I’ve been facing random reboots on my Phone (3a) Pro while charging for quite a long time. (Reference: https://nothing.community/d/38156)
Earlier, my device had another issue where it automatically installed some Japanese apps. Back then, I took it to the Tiruchirappalli service centre, and they fixed it within 3 hours. (Reference: https://nothing.community/d/33185)
This time, since I’m closer to the Perambalur service centre, I decided to go there.
Timeline of Events
Sept 19: I handed over my phone. The staff informed me upfront that there would be delays since it’s a multi-brand centre with just one employee handling all devices. He said it would take two working days.
Sept 22 (Monday): After waiting 3 days, I called. They said they had confirmed the issue, ordered a new battery, and it would take two more days.
Sept 24: I finally went to collect my device, after 5 days.
Problems I Faced
1. Dust inside the phone: When I first got the phone back, I noticed two specks of brown dust trapped between the glass and the back interior design. I pointed it out, and they took the device back to clean it.
While handling my phone at that moment, the employee was rough — pressing his nails along the back panel. After this, I noticed visible scratches around the corners. When I questioned him, the explanation I got was:
“Customers sometimes hand over defective pieces.”
But here’s the thing: when I handed over the phone for the reboot issue itself, he had already removed the panels and checked for water damage before giving me the job sheet. And now he’s saying he was just “checking the gaps”? That doesn’t add up.
While waiting, I also spoke with another customer who had submitted his device 7 days earlier for a bootloop issue. He told me he had to visit the centre every day just to remind them, and only on this day was he finally getting his phone back. I told him about my Tiruchirapalli service centre experience and it usually takes hours not days.
At this point, the service centre owner casually mentioned something about my own repair: they had ordered the battery, but after testing both the new and the old battery, they “didn’t find any issue.” So instead of replacing it, they just put my old battery back, reassembled the device, and called it a day.
This was disappointing because the whole reason I brought the phone in was that I couldn’t reproduce the random reboot issue on demand when submitting feedback — and was advised to bring it to a service centre for diagnosis. Now, they’ve essentially done nothing. The problem might easily reappear, but meanwhile, my phone has fresh scratches and possibly a crack thanks to their handling.
2. New damage (scratch/crack): After collecting the phone again and leaving the centre, I noticed a tiny black dot under yellow light in the bus. I removed the case to wipe it off and then I noticed a scratch/crack on the back glass. I could feel it with my nail, and it even casts a shadow under light.
I immediately went back to the centre. Instead of addressing it, both the owner and the employee went into defensive mode. Their explanation this time was:
“We always use a sponge under the phone, so there’s no way we scratched the glass.”
“The crack must have been there before.”
When I pointed out that dust was still inside the device after their cleaning, they simply asked me to leave the phone again for another day. They refused responsibility for the back glass damage.
Final Outcome
Since I had already waited 5 days and no longer trusted them with my device, I decided to take it back. Now I’m stuck with:
A device that hasn’t been repaired (since they reinstalled my old battery),
A potential crack (or deep scratch) on the back glass,
And additional corner scratches from rough handling.
My Feedback
Nothing, please look into this. Don’t just authorise any multi-brand service centre without proper quality checks and accountability. The experience in Perambalur was frustrating, careless, and left my device in worse condition than before.
I’d also like to know: if I have to replace the back glass, how much will it cost me? Because right now, I’m being told it’s entirely my fault — which it isn’t.
(Attaching images for reference, images taken on my 7-year-old OnePlus 6 so the quality isn’t the best.)
Update: Today (25/09/25) I had to use the compass — and I found out those guys even messed up the compass sensor. It no longer points north; it’s stuck pointing west. 🥲 Worst experience. @Carl and whoever is in charge of authorising service centres like this: please don’t just hand over Nothing products to every multi-brand service centre. These people clearly have no idea how to handle Nothing devices, and instead of fixing issues, they’re creating more. Now I’ll have to take my phone to another service centre… but who is going to fix the scratches and especially the one scratch/crack on the back glass? I’ve already mailed Nothing. I got one response yesterday, but there’s been no follow-up since. Honestly, I’m very disappointed.
