Blackberry Curve Backlight Broken

[Souj]

Okay, first of all, I don't know if "backlight" is the right term, but it's the light the illuminates the screen.

So, I have a somewhat old Blackberry Curve, and like a week ago I lost it. I apparently dropped it in the snow and it stayed there for about 12 hours until I found it the next morning. It didn't work at all until I dried it out and then it worked just fine, except the screen was a bit dimmer and it occasionally flickered. After 4 days, suddenly the backlight stopped working all together. The only way I can see the screen now is if I hold it under a really bright light.
I have insurance on the phone, so I went to the store and said it stopped working. They immediately pointed out a scratch on the screen and said they couldn't give me a new phone because the screen was damaged and that I'll have to call some other number and pay $120 for a replacement.
Does it sound like there's anyway I can fix this myself assuming it's just the obvious thing that's wrong with it? And if anyone knows how I would do such a thing, that info or a point in the right direction would be great.
I was thinking about just ending my contract and getting a new phone, but that would cost me at least $100+ as well

[Kaisha]

Off-topic, but what's the fucking point in paying extra to get it insured if they won't cover scratches? I'd say get a new provider in that case, but all cell phone companies (at least where I live) fuck you in the ass regardless of how much you're paying them.

[Souj]

I don't know. That's the same god damned question I asked. And also why I'm tempted to also just cancel my contract and go with a different company. Only reason I'm debating it is because it would cost more.
Also though, when I say scratch, it's a pretty deep scratch. Looks like a crack at a glance. But even then, it's fucking retarded.

I might just try and find a phone that"s free with a contract

[jmc]

I don't know. That's the same god damned question I asked. And also why I'm tempted to also just cancel my contract and go with a different company. Only reason I'm debating it is because it would cost more.
Also though, when I say scratch, it's a pretty deep scratch. Looks like a crack at a glance. But even then, it's fucking retarded.

I might just try and find a phone that"s free with a contract

What company are you dealing with?

[Rellikard]

Depends on what kind of insurance you have. Some companies cover accidental damage, some don't. Yours would be considered accidental since something's corroded on the inside from the melted snow. They may want to charge you the $120 surcharge fee for the replacement due to the damage since it's not cost effective to repair it with the cost of parts and labor probably totaling close to or above the $120 or they may not even be able to get the part due to the age.

This isn't something new. When I used Sprint a couple of years ago, they sent me a little booklet with a list of all of the phones they supported plus the cost to replace if needed. Smart phones were all like $100 whereas flip/cheap phones only had to pay $50.

[Souj]

What company are you dealing with?

T-Mobile

edit:
One moment my phone was not working as normal, but then 20minutes later it's working just fine... Just a tiny bit dimmer than it used to be.

edit again: back to not working...

[Arnwulf]

The $120 is the "deductible" for the phone insurance. The reason they said they can't replace it with the scratch was because if it just stopped working, it might have been a factory problem and then they can just replace the phone with a new one and write that one off. But the scratch is an indication of physical damage, which the store cannot write off as a factory error, therefore you have to use your insurance that you pay monthly for, which, by the way, you still have to pay a bunch of money up front for the repair.

Long story short, don't ever get insurance on a mobile phone, and either pay the $120 to have your phone sent off and repaired, or buy a new one.

[xerodok]

The store and the posts above are wrong. T-Mobile has awesome customer care and they will do whatever they can to get you to stay with them. Also, Arnwulf, their insurance is worth extra money per month.

You can call T-Mobile customer support with your insurance claim.

Call 1-800-TMOBILE; talk to a customer service representative; explain to them your situation without saying anything about it being in the snow for an entire day. More or less, lie, make up a story.

"Hi, my Blackberry Curve no longer will read memory cards, I've tried three or four and tried them in my computer & another phone and they work just fine."

"My phone won't charge while it's plugged in with the charger anymore. I think it's the actual port in the phone. I tried my charger in other devices and it works just fine.

The rep will ask you to check the wet seals to make sure its not water damaged (I'm not sure if your phone got water damaged or not, sometimes being in the snow won't set them off.) They will also asked you if it's physically damaged. Explain to them that it has minor wear and tear from being used. Also, if you are saying 'scratch' and its really a huge gash in the phone's screen, don't bother calling.

They send you a brand new phone and you send the broken one back, no further questions asked.

[Souj]

Phone is back to working completely normal for no apparent reason.
But who knows, maybe it'll be back to not working tomorrow lol

[xerodok]

Phone is back to working completely normal for no apparent reason.
But who knows, maybe it'll be back to not working tomorrow lol

If that's the case, then call them for another one.

[Souj]

The screen not working wasn't why they wouldn't take it, it was because of a deep scratch.
And now the screen keeps flickering on and off rapidly.
Really wish this phone would make its mind up on if it was broken or not.

[jmc]

The store and the posts above are wrong. T-Mobile has awesome customer care and they will do whatever they can to get you to stay with them. Also, Arnwulf, their insurance is worth extra money per month.

You can call T-Mobile customer support with your insurance claim.

Call 1-800-TMOBILE; talk to a customer service representative; explain to them your situation without saying anything about it being in the snow for an entire day. More or less, lie, make up a story.

"Hi, my Blackberry Curve no longer will read memory cards, I've tried three or four and tried them in my computer & another phone and they work just fine."

"My phone won't charge while it's plugged in with the charger anymore. I think it's the actual port in the phone. I tried my charger in other devices and it works just fine.

The rep will ask you to check the wet seals to make sure its not water damaged (I'm not sure if your phone got water damaged or not, sometimes being in the snow won't set them off.) They will also asked you if it's physically damaged. Explain to them that it has minor wear and tear from being used. Also, if you are saying 'scratch' and its really a huge gash in the phone's screen, don't bother calling.

They send you a brand new phone and you send the broken one back, no further questions asked.

Yea, no questions asked at the end is wrong.

OP your better off buying a replacement phone off ebay, or just paying the $120 deductible for insurance.

If you call customer care and do what this posts says, you will be fine for 2-3 weeks (if you even get a new phone). When t-mobile has the broken phone THEY WILL check it, and when they see the water seals gone or indicating water damage they will charge you the price of the replacement phone on the bill. My brothers HTC 3G Slide screen stopped working, stores were of no help to him and he was told to pay the deductible. He called customer service and they agreed to replace the phone as long as there was no physical damage. A month later he had a $250 charge on he latest bill, and when he inquired he found out it was because t-mobile found evidence of physical damage (Water seals, and the phone was water damaged no BS on t-mobiles part really)

[xerodok]

I went through nine T-Mobile HTC Dream (G1) all with a range of problems, never got charged extra, never got a phone call back saying they had other problems.

I've dropped my phone in a cup of whiskey (completely submerged, my phone wouldn't even turn on), it's charge port legitimately stopped working (at the time my screen was pretty scratched up), and a range of other shit and they've replaced it.

Post a picture of your phone. Also, if the screen is that bad, just buy a fucking new glass panel for the front of the phone and then send it in.