 2. At Porur, Chennai, none of these service centers has reported that the issue( restarting issue/ freezing of my phone)is due to liquid log / wet damage. But after a month passed, now your team has raised this irrelevant liquid log issue against my complaint. Please clarify.
3. Can you please confirm where the liquid log was identified, whether on the motherboard or SIM and SD card slots, headphone jacks, charging ports, and microphone holes.
4. We all know that the Liquid damage on a phone would depend on how long the phone is spent in the water and how permeable or resistant the phone is to water. Please provide your report/ job sheet mentioning the nature & extent of damage and degree of rust if any. Please share your service team report regarding the same.
5. Coming to your point, liquid damage on my phone could range from the phone's charging port not working to the entire device not powering on. However in my case no such complaint / issue was reported experienced by me prior to the reported issue ( restarting issue/ freezing of my phone) after the software update.
Since there was not an issue in Powering on the device .How it was confirmed the liquid log affected my phone or it is the reason behind my raised complaint of ( restarting issue/ freezing of my phone) after software update. Moreover the Liquid / Moisture damage doesn't affect the motherboard at first.
6. Further request you to share your observations on the point of improper usage used in the trail mail. How it was confirmed that my phone was under improper usage.
The final thing on decision against my complaint seemed that Samsung has designed and found a reason to repudiate my claim/ complaint/ issue through irrelevant point "Liquid damage" against the reported issue ( restarting issue/ freezing of my phone) after the software update).
Since as a consumer having a right to oblique the opinion on the Quality of Samsung upon my worst experience that a software update can crash a mobile phone's motherboard that too even in a 1.5 years old mobile phone.Therefore the provided / made reason ( Liquid Damage) is not acceptable as per my opinion and once again requesting them to review / reconsider my complaint and solve this issue at the earliest.
Since the matter had been under Samsung consideration, One samsung represenative named Mr. Selva M Kumar has spoken to me and verbally informed for a discount of 25% on my phone's repair but i requested them for free of cost repair, since the fault is not mine.
Later they refused on providing discount @25% and again stated the new reason for liquid damage due to improper usage against my complaint ( restarting issue/ freezing of my phone which comes after the software update) and rejected my claim once again.
From the Samsung support and telecon with Mr. Selva of Samsung, it appeared that from the beginning that they had a pre-determined mind of rejecting my legitimate claim and I never expected this from a super branded company and the way they are approaching the customer's unusual problem in which their product is not optimal.
Time and months are passed but my follow ups were not stopped as i continuosuly been with touch the samsung people for a solution on repairing my phone.
However, the Samsung has standed on their point continuosly, that, as per Samsung's Guidelines free-of-cost repair is not possible and repair will be on a chargeable basis.
It is to be noted that the subject phones motherboard had got repaired / problemedafter the software update not due to any handling or other issues stated by the Samsung.
Since it is not my fault, Its wholly due to the quality of the mobile phone.As the said fault is currently facing by the consumers in recent times as per the google reviews of M & F series Samsung Phones.
Thence several reminder mails has been sent to Samsung regarding the repairment of my mobile but no use.
On Feb 22 2023, Samsung wrote as below,
Counselor answer
Dear Mr. Raja,
Greetings of the day from Samsung India!
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Satisfying our customers is very important to us. Please be assured, I’ll assist you with the same.
I have coordinated with the Dedicated Team regarding your concern. The Service Center found a water log in your device. so we are unable to provide the service under the warranty. As per Samsung warranty guidelines, physical damage/ impact damage/ cosmetics part issue/ water locked issues are not considered under the warranty. The charges will be applicable. Kindly understand the situation we can not go beyond the Samsung Warranty guidelines.
# Unquote
Again on June 27 2023, Samsung wrote tp me as below on my follow up mail.
Dear Mr. Raja
Greetings of the day!
This is in regards to the complaint of your Samsung Model number SM-M215FZBDINS bearing serial RZ8NB1JNREH. We acknowledge your concern & the issue which you have reported to us in your product and basis the inspection done by our Service Engineer, part needs to be replaced.We would like to inform you that the date of purchase of your product was 21.01.2021 and as such, the product is out of warranty now, Water log Found on the UnitWe request you to bare with our efforts to serve you better by allowing us to repair your unit on a chargeable basis.We would also like to inform you that basis the product age; we would not be able to Cater your request for Free of Cost Service.
# Unquote
PHONE -COLLECTED FROM SERVICE CENTRE.
Since i have been waiting for a solution from Samsung side for over a year but nothing happened(Earlier they have provided some discount on replacement of mother board but later refused and repudiation was made on my claim stating the reason of water logging).
After my long struggle, I decided to get my product back and i went to the service center on last August 2nd 2023.During my visit, when my phone had no SIM tray, immediately when I inquired about it they said it was lost and they would order another one.Howver the said phone was not powering on Display was found with lot of scratches.
Due to the same, I visited the service centre again on 07.08.2023 who checked my phone and told me that there was a Display Issue in addition to the restart issue.After that a couple of days, i went again back to the service centre and got my sim tray and submitted my phone again to them and asked the Samsung team to give back my phone as it is condition given by me initailly.
Finally Samsung offers me final discount through mail on Sat, Nov 11, 2023 as follows,
Dear Mr. Raja
Greetings of the day!
This is in regards to the complaint of your Samsung Model number SM-M215FZBDINS, bearing serial RZ8NB1JNREH .
We acknowledge your concern & the issue which you have reported to us in your product and basis the inspection done by our Service Engineer, part needs to be replaced.As such the total cost of repair would be INR 9657 /-.
We request you to give your consent to allow us to repair your unit on chargeable basis.but we can offer discount to repair your product, you have to pay RS RS 5868/- .
# Unquote
In reply to that mail, I wrote as follows on Nov 16 2023,
I understood that you were providing some discount on phone's display issue as there were no loss / damage during my submission on phone during Sep 2022 and while getting my phone back from the service centre it was found with display issue.Henceforth it cannot be considered as discounted price as it is on full responsibility of samsung on giving back the customer's phone as in same condition.
Herewith I request you to provide the same discount of 25% on motherboard repair excluding the display repair or else provide some discount on the latest samsung model phones as i have still trust on samsung.
But they denied and asked me accept the offer. Finally while approaching the service for the provided above said offer, it was refused by the Samsung that the provided offer was valid for limited time period only.It is no where informed to me during my entire my mail follow up for the past two years.
CONCLUSION
This is menace to me done by the Samsung team.I need justice for this behaviour from Samsung.
SAMSUNG's SERVICE TEAM NEGLIGENCE:
My phone has been keep restarted due to software update done only and not due to water logg and improper usage. That shows the bulid up quality of samsung where the phone 's mother board has been crashed due to a normal software update.
Earlier mother board only reported as problem but now how comes the loss occured to display. found with lot of scratches and also sim tray missing.It is 100 % negligence done by Samsung service team as it seems their standard of keeping and mishandling of the customers phone received for servicing.
Initially 8 months back, it was checked and reported by the service team that only Auto Restart issue but now Display issue is being told that is after 8 months back.
Next there were no issues with display, sound, touch screen etc on my phone as only it keeps restarting some times while giving my phone to the service centre initially on 05.09.2022
Earlier they have provided some discount on replacement of mother board but later refused and repudiation was made on my claim stating the reason of water logging and improper usage.I dont know how they confirmed on my improper iusage.Even from Samsung, No reply found on my earlier queries on reported water logging and improper usage..
From the above, it is clearly established the situation that how my phone was being kept under their custody.
It is prior duty of the samsung team to handle the customer's product in good manner.. The missing of my sim tray and scratches on my phone screen is preamble reason behind my phone's display issue.Earlier it was found with only restarting issue whereas now it was found not powering on.
Please i need justice and kindly help to get the same.
Samsung India customer support has been notified about the posted complaint.
Apr 22, 2024
Updated by Raja surveyor Kindly acknowledge my complaint.
Greetings from Samsung!
Thank you for reaching to us, request you to please share your registered contact no. / email address to assist you further.
Best Regards,
Samsung