Orange SPV C500 Dust issue: UPDATE

[Guest bigfootpete]

Dr B - do you know what the repair code is? I took my phone in yesterday to Orange and they said there wasn't one(ooooh surprise surprise).

So they have taken it in 'for assessment' which basically means they will clean it and try and charge me £15+vat but I wont be having any of that...

[Guest bluesmudge]

why would they start replacing them without having 3rd gen phones to send out? surely in the long run they loose money as they'll just have angry people coming back at them

[Guest Pondrew]

With all respect to Steve for the great work he did, I don't think there is really a solution to the dust problem, nor a 3rd generation phone. Afterall, there were dust problems with the previous SPV versions, as reported on this forum, and since a few years ago HTC had the chance to reconsider the design of their phones and avoid this issue.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Didn't realise the E200 EVER had dust problems?!

I say well done to Steve.

Oh, and am I the only one that finds it funny that the moaning about Orange not listening and not doing anything has changed to suggestions that they are making up stories about redesigns...

Edited March 17, 2005 by Pondrew

[Guest tudor]

Didn't realise the E200 EVER had dust problems?!

I say well done to Steve.

Oh, and am I the only one that finds it funny that the moaning about Orange not listening and not doing anything has changed to suggestions that they are making up stories about redesigns...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

C500 is my first Windows smartphone, so I can't tell from experience. I've been a Nokia (Symbian) user before. I've read on forums about the dust issue on previous models, but I'm not sure about E200. Here's an article about the SPV collecting dust. Anyway, I think that they should have learnt the lesson from the first SPV and they shouldn't repeat their own mistakes.

Steve did indeed something that many (including me) thought it was impossible. Anyway, until we see something like a product recall announcement made public by Orange, I think we have the right to doubt.

[Guest Pondrew]

C500 is my first Windows smartphone, so I can't tell from experience. I've been a Nokia (Symbian) user before. I've read on forums about the dust issue on previous models, but I'm not sure about E200. Here's an article about the SPV collecting dust. Anyway, I think that they should have learnt the lesson from the first SPV and they shouldn't repeat their own mistakes.

Steve did indeed something that many (including me) thought it was impossible. Anyway, until we see something like a product recall announcement made public by Orange, I think we have the right to doubt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the original Smartphone HTC Canary was the only one that collected dust as the two that followed had a different screen technology without the space between the led and the screen. Unfortunately they then changed screen technology again with the HTC Typhoon reintroducing a gap perfect for storing dust. Having owned the C500 briefly I was surprised to find I felt the E200 screen was clearer and more distinct. Don't think anyone agreed with me though so... :D

[Guest Pondrew]

Oh, and I know there have been more Smartphones from HTC but I'm just referring to the Orange SPV Smartphone series...

[Guest Pennan]

With all respect to Steve for the great work he did, I don't think there is really a solution to the dust problem, nor a 3rd generation phone. Afterall, there were dust problems with the previous SPV versions, as reported on this forum, and since a few years ago HTC had the chance to reconsider the design of their phones and avoid this issue.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A comparison with Pocket PC:

An old Compaq iPAQ H36xx at work has dust, but several iPAQ H39xx have none. I believe that HTC has manufactured both models, so they should have some experience in the dust problem...

My Qtek 8010 has some dust... :-(

[Guest bluesmudge]

Just thought i'd let you know i've had my replacement C500 sent - and it can't be 3rd genteration - if you take your batteries out you can see the VOID sticker on the right - next to the Mini SD - mine looks like it has a void sticker stuck over a void sticker - makes me wonder - are these magical 3rd generation C500's just refurbished 2nd gens? and are 2nd gens just refurbished 1st gens?

Im not going to complain though becuase my replacement was free (see previous posts) - and i had issues with the bottom row of keys being loose, and the back cover springing - i just don't think these things are built to last :D

Edited March 18, 2005 by bluesmudge

[Guest tudor]

Is it a new phone which has just been opened for proper sealing, or it's an old refurbished phone?

[Guest lighthouse82]

for the record:

1. the E200 does suffer with dust (at least mine does) but it's very minor compared to the C500

2. the E200's screen is horrible, because the curvy covering makes it all blurry. C500 way way better on that front.

[Guest Jezzer]

I've had both the e100 and the e200 and have never experienced dust problems with those. I've heard of dust problems with the spv classic (as the canary is called in Denmark). I'm having dust problems with my c500 and is very curious how to get around it here in Denmark.

Maybe there'll be a new spv (with 3-net support) soon that we'll be able to trade it for :-)

/Jezzer

[Guest jowee]

hi all, i contacted ocs re dust issues and had a good long chat with the guy and all he said he could do was give me the number for htc as it was down to the manufacturer, i have dust appearing in the top left and right of my c500 screen and although i can see everythin ok its not very pleasin to the eye and knowing the dust is their and shud not be makes me a bit pi**ed off, after all this isnt one of those fones you can just change fascias on and strip down at the drop of a hat ohhh and while im on i,ll just clean the screen a bit f****ake,

[Guest]

It seems like the new fault code hasn't filtered down to all OCS. If someone manages to get their phone swapped for the dust issue maybe they could ask Orange for the fault code and post it here. If OCS tell otheres it's not on the system they should be able to enter a fault code then :D

[Guest swam]

yo,

I just received my 3rd handset from orange and so far (1 day) no dust. If anyone from OCS doesnt sort you out with a replacement, just hang up and speak to someone else as they dont all seem to know about the fault. I had n advisor phone me back saying I should send the phone in so the technical department could 'look' at it, I thought there is no point in that, so called them spoke to someone else and got a new handset sent out.

cheers

Sam

[Guest bluesmudge]

Is it a new phone which has just been opened for proper sealing, or it's an old refurbished phone?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No idea - don't think its possible to tell - and to be honest i was so shocked that they would replace the phone i didn't bother questioning.

I rung up at 12:30 am - and started by saying - "I hear orange are now recognising the Dust issue on the C500 as a problem - with this in mind i would like a replacement phone" - his reaction was as if to say b***ocks how are these people finding out about this???!! I think the point is to be assertive and not ask for a replacement - and tell them you want a replacement from the moment they say hello - Oh and ring up in the early hours - i think they reach a state of I don't care

Edited March 19, 2005 by bluesmudge

[Guest mavisdavis]

@ those of you who have had handset replaced...

Do you have Orange Insurance and been subject to the £15 admin fee when replacing the handset??? If not I'll give em a call

[Guest stevewooding]

I do have Orange Care (had my first handset replaced without it tho), and have never been charged the £15 fee. The dust issue is a manufacturing fault and the handset should be replaced under warrantee, regardless of whether you have Orange Care (which is essentially to cover for handset replacement in the event of accidental damage) or not.

I'd call them.

Steve

[Guest Dr Who]

I do have Orange Care (had my first handset replaced without it tho), and have never been charged the £15 fee. The dust issue is a manufacturing fault and the handset should be replaced under warrantee, regardless of whether you have Orange Care (which is essentially to cover for handset replacement in the event of accidental damage) or not.

I'd call them.

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Been out of the loop for a while but my phone is hideously covered in dust. On the plus side I have never had the dreaded hiss sound on mp3 playback. Has the hiss been eliminated, in which case I will try and replace my handset or should I wait until my screen is actually completely illedgible?

[Guest Cheng]

Called Orange - my 2nd handset I got is now covered in dust! I basically wanted to acknowledge a dust problem with them before any sort of warranty expired.

Anyway, I talked to the O woman, when I explained the problem she said since you originally bought your phone from the internet, I had to take up the issue with the original vendor (something like 6 months sales of goods act) or something.

So I was like...but this is a manufacturing defect. She was like it doesn't matter you have to contact them as its their problem under the act!... So I was like well what if i waited 6 months then called you, that would make it coverable under warranty...right? She said that yes I could do that....if I paid money and took out orange care and a replacement fee!! .... So I was like...erm... well I got my phone replaced once before (thanks Steve! :D ) and she was like...you shouldn't have at all! (Thank god the replacement was ordered by senior officers of orange!) Anyway, she was like since you have got a replacement (which you shouldn't have, she mentioned again) its orange's problem now, so she said I could have a replacement! Well I told her I'd wait a while but if she could put a note on my account that I could have it replaced...I have no idea if I have to pay or not!

Even mention of my super high up officer was no use! ("That name means NOTHING to me")...

I really don't know what they've written on my account!

Maybe steve could have a word with them?

[Guest sSword]

I have had my C500 for about a month now and the dust problen is getting worse :D

The dust is turning into balls which block pixels so it looks like i got dead pixels on my screen :shock:

3 days is all it took for dust to start to appear :?:

it seems to be getting in on the bottom right of the screen

dont know if my phone is the 'fixed' 3rd gen of the C500...how do i tell?.... that dont seem to make a difference from what im readin here anyway.....

is there a cover/case/flexiskin thing that can help keep dust out without turning my phone into a brick?

[Guest sikhcentral]

Hey im new to this forum just registered after i bought my C500 which arrived Saturday morning. I heard about the dust issue before hand but never heard anything as bad as on this forum. I had the phone for almost 3 days and got to say it is brilliant phone with no major issues apart from **cough** windows based operating system :D . There is only a single speckle of dust which is in the left middle part of the screen and only noticable when the screen is darker i.e. black. Im pressuming my phone is the phrased "2nd Generation" C500 ( it is the black model ) as it has noticable dust in the corners of the screen. I bought the phone off the net but I am jus wondering if anyone knows how to open the phone so i could have a look at the problem and try to fix it myself :D as it seems many people are still having problems with replacment phones. Im sure i could solve the problem myself but would this affect the warranty at all and if it did would it be worth sorting the problem myself to sacrifice the warranty?

Thanks for the advice!!!!!!! :shock: :D

Edited March 21, 2005 by sikhcentral

[Guest cubik]

Hey im new to this forum just registered after i bought my C500 which arrived Saturday morning. I heard about the dust issue before hand but never heard anything as bad as on this forum. I had the phone for almost 3 days and got to say it is brilliant phone with no major issues apart from **cough** windows based operating system  :D . There is only a single speckle of dust which is in the left middle part of the screen and only noticable when the screen is darker i.e. black. Im pressuming my phone is the phrased "2nd Generation" C500 ( it is the black model ) as it has noticable dust in the corners of the screen. I bought the phone off the net but I am jus wondering if anyone knows how to open the phone so i could have a look at the problem and try to fix it myself  :D  as it seems many people are still having problems with replacment phones. Im sure i could solve the problem myself but would this affect the warranty at all and if it did would it be worth sorting the problem myself to sacrifice the warranty?

Thanks for the advice!!!!!!!  :shock:   :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have a look at the de-dusting... article posted here on MoDaCo (Right click, Save Target As...).

Edited March 21, 2005 by cubik

[Guest tudor]

Another round of applause for Steve! :D

I've been on the phone with OCS and managed to convince them to replace my Pay-As-You-Go SPV C500.

It was not easy - their first reaction was to send me back to the shop because I bought it from there, then to send me to HTC, and I told them that dust appears even after HTC seals the phone. The lady had to put me on hold 3 or 4 times to check with her supervisor on how to proceed and it seems that what was impossible became possible after speaking with her supervisor.

Anyway, tomorrow night I'm supposed to get the replacement. I'll keep you informed on how things go. They asked for battery and charger to be replaced as well - this is a bit strange for me - did anyone else had them replaced too?

I'm not sure if this is the first PAYG case of replacement, but it's good news - they do replace PAYG as well.

[Guest cubik]

I'm not sure if this is the first PAYG case of replacement, but it's good news - they do replace PAYG as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been watching and taking a great interest in this thread for a while, but having a PAYG handset, didn't hold any hope of getting mine de-dusted or replaced.

Now however, I might just give OCS a call and see how I get on.

[Guest Pondrew]

Another round of applause for Steve!  :D

I've been on the phone with OCS and managed to convince them to replace my Pay-As-You-Go SPV C500.

It was not easy - their first reaction was to send me back to the shop because I bought it from there, then to send me to HTC, and I told them that dust appears even after HTC seals the phone. The lady had to put me on hold 3 or 4 times to check with her supervisor on how to proceed and it seems that what was impossible became possible after speaking with her supervisor.

Anyway, tomorrow night I'm supposed to get the replacement. I'll keep you informed on how things go. They asked for battery and charger to be replaced as well - this is a bit strange for me - did anyone else had them replaced too?

I'm not sure if this is the first PAYG case of replacement, but it's good news - they do replace PAYG as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's quite a result Tudor. Bravo that man!