Why a repair history is useful
- The next repair. A repairer can see what was already replaced and what was already tried.
- Warranty and guarantee questions. Dates and invoices show when a fault appeared and what was done, which matters when you ask a seller or producer to fix something.
- Spotting repeat faults. The same problem coming back is easier to see — and to explain — when it is written down.
- Repair-or-replace decisions. What a product has already cost you in repairs is part of deciding whether to repair it again.
- Selling or handing it on. A buyer can understand the product better. It does not guarantee a higher price or a faster sale.
What to record for each repair or service
| Item | What to write | Example (fictional) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | The day the repair was done, as day / month / year. If you only know the month, say so. | 07/11/2025 |
| Problem / symptoms | What you noticed, in your own words, and when it started. | Drum does not spin; loud knock during spin since October. |
| Work performed | What the repairer did, taken from the invoice or job sheet where possible. | Replaced drive belt; tested a full wash cycle. |
| Parts | Parts that were replaced, and whether they were original or compatible if you were told. | Drive belt (type not stated on invoice). |
| Repairer | The business or person who did the work, as written on the invoice. | A local repair shop. |
| Cost, where known | What you paid, with the currency. Write “none” if it was free under warranty. | 85 EUR |
| Warranty / service information | Whether the repair was done under a warranty or legal guarantee, and whether the repair itself has a warranty. | Repair warranty: 3 months on the part (stated on invoice). |
| Evidence | Which documents exist: invoice, job sheet, photos, emails. Keep copies somewhere safe. | Invoice (PDF) and a photo of the job sheet. |
Write “unknown” instead of guessing
Missing details are normal. If you do not know which part was used or what a repair cost, write that it is unknown. A record that is honest about gaps is more useful than one that looks complete but contains guesses — for you and for anyone who reads it later.
Records and evidence are different things
A written record is your claim about what happened. An invoice or job sheet is evidence that supports the claim. Neither is the same as someone else checking it. Keeping the two apart makes it clear what a reader can rely on. The step-by-step guide to documenting a repair shows how to record each item and how verification fits in.
Why “no record” does not prove “no repair”
A history only contains what someone wrote down. A product may have been repaired before you owned it, repaired by someone who left no paperwork, or repaired and never recorded. So an empty or short history means the earlier history is unknown — not that nothing happened. The same applies when you read someone else's history.
How long to keep records
Keep repair records and invoices for as long as you own the product, and pass them on with it if you sell or give it away. Proof of purchase is worth keeping for at least as long as any warranty or legal guarantee could apply.
Keep your repair history in one place
Repair Passport is an idea we are testing: one private place for a product's repair records, evidence and trust states. It is not yet available as a service.
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