Brazil's Consumer Association is so tough? It fined Apple 13 million for charging head problems?

It is a well-known "money-saving" method that Apple iPhone 12 no longer comes with a charging head for the reason of environmental protection. It has even led a number of domestic mobile phone manufacturers to follow suit and "skip" basic mobile phone accessories, leaving consumers helpless and sighing.

However, the Brazilian Consumer Association is not so easy to fool. After warning and holding Apple accountable to no avail , Procon-SP, the consumer protection agency in Sao Paulo, Brazil , fined Apple $2 million (about RMB 13 million) for not providing a charging head, false advertising, and unfair warranty terms . The Brazilian consumer protection agency's attitude towards Apple immediately sparked international heated discussions and even topped the trending search on Weibo in China.

According to the valorinveste website, Procon-SP issued a statement last Friday night saying that Apple's sale of mobile phone models without a charging head is an abuse of its power. The charging head is an essential accessory for the operation of the mobile phone. Apple did not package the charger with the device, which violated Brazil's Consumer Protection Code ( CDC).

In addition to not including a charging head, Apple was also accused of falsely advertising the waterproof performance of the iPhone 11 Pro series and refusing to provide repair services for water-damaged phones, which led to complaints from consumers. It turned out that the product ads for this series included information such as "waterproof up to 4 meters in 30 seconds" and "can be taken into the bathroom", and showed videos of water pouring on the sides and top of the phone.

In response, Procon-SP informed consumers: "When questioned by Procon-SP, the company reported that the water resistance is not a permanent condition of the device and will degrade over time."

Procon-SP also notified Apple of issues with its iOS updates and unfair terms in its product warranties , including pre-determined credit card fees for the value of the product or replacement parts and shipping costs, and refusal to repair devices purchased abroad within the legally required 30-day period.

“Apple needs to know that Brazil also has solid laws and institutions to protect consumers, and to respect them,” said Fernando Capez , executive director of Procon-SP .

According to the agency, the fine against Apple will be implemented through administrative procedures, and Apple has the right to defend itself. Apple declined to comment on this in a media interview.

It can be seen from this that Brazil's consumer protection agency is very quick and decisive in protecting consumers. Sellers should also be careful to avoid practices that may infringe on consumer rights, so as not to be subject to legal sanctions that affect their business.

Brazil

apple