Do I Need My Receipt For AppleCare?

If you made the smart move of investing in AppleCare when you purchased your last Apple product, good for you!

But now that it’s time for you to use it to fix your broken or busted…whatever, do you need to track down that receipt or can Apple Care identify you in some other way?

Do I Need My Receipt For Applecare?

AppleCare must prove that you are the owner of the device and you’ve paid for AppleCare before they will service you. While it’s best if you can keep your receipt but they can also use your credit card statement. The store you purchased it from can also look up your information.

If I want to make sure that I am covered by Apple’s warranty protection when I buy an Apple product, I need to keep my receipt well in hand. 

But if the only thing I have is my credit card statement, I can use it instead of a receipt to get service or repair on my device. 

The store I buy from will also have a record of the sales transaction.

That means that as long as I can prove to the Apple Store that I am the purchaser of the item, they should provide service to me, even if I don’t have a receipt or a credit card statement.

So my best advice is to keep hold of your receipts.

But if you are without one, please do not hesitate to take your device in for repair or service.

If my purchase is over 180 days old, keep in mind that AppleCare may help find a purchase date based on when the card was last updated.

If they can’t find one, they may not honor the claim.

If I am eligible, my purchase date is when my card was last updated.

 (For example, if I bought the item in mid-October and the card was last updated in late October, it would be October 15-31. 

If I bought the item in mid-September, the card would have been updated on or before September 15 to qualify for this option.)

If my purchase date is older than 180 days, and I no longer have the receipt, I may be limited to getting a replacement battery.

If the item needs service beyond that (such as a malfunctioning display), then I’ll need my receipt.

If my purchase date is older than 180 days, and I still have the receipt, they will look at other service options. 

You may be able to have your device reset (“factory restored”) for free.

What I will Need:

My current credit card statement. 

A piece of paper or a document with a scanned image of my credit card statement. 

I can print it out by copying the first page with the account information onto a sheet of paper and then scanning it to have my document. 

Or: An email from Apple that includes my order number and invoice amount (for example, an order confirmation email that says “Your purchase was successfully processed.”

What is AppleCare coverage?

AppleCare is an extended warranty service.

It covers my device against defects in materials and workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.

Apple’s warranty also covers my device against damage caused by accidents and drops, but only if I have AppleCare coverage.

How much is AppleCare?

My purchase date will determine my “period of protection” under Apple’s warranty policy. 

If I buy within 30 days of the date shown on my credit card statement, then I will receive one year of coverage. 

The cost is $129 for a year (valid for as long as I own or lease the product).

If I buy after 30 days, the cost is $99 for a year (valid for as long as I own or lease the product). 

If my device is out of warranty and AppleCare can’t repair it, they will replace it. 

However, they will not replace a device that has been damaged by a drop, or that has become nonfunctional due to an accident. 

They will also not replace a device that has been modified in any way or repaired/replaced by someone other than Apple.

What if my credit card statement doesn’t show the date of purchase?

AppleCare will need to know the date and price of my purchase to process my claim. 

They also need to know whether I bought AppleCare or if I want to claim Apple’s warranty. 

So they may ask that I find proof, such as the receipt, or they may simply ask me to confirm the order date and price.

If my credit card statement is not helpful, I can also look for a confirmation email from Apple that contains my order number and invoice amount.

What if I have AppleCare and my device is accidentally damaged?

If my device has a defect, I can request that AppleCare repair it for me. 

If I have accident damage, I can ask them to service the device for me. 

As long as I have AppleCare coverage and reported the accident to AppleCare, they will replace the device if it’s accidentally damaged. 

The damage might be obvious or hidden, such as water damage under the display glass. 

If it’s not covered under warranty or AppleCare, there may be a charge for this service. 

I’ll need to pay to repair my device. 

I can decide whether I want to do this myself or have it done by a professional.

If AppleCare or the original warranty did not cover my device, I could claim repair under your local insurance policy. This can include accidental damage.

If AppleCare covers my item, but I have a repair problem, I can claim under their local warranty policy. 

If I’d like to make this type of claim, I need to use the telephone number on the box that came with my AppleCare delivery.

If I want my device fixed more than once?

Apple’s warranty covers only one repair for any given defect in materials or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.

This means that if my device is accidentally damaged and then there’s a defect, I’ll need to get it repaired the first time.

But if I have AppleCare and it’s accidentally damaged again, the plan will cover this second repair.

In conclusion, AppleCare is an affordable and effective service. 

As long as I have AppleCare and I made a claim, they’ll replace my iPhone if it is damaged by accident or if it needs service beyond the plan’s coverage.

In addition, if I have AppleCare and it becomes defective, they will replace the device.

AppleCare is a great way to ensure that my device is covered when I need it.