I took my N97 to a NCP to get the camera lens, GPS and touchscreen repaired. When I went to collect it tonight, they said the engineer discovered the product code has been changed. They said they are contacting Nokia to see if they can still do the repairs, since they are all manufacturing or design faults and not software problems.
Hopefully they will be able to do the repairs, but I'm not holding out hope. What I want to know is, will this put a 'black mark' against my IMEI in the system, or will it just mean they refuse to do the repair now? If it's the latter then I could change the product code back and try a different store? Or I could just try a different store and hope they don't check the product code.
Does anyone have experience of this situation, and any advice to give? Obviously I know it's my own fault for voiding the warranty, but the phone was little more than expensive junk when bought, without a flash to the updated firmware.
I took my N97 to a NCC a few weeks back to have the GPS and camera lens changed. They plugged it into their systems, read all the information, which would have included my changed product code and they did the repair no questions asked.
Now, either I was lucky or, as you say, it's a known hardware fault and therefore nothing to do with a changed product code so they went ahead regardless.
I was prepared to argue my case but was very happy when I realised I wouldn't have to.
As for changing your code back, that won't make a jot of difference as they will see it has been changed whatever. It'll just show a log with 2 changes instead of one.
Bottom line is that they are well within their rights to refuse to repair, but given Nokia's own admission that the N97 is seriously flawed, they'd be very petty to not do anything. My NCC does most "common fault" out of warranty repairs for a flat fee of �47, so that may be an option.
Good luck 😊
Thanks for the info. Fingers crossed, then!