"Batterygate" payout for Apple customers: Trouble with the checks
In the USA, iPhone users who have suffered from Apple's iPhone battery throttling can request not quite 100 US dollars. But not always without problems.
No 92.17 dollars either, but at least a few coins: iPhone symbol image with cash and coffee.
(Image: George Dolgikh/Shutterstock.com)
Apple's so-called Batterygate affair happened years ago. It concerned the fact that the company had been limiting the performance of its iPhones without being asked via an iOS update in order to prevent them from simply switching off when the battery capacity was reduced. The company later apologized for this and reduced the price of battery replacements. However, this was not enough for US users: they filed a class action lawsuit. After lengthy negotiations, the parties reached an out-of-court agreement on monetary compensation: Those affected are entitled to around 100 US dollars each. However, it has now emerged that there are sometimes problems with payment.
The check is not covered
As the American local station First Coast News from Florida reports, there were people who received a check from Apple's administrator – but they were unable to cash it. One person affected, Desiree McNeil, was paid a total of 92.17 dollars. At least that's what the payment order said. However, when she tried to deposit the check into her account, it was returned by the bank: "Insufficient funds" on the part of the check issuer, it said succinctly.
McNeil's mistake was obviously that she had waited too long. She had received the check with the date "January 3, 2024". She wanted to cash it on April 1. That should have worked too: It said on the front that the check was valid until April 18. But apparently there was not enough money in the settlement account by that date. Even worse: the check is now too old and is no longer accepted by McNeil's bank.
Waiting for 92 dollars and 17 cents
The account of Apple – or rather the lawyers handling the settlement money – is held at Huntington National Bank and is in the name of the holder "In Re Apple Inc Device Performance Litigation". The bank thanked the First Coast News reporter for the tip, but referred him to the administrator of the account. The administrator did not respond at first. Whether Apple was contacted remained unclear at first.
There should actually be enough money: A total of up to 500 million dollars is said to be in the pot that Apple is holding for the settlement. In addition to individual users, several US states also sued over "Batterygate". Apple now allows users to determine for themselves how the iPhone should deal with a weakened battery. There are also functions designed to reduce the load on the battery and the company provides more details on the status of the battery.
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