Track Ball only allows downward scroll...

The track ball just stopped working yesterday. It only scrolls down, but not up. The device had not been dropped, exposed to water, or mishandled in any way. The RIM tech suport number just loops around in circles and provides no option to reach a live person.

As luck would have it, the device was bought 12/06, and this problem just surfaced yesterday. Since these devices are uninsurable, I was told the only option was to reach RIM. Cingular said this was not a known problem for the Blackberry Pearl.