Apple will face yet another fine from the Brazilian consumer protection agency for failing to include a charger with the new iPhone 13.
Following a $1.9 million fine in Brazil for not including a charger with the iPhone 12, Apple was requiring to provide chargers to anyone who asked for them. The Procon-SP regulator now intends to accomplish the same thing with the iPhone 13.
The $1.9 million fine imposed in March 2021 was the utmost allowed under Brazilian law, according to local publication TechTudo. The fine is also time-limited, as it can’t be used again for at least six months after it’s been issued.
Apple has a new iPhone six months later, and Brazil intends to penalize the firm once more.
Procon-SP executive director Fernando Capez told TechTudo, “The consumer already has the expectation that he [sic] will receive the charger along with the smartphone” (in translation). “Breaking this pattern may result in an unwarranted price increase.”
“For example, you might sell a smartphone with a charger for X,” he continued. “You then only sell the device for X, implying that the company’s pricing has increased.”
“It’s comparable to going to the grocery,” Capez added. “For R$20, the consumer purchased a 400-gram product. The same product now costs R$20, but it contains 300 grams. Although the corporation may reduce the quantity, this information must be stamped on the container so that the buyer is informed.”
Although Apple states on its website that no charger is including, the Brazilian authorities believe this is insufficient. Capez noted that such material must be “ostentatious,” not “camouflaged,” according to local consumer legislation.
Procon-SP has already accused Samsung of violating the same consumer law, but has yet to sanction the corporation, and appears to have no plans to do so. Samsung dodged the sanction, according to Capez, by agreeing to supply free Galaxy S21 chargers.
According to TechTudo, Samsung avoided the fee by providing chargers for the iPhone 12 series in the country, which Apple did as well.
In France, where local restrictions still require Apple to offer wired EarPods with all iPhone models, a similar issue exists.
