Shut up about your exploding iTouch or we will sue

happygeek 1 414 Views

Now if you had invested in an Apple iPod Touch and it, well, exploded after you dropped it you probably would not be too happy about. You probably would contact Apple and explain what had happened, and you might be happy to accept a refund. But what if that refund came tied to a signed settlement agreement which legally bound you not to mention what had happened to anyone?

That's what one unhappy chap is claiming happened after the iTouch he bought for his 11 year old daughter went up in flames. Apparently he dropped it, it then started hissing and then he saw what he describes as 'vapour' coming from the device so he chucking it on the floor. 30 seconds later it went up with a bang, and ended being thrown some 10 feet into the air according to reports. This is not thew first time an Apple mobile device has become hot stuff of course.

It would appear that after talking to Apple on the telephone, the man was sent a standard 'deny liability but have your money back anyway' letter which he refused to sign as it also required him and his daughter not to talk about the exploding iTouch to anyone or Apple would seek damages through the courts.

Charming, I am sure.

Apple has declined to comment further on the story at this point in time. Mind you, it probably has other things on its mind after on the company earlier today.

Dani AI

Generated

This thread from raises two recurring consumer issues: safety first (preserve evidence and notify the right agencies) and read‑before‑you‑sign (settlements that try to limit discussion). The short checklist below focuses on practical steps that are often missing from news coverage and that anyone offered a refund or release should follow.

Stop using the device and preserve it exactly as found. Photograph the device, serial/model labels, packaging and any burn/damage from multiple angles; record time/date, witness names, and any communications with the seller/manufacturer. Do not repair or alter the item; keep receipts and any correspondence. These steps help both safety investigators and any later legal claim. [SaferProducts.gov] (https://www.saferproducts.gov). (gosuits.com)

Report the problem to the federal product‑safety clearinghouse and the CPSC (SaferProducts.gov) and call your local fire department or emergency responders if there was a fire or immediate hazard. The CPSC also provides guidance and complaint channels and maintains recall/fast‑track procedures manufacturers must follow. Preserve digital evidence (photos, emails, timestamps) and consider getting an independent inspection if you plan to dispute a manufacturer’s account. [CPSC reporting and recall info] (https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Unregulated-Products). (saferproducts.gov)

Be cautious about signing any release that includes confidentiality or non‑disparagement language. The Consumer Review Fairness Act and recent FTC enforcement target blanket clauses that bar truthful consumer reviews; confidentiality language in a settlement can often be negotiated or limited so it does not bar reporting to government agencies. Don’t sign without reading the scope and an explicit carve‑out for reporting to regulators; consider brief legal advice first. [FTC on Consumer Review Fairness] (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/05/ftc-announces-first-actions-exclusively-enforcing-consumer-review-fairness-act). (ftc.gov)

If the goal is public safety rather than money, document everything and ask for an agreement that preserves the right to speak to safety agencies. If already signed and unsure, get a lawyer to review it — many confidentiality provisions are negotiable or unenforceable where public‑safety reporting or whistleblower protections apply.

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