Dear Community Partner,

Smartphones are complex, costly devices that we rely on for everything from keeping in touch with loved ones and storing our favorite pictures to depositing a check or splitting a restaurant bill. These sophisticated devices aren't meant to be dropped in a pool, sat upon or left in the hot sun. So, what happens when disaster strikes and you're left paying an expensive contract for a phone that no longer works? Do you know if your warranty will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your phone due to damage? What if your smartphone is lost or stolen—will your warranty replace it? 

A recent survey conducted by Consumer Action revealed that, while virtually all new and many used phones come with a manufacturer's warranty, nearly one-third (29%) of survey respondents who own a smartphone said they didn't know if their phone came with a warranty. And although 69% of respondents were aware of the warranty, they did not know with whom to file a claim. Another survey, by Consumer Reports, found that one-quarter of consumers with a broken phone set out to fix it but ended up having to replace it because repairs were either too costly or inconvenient. Further complicating consumers' ability to repair their phones is the scarcity of replacement parts and repair instructions, according to the FTC. So, do consumers have a right to repair their broken smartphones?

Join us on Tuesday, Aug. 30, when Consumer Action will host a free virtual training on smartphone warranties and consumer right-to-repair issues. The training will feature speakers Kaveh Waddell, deputy editor for Consumer Reports’ Digital Lab; Nandita Sampath, a policy analyst at Consumer Reports; and Kathleen Daffan, assistant director in the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Marketing Practices.

The webinar will cover:

What smartphone warranties cover and don't cover
The difference between a warranty, extended warranty and insurance
How to file a warranty claim
An overview of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and other consumer protections
An overview of the "right to repair," and why it is important
How the right to repair consumer products is an economic justice issue
A discussion about consumer options when dealing with a broken smartphone

AFC professionals can earn 1.5 CEUs for participation in this free, 90-minute webinar. 

Click on the link below to register:

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. MT; 12:00 p.m. CT; 1:00 p.m. ET)
Click here to register.

If you have questions for our guest speakers, please send them to [email protected] by Aug. 25. We want to hear from you! Also, please email me with any questions regarding the webinar.

We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Linda Williams
Community Outreach and Training Manager
Consumer Action

Consumer Action presents this webinar with funding from the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.

Through education and advocacy, nonprofit Consumer Action fights for strong consumer rights and policies that promote fairness and financial prosperity for underrepresented consumers nationwide.

www.consumer-action.org

©2022 Consumer Action
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