Here's how to get free iPhone cables for life

Some things in life just aren't worth thinking about. Things like what your parents had to do to make you, and what goes into the pies you buy at your local football ground. Stuff like that is just a little too painful to imagine.

One other is totting up exactly how much of your hard-earned cash you've spent on iPhone cables in the last 12 months. At £15 a pop, trying to work the size of the dent those weak and flimsy accessories have put into your bank account is simply not worth the agony.

But what if we told you all those purchases had been for nothing?

If you'd have read the small print in the box your latest little wire came in, you'll have seen something that would have saved you a lot of time, cash, and frustration.

That wire, which is almost certainly dirtier than your university kitchen and more frayed than your favourite pair of jeans, comes with a one year limited warranty.

The small print reads:

"Your Apple-branded hardware product is warranted against defects in materials for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase ("Warranty Period"). If a defect arises during the Warranty Period, Apple, at its option and to the extent permitted by law will (1) repair the product at no charge using new parts or parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, (2) exchange the product with a functionally equivalent product that is new or equivalent or new in performance and reliability, or (3) refund the original purchase price."

So as long as you've not chewed it/burnt it/used it as a bungee chord/lassoed an escaping bull with it, instead of handing over a couple of notes next time your charger crumbles in your hands, run back to your Apple store with the receipt and get yourself a brand-spanking new one for free.

Then do exactly the same a week later, when the inevitable happens.