Apple customers complain about iPhone 'touch disease'

Many Apple customers are reporting problems with their iPhones, saying the new 6 and 6 Plus models have what's being called "touch disease."

It happens when the screen freezes up and you can't reboot the phone, rendering the device useless.

Eric Lindstrom practically runs his entire business on his iPhone 6 Plus. He's a social media manager for several clients.

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"Approximately 10 months ago my touchscreen started acting very strange, totally unresponsive," he said. "And I'm getting the flicker now too, which is another evidence of the problem. The phone just starts to flash a white bar."

WSOC Action 9 found similar complaints all over social media.

Some customers are even suing Apple over it, accusing the company of fraud. They said the phones have a defect and that Apple knew about it.

Apparently, Apple designed earlier iPhones differently, but the company changed the design for the 6 and 6 Plus, a change that may have made those models more prone to touch disease.

CLICK HERE to read the lawsuit

Lindstrom said Apple told him to delete everything on his phone and add it all back on, one at a time. Not only was that a hassle, he said it didn't work.

He told WSOC Action 9 that Apple then tried to sell him a new touchscreen for $200. He declined.

"You know, first world problems I guess. I feel sort of bad about what I'm complaining about," Lindstrom said. But he also feels bad his phone doesn't work.

WSOC Action 9 reached out to Apple three times in the past 10 days, but the company has not responded.

Published reports claim that the company will give you a refurbished replacement if your iPhone is still under warranty. Hopefully, that one doesn't have "touch disease" too. If it's not under warranty, WSOC Action 9 is told the repair runs between $85 and $249.

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