Apple

Apple fined 200,000 Euros in Italy over AppleCare

posted by Alan F.

Dec 21, 2012, 1:29 PM

Apple fined 200,000 Euros in Italy over AppleCare

Return boxes provided by AppleCare for the Apple iPhone

According to Italian regulators, Apple fraudulently told customers that an AppleCare plan was required to obtain two years of warranty coverage. The problem with telling this to customers is that local laws already guaranteed those who purchased an Apple device two years of warranty coverage. While Apple has already changed its warranty policies, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato says that the activity took place between March 28th and November 10th and has fined Apple 200,000 Euros ($264,000 USD). Back in March, when Italian regulators started focusing in on AppleCare, the Cupertino based firm was fined 900,000 Euros ($1.2 million USD) for committing the same act..

The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato has closed the case with the latest fine, which was actually broken down into smaller amounts. Apple Sales International was hit with the bulk of the penalty, 120,000 Euros ($158,000). Both Apple Italia and Apple Retail Italia were each hit with 40,000 Euro fines ($53,000 USD each). While Apple made 14 changes to its website, stores and terms that took effect on or before November 10th, the company finally decided to pull the plug and no longer offers AppleCare in Italian retail stores. The plan can still be purchased online in Italy.

source: ipodnn

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28 Comments

27. JunkCreek

Posts: 407; Member since: Jul 13, 2012

so, Apple Care everynothing, everynoone. everynowhere but Apple Care Sue/pantent every things, everyone, every where i thing i'm gonna get another warn. should checked my gmail everyday.

posted on Dec 22, 2012, 8:39 AM 0

18. andro.

Posts: 1999; Member since: Sep 16, 2011

A 2 yr warranty has always been the legal free right of every person in Europe. Glad to see apple getting fined for not only depriving susceptibile Ifans of their legal rights.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 5:19 PM 1

14. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

f**kers charge MS in the millions. APPLE a measly $200,000. What is it with Apple they can't seem to touch?

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 3:53 PM 1

12. gwuhua1984

Posts: 1237; Member since: Mar 06, 2012

200,000 is just pocket change....

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 3:22 PM 3

9. dragonscourgex

Posts: 307; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

Funny, they did it once, got fined, then turn around and did it again.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:29 PM 1

8. Twisted247

Posts: 282; Member since: Oct 12, 2012

Thieves plain and simple, always have been this is just another tool within their toolbox to use upon their unsuspecting customers. Other Tools, selling the same product for years and calling it "evolutionary" "ground breaking" and "good" .... Lies left right up and down. But hey when you buy into the apple brand and family that is what you are given in return for paying top dollar for a sub par product not only do they rip you off to your face with jacking the price through the roof that china knock offs are beating for a 1/3 of the price. BUT they are also raping you behind the scenes as well. OUCH

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:17 PM 1

4. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

Gotta love it when things like this happen to screw over the consumers, the consumers in question never get reimbursed for it, it just gives the government a way to make a little profit off of Apple not following the laws. The government shuold have fined them yes, but should have fined them for the amount of every Applecare+ sale made in the country to reimburse purchasers PLUS this 200k euros or whatever they deemed as additional punishment.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:51 PM 2

6. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

And since this is "Wilfull" fraud the fine should be three times ...

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:12 PM 1

3. dan86

Posts: 298; Member since: Mar 17, 2012

I can see now apple as bad piggies getting hit by angry birds all over the world. Bad luck apple but you've started lying to your golden customers.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:47 PM 1

2. Cynipap999

Posts: 138; Member since: Nov 15, 2012

Quale bruto bestia è Apple e come egoista! Tutto stupito e iTutti Fruti!

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:44 PM 2

15. aaronkatrini

Posts: 242; Member since: Jun 06, 2012

Un Italiano su PA ... siiiiiiiiii!

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 4:21 PM 0

20. sorcio46

Posts: 435; Member since: Jul 27, 2011

we are in three :P

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 6:18 PM 0

1. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

Oh and fanboys from other side of fence were talking some crap for samsung replacing few failing SIII FOC with no questions asked. So now what? This is what Apple is ... caught defrauding in short :)

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:44 PM 8

5. bucky

Posts: 3797; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

I'v had nothing but perfect customer service in NA. No other company will replace your phone as easily as apple.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:56 PM 2

7. PhenomFaz

Posts: 1236; Member since: Sep 26, 2012

well the truth about Apple Care...Apple Don't Care! :)

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:15 PM 12

10. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

Customer service which says "You're holding it wrong!"... Customer service which says "It is normal!" talking about iPhone 5 scratches out of the box... Customer service which says "It is normal!" talking about Purple Halo effect... Customer service which says "Use iMessage instead of SMS!" when there was SMS security problems... Yeah, really "good" customer service...

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:49 PM 5

11. bucky

Posts: 3797; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

I'v had none of those...sry. Lol an android fan talking about security...now I'v heard it all...

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 2:53 PM 2

21. dsDoan

Posts: 235; Member since: Dec 28, 2011

An Android device is as secure as the end-user. If you need your hand held, then Android is probably not for you.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 6:18 PM 2

26. quakan

Posts: 1419; Member since: Mar 02, 2011

None of those came from customer service...

posted on Dec 22, 2012, 8:01 AM 0

13. Rocksteady unregistered

oh yeah, replace your failed device with a refurbished one. Good for you.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 3:51 PM 2

16. bucky

Posts: 3797; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

That is still going to stay fast and smooth no matter how much is installed.

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 4:22 PM 1

17. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

Because there is no multitasking...

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 4:58 PM 3

24. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

To clear browser cache one has to do a 5 finger smooch of screen go to settings -- clear cache then do 5 finger smooch again -- then click to open SUFFER-EEE browser again ... no wonder it will have speed because all the advantage of having that stupid sped is lost in doing 5 finger screen smooch (or hit that button ) :)

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 11:18 PM 1

25. iDroidWin

Posts: 117; Member since: Dec 07, 2012

Android is fast. iOS is smoother. Android can do a lot, while iOS will have a hard time with their OS. They desperately need to redesign it. But they can't do it without a lot of bugs. I would love to see them trying. Apple easily change there phone for a price above their manufacturing cost (atleast in my country and some other I know). So even while replacing, they get some profit. For Apple, there are only two concerned parties, investors and themselves. Their policies are formulated in such a way that it gives an "impression" of customer friendliness. Others, as they are also in mid & low range smartphones, can't follow the same policies. For others, customers do come into picture.