Team Clark is adamant that we will never write content influenced by or paid for by an advertiser. To support our work, we do make money from some links to companies and deals on our site. Learn more about our guarantee here.
Days after Apple disclosed that it throttles the performance of its old devices, some iPhone users have filed a class-action lawsuit over the issue. In a highly controversial admission, Apple said last week that it slows its older devices to protect them from problems related to new iOS updates.
“Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components,” the company said in a statement.
The admission of performance-throttling, which has long been suspected by iPhone users, has enraged many Apple customers, who accuse the company of selfishly sabotaging their devices instead of extending warranties or producing new batteries for their older phones.
Now, at least nine lawsuits have been filed — one of them asking for $999 million, according to tech website Patently Apple.
RELATED: Apple responds to brouhaha by offering big discount on replacement batteries
All of the litigation means that Apple will have to defend itself in court, where things could get sketchy for the company. “If it turns out that consumers would have replaced their battery instead of buying new iPhones had they known the true nature of Apple’s upgrades, you might start to have a better case for some sort of misrepresentation or fraud,” Boston University professor Rory Van Loo, a specialist in consumer tech law, told Reuters.
Two plaintiffs from California, Stefan Bogdanovich and Dakota Speas were among the first to file a class-action lawsuit against Apple. The official filing was released online by CBS New York.
It claims, among other things, that Apple’s “wrongful actions directly and proximately caused the interference and loss of value to Plaintiffs and Class Members’ iPhones causing them to suffer, and continue to suffer, economic damages and other harm for which they are entitled to compensation, including: a. Replacement of old phone; b. Loss of use; c. Loss of value; d. Purchase of new batteries; e. Ascertainable losses in the form of deprivation of the value of their iPhone; f. Overpayments to Defendant for iPhones.”
RELATED: If you bought this popular pillow, you may be owed money
While the Apple case is a highly publicized one, many people who are owed money for being part of a class-action lawsuit don’t even know about it. The process of informing plaintiffs about settlements isn’t as formal as it needs to be for various reasons.
“I think consumers would be very surprised at just how many class action lawsuits they are a part of,” Joe Ridout, CEO of Consumer Action, a California-based consumer rights group, told ConsumerFraudForum.com.
So how do you find out if you’re owed some money? There are a number of entities that promote suits and settlements. Here are a few:
For more links to settlement sites, click on the link below.
RELATED: I just got $46 from a class-action lawsuit I forgot all about
[anvplayer video=”4137681″ station=”998267″]
This post was last modified on January 8, 2018 6:59 am
If you plan to take an international flight or cruise anytime soon, there's one free…
Pop quiz: What's money expert Clark Howard's favorite tax-advantaged retirement tool? If you guessed Roth…
Are you considering subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket for the upcoming season? Now may be…
Did you know major changes are coming for the way credit card processing fees are…
There’s a lot to love about Costco. The company has deals on just about every…
Money expert Clark Howard started a travel agency in his mid-20s and grew it into…