I have an unusual situation and I was wondering if anyone else has seen anything like it.

My parents bought a Samsung S2 Galaxy tablet from Noel Leeming which turned out to have a fault which means that mobile data connectivity is intermittent. Because it was recently purchased, they took it back to Noel Leeming, who sent it to the Samsung service centre, who took it apart and said that the warranty was void because the unit has been previously disassembled (and resealed with a service sticker?).

So my parents have not taken the unit apart, and Noel Leeming Gisborne say that they have not, and Samsung are not able to give any more detail about who might have previously repaired the unit, and when. My parents are in the position now of having paid for the tablet, for multiple SIM cards (thinking that was the issue) $45 to Samsung to take the unit apart and diagnose the fact that it's been repaired in the past, and now face a $500 repair bill. Oh, cut their loses and buying a new tablet.

For a retired couple, this strikes me as unfair, not just bad luck!

Does anyone know of anything like this happening in the past, or have any advice as to what they should do next?

Thanks,
Ross.