Whether you paid outright or on a phone contract, you have statutory rights against whoever sold you the handset — a fault appearing after the 1-year manufacturer warranty doesn't mean you're stuck with it.
Contact the retailer or network provider you bought the handset from. You'll need to show it's a fault rather than damage — a charging port or battery failing with no drop or water exposure is a reasonable claim.
Your consumer rights claim is against whoever sold you the handset, which is usually the network provider if you got it as part of a bundled contract. The airtime and the handset are typically treated as separate for this purpose.
Only if the crack appeared without any impact, drop, or pressure — which is rare and hard to prove. Accidental screen damage from a drop isn't a Consumer Rights Act claim, it's accidental damage, which needs separate insurance.
Gradual, expected battery degradation over 2+ years of normal use generally doesn't count as it's expected wear. A rapid, unusual drop early on, or the phone dying at high reported battery percentages, is more likely to be treated as a fault.
| Time since purchase | What you can ask for |
|---|---|
| 0–30 days | Full refund |
| 31 days–6 months | Free repair or replacement, then refund |
| 6 months–6 years | Same, but you show the fault is inherent |