Apple Class Action Say Old Phone Chargers Not Supported

Apple has blocked charging support for older iPhone chargers in order to drive up sales, according to a recent class action lawsuit.

Many iPhone users have reportedly experienced plugging their phone into a charger only to be met with the pop up message “this accessory may not be supported.”

Apple Support gives a variety of reasons for this error on their help page, stating that the accessory may be damaged, defective, or not Apple-certified, the accessory may not be supported by the device, and the iOS device may have a dirty or damaged connector.

A recent class action lawsuit against the tech giant claims that the error message may be more insidious than crossed wires.

Plaintiff Monica Emerson claims that, in a November 2016 update, Apple forcibly rejected older iPhone chargers in order to force consumers to purchase new chargers or a new phone at high prices.

In November 2016, Apple reportedly released an update which modified iPhone software so that it would not recognize older chargers. Even if chargers had been manufactured by Apple, they were reportedly rejected in this update if they were compatible with the iPhone before Sept. 13, 2016.

“In an effort to dominate the cellular telephone marketplace, Apple Inc. forced updates to the iPhones which were specifically designed and programmed to reject, starting on November of 2016, old iPhone chargers from properly charging the iPhones,” the Apple iPhone class action lawsuit claims.

Emerson allegedly experienced this issue with her iPhone 7. She had purchased the phone in late September 2016 and reportedly paid more than $649.99 for the item. She began to use the included Apple charger upon purchasing the phone.

However, in October 2017, Emerson says she was shocked when an update on her iPhone caused her charger to no longer work and prompt the message “this accessory may not be supported.”

Due to this update and subsequent error message, Emerson was reportedly forced to purchase a new charger. The ordeal allegedly caused her to feel “ripped off, cheated, and violated.” She argues that she never authorized Apple to “force” this modification on her and her phone.

According to the Apple class action lawsuit, the charger updates were a deliberate attempt by the tech company to force their consumers to purchase newer products. Emerson argues that, when consumers purchase Apple phones, they rely on representations that their phones and accessories will last. However, the company’s representations are reportedly false due to Apple’s attempts to “forcibly control and modify” iPhones.

Emerson seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased an Apple charger within the applicable statute of limitations. The Apple class action lawsuit seeks actual damages, restitution, punitive damages, statutory enhanced damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Emerson and the proposed Class are represented by Todd M. Friedman and Adrian R. Bacon of Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman PC.

The Apple Charger Class Action Lawsuit is Emerson v. Apple Inc., Case No. 2:19-cv-00829, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.