Apple cancelled my warranty and will not fix computer!

Question

I sent my computer in to be fixed after talking to a genius on the phone. All I needed fixed was the inside top case (around the keyboard) because a small piece had cracked and broken off from closing the top and it hurts to put my wrist on it to type. It all sounded fine and a friend recently got a new case for her macbookpro because it was discolored. Today I see my repair status is on hold so I called and they said that my computer had impact damage and would cost $500 to repair before reinstating my AppleCare to replace the case. ***? I have searched the web and can not find this happening to anyone else! Does this sound normal? My computer has not had a hard fall. It just cracked from daily closing. My friend's computer has dents and its 2 years older and they replaced her case for free. There's not anything even wrong with my computer besides the case. Am I missing something?

Answer 1

Scubagirl12,
How have you packed the machine? If it bumped against anything hard, or heavy books were against it for prolonged period of time, or it was against a seat inside a backpack, that might have damaged it if it wasn't properly padded. If none of those describe the problem, and you've always pulled your cables out properly* as described below:
http://www.macmaps.com/frayguide.html
Call 1-800-APLCARE, and tell them you believe your machine was manufactured with the screws too tight or loose, and it was only noticeable after prolonged use, and believe they should fix the case at their cost if your machine is under a year old, or you have purchased AppleCare, and it is less than 3 years from date of the computer's purchase. If you are beyond AppleCare, (either first year, or purchased 3 years from date of computer's purchase), and purchased by credit card, and believe the case was never the right tightness to begin with, sometimes your credit card prolongs warranty, and you can ask them.
If none of the above seems to help you, and there was a possible heavy bump, or improper cable disconnection, unfortunately only your homeowners insurance might cover it, if it has accident protection. Warranty does not equal insurance. Above all, be calm when talking to all of them.
Good luck. This is a user to user board, and we can't speculate on how Apple will rule in your case. But just letting you know what options may or may not help you.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.