Moisture Strips in Cell Phones Can be All Wet! on clarkhoward.com

There are “moisture” strips inside cell phones that show whether your phone has gotten wet or been submerged. Cell phone companies use these like law to void your warranty and deny you repair service. The cell companies claim they are “foolproof,” but in fact, according to the New York Post, they are faulty lots of times. It’s been proven that just by putting a damp cloth next to the phone, you can change the color of the strip! So if you have a problem with your cell phone, and you were told your warranty is void because you got it wet (when you know you really didn’t), here’s what Clark recommends. Find an old cell phone you’re not using anymore, take it back to the store, put a damp cloth near the strip on the battery, and prove to them right there that the strip is not accurate!

What others are saying

Liquid Damage Phones
I work at a cellphone company and that seems to be the norm. I think that if you keep your phone on your body and/or you sweat a lot due to the type of work you do or where you keep your phone, it will get messed up. That's not the company's fault that you had your phone in a damp place. Would you take your laptop into the bathroom when someone is taking a hot shower? You should see some of the nasty, broken and beat-up phones that we get into our stores and people want to get mad at us (the company) because they messed up their phone because they decided to keep their phone in a bra (sweaty place), in their pocket (when they do a lot of physical work and sweat), talk in the rain on the phone and drop it thousands of times on the ground. The company's just are tring to stay in business and not go bankrupt because their customers aren't taking full responsibility and admitting that they own the phone and that they messed it up. Who would put a wet towel by an electronic device anyway? Everyone that posted something on this site a one point or another had a wrist watch when they were younger. What happened if you got it wet? It stopped working. So the next time when you paid for a wacth, you made sure that it was a water resistant watch and you took better care of it. Liquid is bad for electronic components for 2 reasons: 1) Liquid acts like a conductor for electricity and will short out a cuircut and 2) It erodes the metal in devices. So before you blame the company, look in the mirror because that's who messed up the device. If it was your business, what would you honestly do? I'm pretty sure you would take care of your customers to a certain degree, but to make sure that you don't go bankrupt you would draw a line.
By cell doctor @ 02/03/10 12:02:59 AMreport abuse
moisture and cell phones
go to the local crafts store, buy a paint pen and paint it back white (or whatever color) BEFORE you let the provider know!!!!
By Cheddarlyn @ 11/30/09 06:53:53 PMreport abuse
Me, too!
This happened to me, too. I live in a super humid climate and the CSR acknowledged that could change it but it didn't make any difference.
By Eliza @ 05/18/09 04:01:30 PMreport abuse
Cell Phone Moisture Strip
This has happened to me. My phone, still under warranty, suddenly stopped holding a charge. The store said the strip showed moisture. My phone has never been wet, unless you call holding it in a sweaty hand in the humid southern US states getting it wet. I plan to fight this.
By Kathy @ 10/02/08 11:56:50 AMreport abuse
Cell Phone Moisture Strips
I was told by a service rep from Motorola that these moisture strips can turn color under humid conditions -walking into a warm room from the cold outside for example.
By Doug @ 05/08/08 10:36:47 AMreport abuse

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Jul 24, 2007 -- Moisture Strips in Cell Phones Can be All Wet!

What others are saying