Sarah is a client of mine who came to me in tears last month. Her dishwasher was only six months old. It leaked into her kitchen and destroyed three years’ worth of hardwood flooring she had been saving for.
The manufacturer told her the warranty did not cover water damage.
I have worked in consumer law, both as a paralegal and as an attorney, for five years. Cases like Sarah’s happen every single day. People buy products covered by warranties, something goes wrong, and suddenly they are expected to take on large corporations with full-time legal teams trained to deny claims.
Here is what most people do not understand:
A warranty claim is a legal contract issue.
If you handle it properly, companies cannot simply brush you off.
What Actually Is a Warranty Claim?
Think of a warranty as a promise. The company is saying: “If this product fails within a certain period, we will repair or replace it.”
When you file a warranty claim, you are asking the company to honor that promise. This is where things get tricky.
There are two main types:
Written warranties are express warranties. They are in that booklet you likely threw out or the confirmation email you deleted. These are literal descriptions of what is covered and how long.
Automatic implied warranties are provided under state law. Although nothing may be in writing, the law states that products should be able to perform their fundamental function. Your toaster should toast bread. Your car must be driven.
During my paralegal days, I was introduced to implied warranties the hard way. One furniture store informed a customer that the warranty on the couch had expired. The couch frame broke in just eight months. That couch was supposed to last longer, according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and consumer protection regulations in state jurisdictions. We won.
When Should You File a Warranty Claim?
Don’t wait. Seriously.
The majority of warranties have deadlines. Lose them in a day, and you can lose thousands of dollars. I have witnessed individuals who had to lose claims on appliances, cars, and electronics due to excessive delay.
File a claim when:
- The product stops working during the warranty period
- You notice a defect, even a small one
- Something breaks that should last longer than it did
- The product doesn’t do what the ads or the salesperson promised
My client Tom purchased a waterproof watch. He wore it swimming, and it stopped working three months later. The company claimed that he abused it. We indicated their own advertisement, which depicted individuals diving with the watch. They took his place and bailed him out.
How to File a Warranty Claim That Actually Works
Here is where the majority of the people slip up. They make one phone call or send a quick email and are denied, and give up.
Don’t be that person.
Step 1: Gather Your Proof
Before you contact anyone, collect these items:
- Receipt or proof of purchase (credit card statements work too)
- Warranty document or card
- Photos of the defect or problem
- Any emails or texts about the purchase
- Records of past repairs or complaints
I maintain a client folder system. All the documents are scanned and dated. We can demonstrate everything when we meet with a lawyer from the company.
Step 2: Read the Fine Print
Yes, it’s boring. Yes, you should do it anyway.
Look for:
- How long the warranty lasts
- What’s covered and what’s not
- Required steps to file a claim
- Where to send your claim
- Any exclusions or conditions
Firms adore hiding the key information in small print. I read one warranty that claims were to be mailed through certified mail to a specified address. Email didn’t count. The customer had been trying for two months and believed that the company was not listening to her. They asserted that they never received a proper claim.
Step 3: Document Everything in Writing
Phone calls don’t count for much in court. Always follow up in writing.
Send an email or letter that includes:
- Your name and contact information
- Product name and model number
- Purchase date and location
- Detailed description of the problem
- What you want (repair, replacement, or refund)
- Copies of your proof (attach photos and receipts)
Keep it simple and factual. The refrigerator ceased cooling on January 15, 2026. I bought it on June 3, 2025, in your store. I am claiming a replacement under a warranty.
Save every response you get. Print emails. Keep letters. Record telephone conversations, including dates, times, and names.
Step 4: Use Certified Mail for Important Claims
You can submit your claim by certified mail with a return receipt when you are dealing with expensive items or when you are receiving pushback. This is a bit of money, but they will see that.
I had an instance where a company said it never received the customer’s claim. We presented the signed return receipt to the judge. The lawyer of the company shut up.
Common Reasons Companies Deny Claims (and How to Fight Back)
Having examined hundreds of warranty claims, I have seen that companies continue to use the same excuses repeatedly.
“You Didn’t Register the Product”
Certain warranties must be registered. But here is the trick: federal law makes it clear that they generally should not deny your claim simply because you failed to register. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers you.
“That’s Not Covered”
Read your warranty again. When the issue appears as though it ought to be discussed but they are telling you that it is not, request them to point you to the point at which it is written in writing.
The exclusions sometimes listed by companies are not really meant to be within the warranty. Hold them to their own words.
“You Misused the Product”
This is their preferred reason. And sometimes they’re right. You borrowed your laptop to be a surfboard; it was your fault.
Normal wear and tear is not misuse. It is not abuse to use your phone every day. There is no use in washing your machine-washable jacket in the washing machine.
Trace out the normal usage of the product. Even better, in case you had photos or videos of the product operating well before it failed.
“The Warranty Expired”
Double-check the dates. I have heard of companies saying warranties had expired when they had not.
Keep in mind, too, that some issues that present themselves after the warranty has expired began in the warranty period. And if your roof started leaking 6 months after the warranty ran out, but you can prove that water damage actually occurred, and it took a full year to occur, you may have a case.
What to Do When They Keep Saying No
You filed your claim. You followed the rules. They still denied it. Now what?
Contact Corporate Customer Service
The person you address at the outset is not likely to be able to do much. They follow scripts. Request to be connected with a supervisor or up to the corporate office.
Be polite but firm. I understand that you are acting according to policy, but I do not think that the decision made is in line with the warranty terms. I should have this checked by someone in authority to decide on this.
File a Complaint with Government Agencies
These free options put pressure on companies:
Better Business Bureau (BBB): Companies hate BBB complaints because they’re public. File at bbb.org.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report at ftc.gov/complaint. The FTC tracks patterns of bad behavior.
State Attorney General: Your state’s consumer protection office. Google “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint.”
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: For financial products like cars bought with loans. File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
One client filed a BBB complaint about a mattress company. Within five days, a regional manager called offering a full refund. The regular customer service reps had ignored her for three months.
Consider Small Claims Court
With claims up to a specific amount (typically between 5,000 and 10,000, according to your state), you can represent yourself in small claims court.
The filing fee is usually less than 100. You are heard by a judge. It is casual and quite fast.
I have assisted individuals in preparing small claims cases. Bring your warranty, receipts, photographs, and any written communication. Be systematic and follow facts.
Businesses tend to pay up when they feel that you are serious enough to sue them. A letter, which says, “Unless this is settled by [date], I will take it to small claims court,” sometimes works.
Hire a Lawyer for Big Claims
Speak with a consumer protection lawyer in case your claim is worth thousands, or the company is operating in bad faith.
A lot of us are on a contingency basis, so you do not pay till we win. Other consumer protection laws mean the company will pay your legal fees in case of victory.
I used a case involving a home builder who had rejected a foundation warranty. The repair would cost $40,000. We sued. The builder was left paying our legal fees as well as the repair. Total they paid: $63,000. My client paid nothing.
How to Protect Yourself Before Problems Happen
The ideal warranty claim is the warranty claim that you never need to use. This is how to be safe when purchasing products.
Save Everything
Create a folder (physical or digital) for major purchases. Include:
- Receipts
- Warranty cards and booklets
- Product manuals
- Email confirmations
- Credit card statements
I use a simple system: one folder per year, labeled by purchase date. When something breaks, I can find everything in 30 seconds.
Take Photos
Take pictures of a working product when you first acquire it. Take snapshots of the warranty information as well.
Should you ever need to substantiate that the product came in damaged or that it was fine in the first place, you will have a record.
Register Products (Even Though You Don’t Have To)
Yes, I said that companies can generally not demand registration. But it helps you to register. You will receive recall communication and occasionally warranty extensions.
It takes five minutes. Just do it.
Read Reviews Before Buying
Research whether other individuals had warranty issues with the firm. Certain brands have a good reputation in respecting warranties. Some challenge every claim.
Enter [brand name] warranty issues or visit consumer websites such as ConsumerAffairs.com. When you notice a trend of rejected claims, purchase elsewhere.
Pay with a Credit Card
Purchase protection of 90-120 days is common with credit cards. In case the product fails and the warranty claim is rejected, you may have a chance of challenging the bill.
I witnessed customers being refunded by their credit card company in cases where the manufacturer would not assist.
Special Situations You Should Know About
Extended Warranties
Stores love selling these. Most people don’t need them.
Extended warranties (sometimes referred to as service contracts) are additional and can overlap any coverage you already have. The warranty provided by the manufacturer may be automatically extended to your credit card.
Before buying one, check:
- What your credit card offers
- How long the manufacturer’s warranty lasts
- The failure rate for that product (if it rarely breaks, why pay extra?)
If you do buy an extended warranty, it’s a separate contract. File claims the same way as regular warranties.
Car Warranties
Car warranties are complex. You typically get:
Bumper-to-bumper coverage: Usually 3 years or 36,000 miles. Covers almost everything.
Powertrain coverage: Usually 5 years or 60,000 miles. Covers engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
Certified pre-owned warranties: If you buy a used car from a dealer, you might get a limited warranty.
Keep detailed service records. If your engine fails and you can’t prove you changed the oil, they might deny the claim.
Home Warranties
These include the systems and appliances in your home. You pay an annual or monthly fee, and a service call fee when something goes wrong.
Read the contract carefully. Most of them disallow pre-existing problems or limit repair expenses. When your AC dies, and the repair is going to be $4,000, but the warranty only covers the first 1,500, you will be paying the difference.
Electronics and Gadgets
Accidental damage is frequently not covered under phone and computer warranties. Dropping your phone is not counted. However, not all failures appear accidental. In case your phone screen cracks without being hit, it is a manufacturing defect. Don’t let them blame you. Battery degradation is to be expected; however, when your phone battery dies in six months, it is not normal wear. Push back.
Warning Signs of Warranty Scams
Not all warranties are created equal. Some are basically worthless.
Watch out for:
Lifetime warranties with huge asterisks: They might mean “lifetime of the product” (which they define as one year) instead of your lifetime.
Warranties that require specific service providers: If you must use their approved repair shops that are 500 miles away, the warranty is designed to be useless.
Companies with no physical address: If you can’t find a real office location, you probably can’t enforce the warranty.
Warranties that cost more than the product: If a $50 blender has a $40 warranty, just buy a new blender when it breaks.
I reviewed a warranty once that required customers to ship broken items to China at their own expense. Shipping cost more than replacement. That’s not a warranty. That’s a scam.
Your Rights Under Federal Law
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is your friend. This federal law from 1975 protects consumers.
Key points:
- Warranties must be clearly written and easy to understand
- Companies must honor their warranties
- You can sue for breach of warranty
- If you win, they might have to pay your attorney’s fees
- Companies can’t require you to use specific products (like specific oil brands for your car) unless they provide them for free
Extra protection is provided by state laws. Cars and implied warranty protections on other products have lemon laws in many states. These laws do not require that you be a lawyer to apply them. You have leverage by simply knowing that they exist.
The Bottom Line
A warranty claim should not be a war. But sometimes it does.
Businesses rely on you to sacrifice. They purposefully make the process confusing and frustrating. They refute legitimate assertions and expect you to believe.
Don’t. You have a warranty on a purchased product. That is a legal warranty. Companies that fail to respect it are acting illegally. Document everything. Be persistent. Know your rights. And have no fears of blowing out when you must.
Sarah, who has a flooded kitchen? We demonstrated the dishwasher possessed a flaw in manufacturing. The replacement of the dishwasher, repairs of the floors, and our legal costs were paid by the company. Total: $12,000.
That was a phone call that almost made her quit. When you have a warranty claim that has been denied on you, breathe. Gather your documents. Send a clear, written demand. And recollect: you are stronger than you think.
The warranty is yours. Make them honor it.
Connect with me on LinkedIn for legal drafting and other legal matters!
