Pixel 7a battery swollen

[annllwynteg]

Hi

My Google pixel 7a battery has swollen and the phone keeps turning off when it gets hot. I've been advised to not use it as it could catch fire. I went to my nearest ee shop and they refused to repair it as they couldn't override the repair charge of £196. I've contacted Google and getting nowhere, I've made a complaint to ee and still waiting for a reply. I've contacted citizens advice, the ombudsman, and I'm in the middle of contacting my local councillor.

Can anybody advice on what I can do next to resolve this problem please?

Under the consumer act 2015 a mobile phone should at least last 6 years, so in theory ee have sold me a faulty phone with a manufacturing fault which is unacceptable. 

Thank you in advance 

[garybs29]

A warramty usually covers 24 months, how long have you had it?

Also your just wildly stating 6 years, it needs to be proved a known fault etc, one thinks you're just clutching at straws as you don't want to pay for repair or a new handset after years

[annllwynteg]

I've had it 32 months, but it started playing up 2 months ago.

It is a proved fault, it was in the sun newspaper, and if you Google it you will see other customers with the same issue.

Im using an old huawei phone which is 10 yrs old, it's very slow but the battery is working well. 

Why should I fork OUT £196 for a manufacturer fault? 

My 24 month contract only ended last October and I was paying £41 a month. 

Don't assume I'm clutching at straws and don't want to pay for a new phone, I'm only going with what is right. 

EE are very keep to sell you things, I've been a customer for 15 yrs and have broadband with them, but when it comes to an issue the customer have, they keep us waiting, if I refused to pay the bills, I'd soon know about it..... 

[garybs29]

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/16043453?hl=en

Maybe try the official channel instead. If you qualify problem solved. Ultinately though you'd have to go through pricesses for the 6 year thing

[annllwynteg]

I'm trying, I've been trying for the last 3 weeks with Google and all this week with EE. Getting nowhere. I don't think there are going to be happy customers in the future when they pay so much money for phones and they only last 2- 2 1/2 years

Thanks 

[Schockwave]

@annllwynteg was that a brand new phone? Phones and IPads should last longer than that. I have had my IPad for at least four years, and my previous IPhone for four years before upgrading and using both every day, usually charging when charge is around 20% or less with no problems, yes batteries need charging more often when getting older, but do still work.

You could launch a complaint here and see where that gets you:

https://ee.co.uk/help/contact-ee/complaint

[annllwynteg]

Hi 😀

Yes it was brand new on contract got it end of September 2023

Like I mentioned I'm using my 10 Yr old huawei, I have older androids and they still charge up, I've never experienced this issue before, the battery is bulging at the back of the phone and gets very hot after charging, I've been advised not to use it as it could catch fire.

I'll try your link.. Thank you 👍 

[Northerner]

Hi @annllwynteg 

Depends on how you charge your battery, environment etc so not necessarily a manufacturer fault. 

Pixel 7a cheap these days but make sure you dispose of the battery correctly as you don't want it exploding.

Thanks 

[annllwynteg]

I charge it like I've always charged phones, is there a special way to charge pixels?

Was $600 - $ 899 classed as a cheap phone in 2023? 

[Schockwave]

@annllwynteg did you get it from EE or from America, as you put the dollar sign rather than the pound sign?