Hacked iPhones may be rejected at Genius Bars

Users who have hacked or modified the software on their iPhones may be denied warranty service, according to new reports. Users have noted iPhones brought in for service at Apple retail locations are being denied service if their phones were hacked to add third-party applications or unlocked to run on networks other than AT&T. ifoAppleStore reports that at least one person experienced a situation where an Apple Store Genius blacklisted a hacked iPhone for future service or return, but was finally able to arrange to return the iPhone under the 14-day policy after paying the 10 percent restocking fee. While MacNN contacted a few retail stores locations to find a consistent answer, our calls and emails to Apple PR went unanswered.

At the downtown San Francisco Apple Store, one employee said that the store would not necessarily deny service if an iPhone had third-party applications installed, depending on the nature of the problem being experienced adding that he thinks some of the third-party hacks are "great." Other area stores, however, told us that iPhones with third-party modifications would be denied warranty service regardless of the issue for which the unit was brought in.

Filed under: Apple