Apparently my phone is water damaged (hmmm)

[FlamingGallah]

Sent my iPhone 3GS to one of the companies that buy them off you, and they have turned their noses up at it (and charged me a hefty fee to get it back) as they say the water damage sensors have been triggered.

It's never been dunked, was working fine, and a bit of googling says that Apple have just paid out a big lawsuit in America to customers as apparently the water strip things are unreliable and can be triggered by humidity.

Has anyone had this happen? Or know where I could still trade in my perfectly functional phone for a bit of cash?

Thank you

I sold my old phone to carphone warehouse last year. The priceci was offered was higher (only by a few pounds tho) than the other companies. This was done by post so I no idea what testing was done.

I don't know if they still do this but a few years ago I sold a phone over the counter. They confirmed that the phone booted up and the glass wasn't damaged and I left the store with the money

Ooh thank you, I bought my new phone from CPW online so will take it in and see what they say

Your phone has an IME number (I've no idea what it stands for) and it's located near where the battery is. It's like a car registration but for phones IYSWIM.

If you go to their website and enter the IME number it will tell you exactly how much they will give you for it. This is of course assuming that it is in decent nick.

If its definitely working sell on eBay. I got £80 for my iPhone 3GS. Even if its not working you can sell for parts. The water sensors are in the slot where the charger plugs in. little red rectangles. You can check yourself if they are triggered, if they're not red they're not triggered (knows from bitter experience following toilet experience.)

Thanks bonzo just looked on eBay and can't believe how much they are going for even when damaged!

Take it to somewhere like cash generators, IME they don't check moisture inducators, they just test it to see if it works. As long as it's working fine they will buy from you. (and if not they give a reduced price I think)

They have two on iPhones, one is in the charging port and one in the headphones slot. You'll need a torch or other phone with led light to see down them, but if there's no sign of red, take it to somewhere who will go e you a decent price like CeX, or sell on eBay.

You can trade your iphone 3gs in at the apple store for 139£ off anything in store. Could do well against a 4th gen ipod touch.

Lovely thank you everyone, will look into all those options!