The iPhone 13 is not even available in Brazil yet, but the countryās consumer protection regulator has already said itās going to investigate Appleās decision to sell the iPhone charger separately.
As reported first by TechTudo, Apple and Samsung will be notified for selling the iPhone 13, Galaxy Z Flip3, and Galaxy Z Fold3 without the charger in the box.
This is not the first time that Procon-SP has notified Apple over the decision to sell the iPhone charger separately. Early this year, the Brazilian consumer protection regulator, based in the state of SĆ£o Paulo, fined Apple $2 million āfor misleading advertising, selling a device without the charger, and unfair terms.ā
Even before that, in October of 2020, Procon-SP questioned the company about it, and in November, the agency said that the iPhone makerĀ ādidnāt demonstrate environmental gain.ā
In the interview with TechTudo, Procon-SP executive director Fernando Capez says that itās not legal to sell the phone and charger separately as āyou can only charge the device with that power brick,ā so therefore āthe customer is obligated to buy two products.ā
Capez will notify Apple and Samsung until this Wednesday. Even with Apple already says on its website that the power brick doesnāt come with the iPhone 13 box, he believes this is not enough.
The Brazilian FTC also says that companies should extensively inform customers that something changed with a product, in this case, the lack of a charger. āIf the information is hidden, itās also an offense with the law,ā Capez says.
Capez says heās studying a class action to help any customer who feels Apple should give them a charger for free.
Apple didnāt respond to TechTudo, although in March the company said that āall iPhones sold in the country work with the available chargers, including third-party ones since they follow Anatel (Brazilian FCC) standards.ā
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