Iphone Water Damage, Media Retrieval

[sistermag]

Hi! Apologies if this is a silly post, but I am the least technical person, ever! So, on a recent holiday, I dropped my iPhone se in the sea. It wouldn't switch on from the outset, even after 5 days in a bowl of rice. On my return from holiday, I decided to take it to a local (reputable, from my knowledge) phone repair store. I wasn't overly bothered about the phone, my own stupid fault for having it in the sea. But, the reason I was in the sea with it was taking photos of my daughter on her first holiday, so I was really keen to get those photos back (they aren't on iCloud, I wasn't on wifi so I'm backed up until the day before holiday) I didn't hold out too much hope, but the store told me they were confident they could get them and told me they charge £25 whether they can fix the phone or not, and the reciept they gave me states they want to retrieve the photos. Today I receive a call to say my phone is beyond economical repair, but they have my photos! Hurrah!! Right up until they tell me they charge £150 to give them to me, or £100 if I let them keep the phone! So apologies for the waffling, but can anyone advise me how I tackle this as 1) how have they got the photos if it won't switch on? (I've since called back to ask, and am now told the phone powers on, and they have a device which allows them to view my photos?!!)
2) how can they justify that charge anyway, but they told me it was a £25 charge?

As previously said, I'm clueless with technology? Are they pulling one over on me? And how do I go about getting my phone back without paying £150 (more than the phone is worth, but they're telling me this is the charge for a USB with my pics on!!)

I'm sorry for the waffling, but so upset to know my daughters holiday pics are being held to ransom. I called another repair store for their advice, and they told me they've got me over a barrel, and she's sure the photos would be gone if any other person tries.

Thanks in advance.

[Tuvok]

Have you got the £25 quote in writing?

Ask then if you provide the usb drive how much would it cost then?

Do you have an Apple Store or Stormfront locally - if you get the phone back you could try them.

If the phone doesn't power on, it may still connect as a usb device - in which case it may show up as a usb device - and you could drag the photos from there, or try an iphone browser - I've used iexplorer (the free features) to get my photos and pdfs off my ipad

https://macroplant.com/iexplorer

[sistermag]

Thank you. They've now agreed to give me my phone back for £25, but not the photos. I don't have a local Apple Store, and when I connected to my own pc, it didn't register. I'll try and take it somewhere else tomorrow, although I don't fancy my chances of erring my pics back

[Sycamore3House]

http://www.any-data-recovery.com/iphone-data/how-to-recover-data-from-broken-dead-iphone-6-6-plus.html

Try this site. It also states on method for a phone that has not been backed up.

[Old_Geezer]

I can only guess that the £25 was for doing their best to fix the phone. They probably reckon using their specialised equipment to extract data that the improved phone wont normally show, is extra, and they can charge what they like for that. Might have been better posted in the law forum.

If you feel it's beyond you should be able to get the phone back for the agreed £25 and then take it elsewhere.

[Old_Geezer]

Anyway who's to say they have all the pictures ? Perhaps they only have some that you already have backed up. Insist on checking what's been recovered before agreeing to pay.

[HansUrbancka]

Looks as if you are being 'ripped-off.

Interesting that you can have the pictures for £100 if the repair shop keeps the phone. Makes me wonder if the phone can in fact be repaired and that's why you are being offered £50. for it.

Hans.