Apple will reportedly cover the repairing costs incurred by iMac users who needed to shell out some cash to have the device's display hinge fixed.
According to a service document that had been distributed internally by the company to Apple Authorized Service Providers and which publication MacRumors managed to lay its hands on, the Cupertino-based firm will issue a refund to consumers who paid for the replacement or repair of the iMac's display hinge.
This news will be welcomed by affected iMac owners who are eligible for the refund, as the repair can cost more than $100.
For those wondering what all the fuss is about, users of the 27-inch iMac have complained on support forums that their device's hinge would make a grinding noise or a popping sound that was audible. After this, the user would not be able to adjust the hinge as it had stopped working. Users also moaned that the iMac's display would tilt forward on its own continuously even when adjusted time and again.
"I was just sitting watching TV when there was a loud crack and my iMac screen suddenly tilted down - now the screen will not stay where it is tilted/positioned. I was not using the iMac at the time and it was not doing anything - it just broke on its own," shared an iMac user on the Apple Support Community in March 2014. The user purchased the iMac in February 2014 and asserted that this was a design issue.
Which iMacs Are Affected?
The service document from Apple reportedly acknowledges that a few 27-inch iMac units that were shipped between December 2012 and July 2012 could possibly be affected by the display hinge problem. This issue results in the device's screen tilting forward incessantly and not getting adjusted. The documents reveal that the problem is seemingly restricted to the late 2012 and late 2013 iMac models specifically.
What Is Causing The Issue?
The problem seems to lie in the plastic washers that are used in the spring mechanism of the iMac's display hinge. These are apparently not sturdy enough to take the weight of the device's display. In several instances, the washers break under the weight, which results in the popping sound users are reporting.
Does My iMac Qualify For The Refund?
Since the problem is limited to the 27-inch iMacs that were shipped from December 2012 to July 2014, the hinge repair program for iMacs will cover units that were produced in late 2012 and late 2013. Apple is also extending the coverage from the three years it normally offers to five years (after the date of purchase). The company will also replace the faulty display hinge for free, the warranty status of the consumer notwithstanding.
The exact details of the refund program are yet to be made public by Apple and is currently not listed on its site unlike the company's other Exchange and Repair Extension Programs. Only the company's Authorized Service Providers have the information pertaining to refunds and repairs.
How Do I Get My Refund?
Those who want a refund for the display hinge they got repaired at their expense need to contact Apple over the web or phone to get the process rolling.
How To Take Advantage Of The Repair Program
Those who have a broken display hinge can make an appointment at their nearest Apple Store (with the Genius Bar) or head to an Apple Authorized Service Provider to check if their iMac qualifies for the repair program.