Damaged MBP after load shedding and Insurance Assessment troubles

[Napalm2880]

Lesson learnt: Always back up your HDD before sending your machine to some gimp with a screwdriver.

Insurance always take ownership of the insured item. Why do you think they're so quick to write-off a vehicle after an accident. They strip the parts and sell them >the original value.

My insurance (Alexander Forbes) usually gets me to do the work. i.e. I have to go get the assessment and quote done. It's a bit of a schlep but after hearing your story I'm happy it's that way. Sounds like you've got a fight on your hands regarding the warranty/ getting your data back before the "assessor" does a format/reinstall.

 

[tRoN]

There are no official shops. iStore / Core is just a premium reseller. Their store staff are not certified mac technicians, but they did try to help me with the basics, which I appreciated.

The Mac power supply is supposed to offer surge protection. I'm not using an official mac power supply since my original power supply has long since suffered from that cable fraying common problem which happens with most MagSafe power supplies. My power supply was bought from Takealot: http://www.takealot.com/tangled-macbook-charger-60w-magsafe-2/PLID34154225 something like that.

Its described as a "high quality generic"

Got one of these as a spare travel unit.
My one gets very hot with use. Does yours?

 

[tRoN]

View attachment 175235

Your opinion is formed by your religious belief (being muslim) and has nothing to do with technology or my problem.
I'm an atheist and and I don't give a crap about your opinions. Technical, religious, ethics or anything else.

You are correct.

 

[DA-LION-619]

I see nothing wrong with the OP's claim, isn't that what insurance is for?

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

Got one of these as a spare travel unit.
My one gets very hot with use. Does yours?

It gets extremely hot with long periods of use.

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

I see nothing wrong with the OP's claim, isn't that what insurance is for?

I have no problem with tRoN's opinion. Its got nothing to do with my post. Its his religious belief (Islamic law) that insurance is prohibited. He's admitted that this is what has formed his opinion so that's settled it. I did take his comment offensively at first but religion stirs up emotions that are often unfounded.

At least he admitted to it. There is nothing fraudulent about my claim because currently its not even a claim yet. Its just being assessed. I thought it might be something small that would come out in the assessment.

Opportunistic and optimistic is my crime, if any

 

[tRoN]

I have no problem with tRoN's opinion. Its got nothing to do with my post. Its his religious belief (Islamic law) that insurance is prohibited. He's admitted that this is what has formed his opinion so that's settled it. I did take his comment offensively at first but religion stirs up emotions that are often unfounded.

At least he admitted to it. There is nothing fraudulent about my claim because currently its not even a claim yet. Its just being assessed. I thought it might be something small that would come out in the assessment.

Opportunistic and optimistic is my crime, if any

Correction. I don't have a problem with insurance. I'm well insured myself

And in retrospect it's more about ethics than religion in this case.
I guess belonging to a religion be it Islam, Christianity etc makes you more ethical and behave morally correct even though something is not a crime.

 

[SauRoNZA]

There are no official shops. iStore / Core is just a premium reseller. Their store staff are not certified mac technicians, but they did try to help me with the basics, which I appreciated.

The Mac power supply is supposed to offer surge protection. I'm not using an official mac power supply since my original power supply has long since suffered from that cable fraying common problem which happens with most MagSafe power supplies. My power supply was bought from Takealot: http://www.takealot.com/tangled-macbook-charger-60w-magsafe-2/PLID34154225 something like that.

Its described as a "high quality generic"

There aren't official shops in a branded Apple Capacity no, but Core is effectively Apple South Africa for all intents and purposes.

 

[nexxus]

There are no official shops. iStore / Core is just a premium reseller. Their store staff are not certified mac technicians, but they did try to help me with the basics, which I appreciated.

Core are the official resellers of Apple in SA. Your 2011/2 laptop will almost certainly have to go to their service centre if you need a new logic board. The store staff will not so much as tighten a screw on your machine, in fact, the Waterfront store didn't even have a screwdriver when I asked to remove my HDD before handing it in.

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

Correction. I don't have a problem with insurance. I'm well insured myself

And in retrospect it's more about ethics than religion in this case.
I guess belonging to a religion be it Islam, Christianity etc makes you more ethical and behave morally correct even though something is not a crime.

So insurance is not forbidden in Islamic belief?

How is submitting my laptop for an insurance assessment unethical? Do I understand correctly that this is what you're saying? What makes my submission unethical?

No my friend, I think you're so far into being religiously brainwashed that you're not capable of knowing the difference between religion and ethics.

 

[noxibox]

The Mac power supply is supposed to offer surge protection. I'm not using an official mac power supply since my original power supply has long since suffered from that cable fraying common problem which happens with most MagSafe power supplies. My power supply was bought from Takealot: http://www.takealot.com/tangled-macbook-charger-60w-magsafe-2/PLID34154225 something like that.

Its described as a "high quality generic"

Using one of those can potentially void your warranty anyway, although that one is possibly expensive enough to be properly made. They'd potentially ask to see the power supply for a warranty claim if the damage was power related.

I don't know how common the cable fraying really is. There are complaints about it of course, but do we know to what percentage of power supplies it happens?

I guess belonging to a religion be it Islam, Christianity etc makes you more ethical and behave morally correct even though something is not a crime.

Well if you believe that I have some great waterfront property in Kansas going real cheap.

 

[crackersa]

Using one of those can potentially void your warranty anyway, although that one is possibly expensive enough to be properly made. They'd potentially ask to see the power supply for a warranty claim if the damage was power related.

I don't know how common the cable fraying really is. There are complaints about it of course, but do we know to what percentage of power supplies it happens?


Well if you believe that I have some great waterfront property in Kansas going real cheap.

i bet you could sell snow to an Eskimo.

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

Using one of those can potentially void your warranty anyway, although that one is possibly expensive enough to be properly made. They'd potentially ask to see the power supply for a warranty claim if the damage was power related.

I don't have a warranty. I was about to toss my MacBook into the trash and buy a new one when I decided to read my insurance policy. After that I phoned the insurance co and asked them if I could submit a claim. So I answered all their questions truthfully and I was told I had a valid claim against my contents insurance.

No one asked me what kind of charger I use. In fact, they've got the charger.

Still not sure what i've done wrong. I've been accused of fraud, being unethical and immoral all because my insurance said I had a valid claim

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

Lesson learnt: Always back up your HDD before sending your machine to some gimp with a screwdriver.

Insurance always take ownership of the insured item. Why do you think they're so quick to write-off a vehicle after an accident. They strip the parts and sell them >the original value.

My insurance (Alexander Forbes) usually gets me to do the work. i.e. I have to go get the assessment and quote done. It's a bit of a schlep but after hearing your story I'm happy it's that way. Sounds like you've got a fight on your hands regarding the warranty/ getting your data back before the "assessor" does a format/reinstall.

Not at all. I asked all questions before it was collected. Such as how long it would take, what happens to my data etc etc.

The iStore tested the HDD and it tested fine. They even removed my HDD and put it into another machine and it booted 100%. Insurance co knows this. My irritation with this whole thing is that my laptop has been taken to pieces without asking me or telling me what they were going to do. And then when I decided to just buy a used MBP and just slot my drive into it, they give me a hard time about giving my drive back. I'm not even sure I'll get my drive back this year. This, after telling me it would only take 3 days for the assessment.

 

[sajunky]

1. Ignore troll, you have valid claim.
2. All power supplies have surge protection (of some kind). All have to be certified for safety. Using 2-prong plug is irrelevant for laptop (non- conductive casing). 3-prong plug just help eliminate some unpleasant sensation when touching metal parts.
3. Lesson learnt:
- When lodging claim have a written quote from authorised centre for repairing or two quotes from third party.
- Never handle equipment over to the insurance before getting decision on your claim, so you know it will be replaced or repaired (upon your acceptance). Till it happen the equipment is still your property.
- In typical scenario assessor comes to your place and do a job with your presence.

 

[noxibox]

I don't have a warranty.

Still not sure what i've done wrong. I've been accused of fraud, being unethical and immoral all because my insurance said I had a valid claim

I wasn't clear. It can actually result in Apple charging more for a repair outside warranty too. There are suspect power supplies out there and if one not authorised by them is used they can get touchy about it.

You can safely ignore people claiming it is unethical. It is however always foolish to have the only copy of one's data on a drive in a machine handed over to someone else. Insurance companies don't need your permission to do what they've done, but a decent one would normally have a quicker turnaround.

2. All power supplies have surge protection (of some kind). All have to be certified for safety. Using 2-prong plug is irrelevant for laptop (non- conductive casing). 3-prong plug just help eliminate some unpleasant sensation when touching metal parts.

They are probably required to have protection, but the proliferation of genuinely dangerous cheap designs shows that even in first world countries they're not being properly certified. It is even possible for the poorly designed power supply itself to be the culprit behind destroying equipment.

3. Lesson learnt:
- When lodging claim have a written quote from authorised centre for repairing or two quotes from third party.
- Never handle equipment over to the insurance before getting decision on your claim, so you know it will be replaced or repaired (upon your acceptance). Till it happen the equipment is still your property.
- In typical scenario assessor comes to your place and do a job with your presence.

The first two yes, but the last is not likely for electronics.

 

[sajunky]

They are probably required to have protection, but the proliferation of genuinely dangerous cheap designs shows that even in first world countries they're not being properly certified. It is even possible for the poorly designed power supply itself to be the culprit behind destroying equipment.

Protection classes are defined by IEC61140.
Class 0 appliances have no protective earth connection and feature only a single level of insulation. Which Class 0 items are allowed it is up to the individual country - prohibited in UK and New Zeeland, AFAIK.

Class II is a double insulated appliance, it has been designed in such way that earth plug is not required - single fault do not expose user to electric shock. Most of equipment with plastic enclosure is Class II appliance (as plastic provides second level of insulation) - cellphones, tablets, laptops.
Maybe, except maybe it is original Apple cellphone charger with a gap between primary and secondary windings less than 0.5mm, such protection is not good at all.

And final word - yes it happens that original power supply will destroy equipment.

 

[MyLowBandwidth]

1. Ignore troll, you have valid claim.
2. All power supplies have surge protection (of some kind). All have to be certified for safety. Using 2-prong plug is irrelevant for laptop (non- conductive casing). 3-prong plug just help eliminate some unpleasant sensation when touching metal parts.
3. Lesson learnt:
- When lodging claim have a written quote from authorised centre for repairing or two quotes from third party.
- Never handle equipment over to the insurance before getting decision on your claim, so you know it will be replaced or repaired (upon your acceptance). Till it happen the equipment is still your property.
- In typical scenario assessor comes to your place and do a job with your presence.

I wish I had the voice recordings from the initial phone call. I asked all these questions. When they told me that they have to collect the laptop, I immediately said to forget it. Then the call center agent re-assured me that everything will be fine, their assessor won't lose my data, my laptop will be fine and that it is JUST an assessment and its quick. That's what I was told before it was collected.

Whats really happening is vastly different to what I was told. I'm under no illusion that I've been foolish, naive and gullible, but I was also desperate for a quick solution.

Thanks for all the advice though, much appreciated.

 

[sajunky]

I wish I had the voice recordings from the initial phone call. I asked all these questions. When they told me that they have to collect the laptop, I immediately said to forget it. Then the call center agent re-assured me that everything will be fine,

You can request recordings of the conversation. They made an attempt of unauthorized repair and they will have to prove you have accepted it. If the matter goes to lawyers, you will know that onus is on their side to prove, but I think everything will be fine. Just don't accept any repairs in this situation, just replacement for a brand new one.

 

[Grant]

In fact I have just made an offer on a second hand late 2011 MBP via gumtree so that I can just slot my drive into it and get on with life.

oh sweet jesus - stay away from that thing !!!
do you not read the threads here:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...continue-Petition-surpasses-20-000-signatures