Need Panasonic DMC-F1 Help!

I bought my Panasonic F1 in June, and all was fine until recently the pictures went all overexposed when taken within 1 metre. I'd fiddled with all the functions and tried all the variations but to no avail.

Now it is at the Panasonic Service Centre for a week although the counter staff had told me 2 days. When I call the customer service staff, they say the technical support staff will call me, but after three calls, I haven't heard a word from them.

I called Cathay (where I bought the cam from) and they said usually repairs take a month at least.

Two questions:

1. Do repairs usually take so long?

2. Has anyone experienced this overexposure problem (where the subject's face becomes all white regardless of the setting)?

Thanks!
Akasha