Bloomberg reports that an Apple executive is set to travel to South Korea next week to testify before members of the country's parliament regarding Apple's policies regarding replacement of defective iPhones. According to the report, the issue stems from Apple's policy of replacing users' faulty iPhones with refurbished units rather than offering new replacements or repairs of customers' existing units.
Farrel Farhoudi, senior director for Apple's iPhone service, will appear in parliament on Oct. 21 at the request of lawmakers led by You Won Il, You's assistant Kim Se Ho said by telephone today. Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment.
South Korean buyers of the iPhone have complained that Apple mostly gives refurbished used phones to customers with faulty devices, instead of providing new handsets, free repairs or refunds, Kim said. Apple's local service warranty gives buyers the four options when they have trouble within 14 days of purchase, he said.
Farhoudi has been with Apple for his entire career, beginning in 1993 in an entry-level position fresh out of college and working his way up to senior director of iPod and iPhone service operations.
