What to put on a repair warranty card
A warranty card is a short document that says what you promise after the repair and, just as important, what you do not. A clear card prevents most arguments, because both sides can read the same words.
Part of the Repair shop guide.
This is a practical checklist, not legal advice. Rules on repair warranties, consumer rights, mandatory wording and tax documents differ by country. Check local law, or ask a qualified person, before you use any wording as your own.
What the card is for
It is the customer’s proof that the work was done and when, and your record of what you agreed to cover. It works together with the work order at intake and the work certificate at handover. See the repair log and customer documents.
What to put on it
- Who you are. Name of the shop or technician, phone, address. A logo is optional but makes the card look professional.
- Card number and date. The date of handover is usually the start of the warranty period.
- The customer. Name and phone, so the card can be matched to your records.
- The device. Brand, model, chassis and serial number. Without the serial number, it is hard to prove which set was repaired.
- The reported fault. What the customer said was wrong, in their words.
- Work performed. What you actually did, in plain language.
- Parts and materials. Every part replaced, so that a later claim can be tied to a specific part.
- Costs. Labour, parts and total, with the currency.
- Warranty period. A number of days or months and the date it ends. Be explicit about whether it covers the repair work, the replaced parts, or both.
- Conditions and exclusions. What voids the warranty, written plainly (see below).
- How to make a claim. Where to bring the set and that the card must be presented.
- Signatures. Technician and customer.
Conditions and exclusions
A typical card limits the warranty to the work and parts listed in the document. Common exclusions are liquid ingress, mechanical damage, power surges, opening or repair by third parties, and faults unrelated to the repair. These are the kinds of conditions the FW Tool template includes as a starting point. Whether such exclusions are allowed, and how far they can go, depends on local law. UNVERIFIED Check this against the rules where you work.
It is worth stating that a new fault in a different part of the TV is not covered by the old repair, since customers often assume otherwise. Keep the wording short and concrete.
Practical tips
Print the card in two copies, one for the customer and one for you, and sign both. Photograph the board before and after the repair and keep the photos with the job, so you can show later which parts were replaced and what the set looked like when it left you. If the repair involved reprogramming memory, note it on the card as well.
Typical mistakes
- A card with no serial number or no parts list.
- A vague period such as “a few months”, or a start date left blank.
- Promising more than you can control, for example a warranty on the whole TV after replacing one part.
- Copying another shop’s wording without checking it against the law of your country.
- Not keeping a copy. If you cannot see what you gave the customer, you cannot defend it.
- Handing the card over before the customer has seen the set working.
How this is done in FW Tool
- The repair log card holds the customer, brand, model, chassis, serial number, reported fault, work done, parts, labour and parts cost, and the warranty period in days. Job status runs from received to in progress, ready and handed over.
- From a card you can create three PDFs: a work order (intake), a work certificate and a warranty card.
- A technician profile (name, phone, address, logo, currency, document language) is filled in once and used on every document. Documents are available in several languages.
- The built-in warranty terms are a general template: warranty limited to the listed work and parts, usual exclusions, card presented for service. Adjust them to your country.
- Photos, dumps and files can be attached to the same job, which helps if a warranty claim comes back. A saved dump is covered in how to take an eMMC dump.
The repair log and documents are described on the features page.
FAQ
How long should the warranty be?
There is no universal answer. Some countries set minimums or rules for repairs, and shops differ in what they offer. Check local law and decide what you can stand behind.
Do I need the customer’s signature?
It is good practice, since it shows both sides read the same terms. Whether it has legal weight depends on where you work.
Should the warranty cover the whole TV?
Most shops limit it to the repaired fault and the replaced parts, and say so on the card. Choose the scope deliberately and write it down.