Warranty and data
Authorized or independent repair shop: which one to choose
Understand the difference before you decide where to get your phone repaired.
Read the guideSummary
- The warranty covers a defect in the service or in the replaced part, for 90 days.
- Drops, water, and misuse after the repair are new damage and usually are not covered.
- To claim it, come back to the shop with the phone and the service receipt.
- Before you pay, ask what is covered and what is not.
What the 90-day warranty is
The 90-day warranty is the period in which the repair shop takes responsibility for redoing the repair if the defect comes back because of a failure in the service or the part. The 90 days start counting when you pick up the phone, not on the day you left it at the shop.
At Help Cell, the 90-day warranty covers the work done on your phone. For the full rules of the shop, see the page 90-day warranty on phone repairs. Here the goal is different: to explain with everyday examples what it means in practice.
Warranty on the service and warranty on the part
They are two different things that add up. The service warranty protects the technician's work: the replacement was done well, the connection is firm, and the phone works again. The part warranty protects the new component, such as the screen or the battery, against manufacturing defects.
In practice, the customer does not need to find out who caused the problem. If the issue shows up in what was repaired, you come back to the shop and the technician checks it.
The repair shop warranty is not the manufacturer's warranty
The manufacturer's warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the new device. The 90-day warranty comes from the repair shop and covers the service it did. One does not replace the other. Help Cell is an independent repair shop, not an Apple-authorized one, so its warranty covers the repair done at the shop. If your phone is still under the manufacturer's warranty, read first the guide Authorized or independent repair shop: which one to choose.
What the warranty usually covers
The warranty covers a defect that comes from the repair itself: a new part that fails on its own, or a service that was not done well. If the same problem you brought to the shop comes back and nothing happened to the phone, it is a case to claim.
| Service done | Defect that comes back | Usually covered? |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | The new battery drains abnormally, with no outside cause | Yes, the shop checks the part |
| Screen replacement | Touch fails or spots appear, with no impact | Yes, if there is no new damage |
| Charging connector | The phone stops charging again, with no sign of forced use | Yes, the shop checks it |
| Board repair | The same defect comes back in the same area of the board | Depends on the check |
| Any service | Screen cracked by a new drop | No, it is new damage |
When the defect is the same as the repair
The key point is the link between the current defect and the service that was done. Did you replace the battery and the phone started shutting down by itself? There is a direct link. Did you replace the screen and months later the camera stopped working? Those are different parts, and the technician has to look to say whether one caused the other.
When the technician needs to check first
It is not always possible to say at the counter whether the case is covered. The phone has to go to the workbench, because that is where you can see whether the part is faulty or whether there was a drop, water, or someone else opening it. That is why the check comes before the answer, and this applies to any serious repair shop.
What the warranty does not cover
The warranty does not cover new damage, the kind that happens after delivery from a drop, water, or misuse. The rule is simple: it protects the repair, not the phone against everything that may happen to it in the future.
Cases that are not covered
- Drop or knock after the repair, which cracks the screen or bends the phone.
- Contact with liquid after the repair, including sea water and pool water.
- Opening by others: if another person worked on the phone after Help Cell, the technician cannot guarantee what was done.
- Defect in a part that was not replaced and has no link to the repair.
- Bad charger or overload that damages the battery or the connector.
This list follows the usual logic of repair shops. The exact details at Help Cell, such as what happens with a screen that is already cracked or with heavy use, are to be confirmed at the shop.
Why the exclusions exist
They do not exist to make things hard for the customer. Without this limit, the shop would have to fix any damage again, and the price of the service would go up for everyone. The exclusion keeps the warranty fair: those with a real defect get served, and those who had an accident know that their case is different.
Not sure what your warranty covers?
Tell us which repair you had and what happened. The team replies on WhatsApp and tells you what to do next.
How to claim the warranty, step by step
To claim the warranty, come back to the shop as soon as possible with the phone and the service receipt. The sooner you let us know, the easier it is to see what happened.
- Write down what is wrong: when it started, what you were doing, and whether the defect is the same as before.
- Find the receipt or the service order for the repair.
- Let Help Cell know on WhatsApp at +55 48 99110-7381, telling us about the repair and the defect.
- Bring the phone to the shop at Floripa Shopping within the 90 days.
- Let the technician check it, and ask them to explain the result clearly.
- If the case is covered, confirm the timeline for the new repair before you leave.
Before you go, make a copy of your data
If the phone still turns on, make a backup before you hand it over, even for a warranty case. In many repairs the data stays intact, but a copy protects you from anything unexpected. The guide Will I lose my data when I repair my phone? explains how to get ready.
What if I am not in Florianópolis?
If you live in Greater Florianópolis, ask about pickup and delivery, which has a fee. If you are a tourist and have already gone home, contact the shop on WhatsApp first, because the solution depends on the case.
What to keep after the repair
Keep the service receipt, because it shows the delivery date and what was replaced. Without it, the warranty conversation takes longer, and you have to spend time proving what is already on record.
| What to keep | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Receipt or service order | Showing the delivery date and the service done |
| WhatsApp messages with the shop | Remembering what was agreed about parts and timing |
| Photo of the phone at pickup | Showing the condition it was in when it left the shop |
| Note of the defect, with the date | Helping the technician find the cause faster |
How to avoid losing the warranty
You avoid losing the warranty by taking care of the phone as you would with any recent repair, and by not letting anyone open it. The care is simple, and most of it is common sense.
Tests worth doing at pickup
Before you leave the shop, test what was repaired. If it was the battery, check the charge and the battery reading on the phone. If it was the screen, run your finger over all the corners and open the camera. If it was the connector, plug in the charger. Any problem you see right away is fixed without discussion.
Habits that protect the repair
- Use a case and a screen protector, especially after a screen replacement.
- Use a good-quality charger, without frayed cables.
- Avoid leaving the phone in the sun, in a hot car, or near water.
- Do not let another repair shop open the phone within the warranty period.
The warranty and your data
Claiming the warranty should not erase anything, but the phone goes to the workbench and may be opened. So the rule is the same as for any repair: keep a copy of your photos and contacts.
If the phone broke completely and you need the photos before anything else, read the guide How to recover photos from a broken phone or one that will not turn on. It helps even when the warranty does not apply.
Frequently asked questions about the 90-day warranty
Does the 90-day warranty cover all services?
Help Cell gives 90 days of warranty on the service it does. When you agree to the repair, ask whether your case has any different condition, and ask them to confirm it on WhatsApp.
When does the 90-day count start?
In general, the count starts on the day the repaired phone is delivered. Check the date on your service receipt.
Does the warranty cover a cracked screen from a new drop?
No. A drop after the repair is new damage, not a defect in the service. A new screen that fails on its own, without a drop, does go through the warranty check.
Do I lose the warranty if another repair shop opens the phone?
In practice, yes, the risk is high. If someone else worked on the phone, the technician cannot tell what came from the repair and what came from the opening. If you want a second opinion, come back to Help Cell first.
Do I need to bring the receipt to use the warranty?
It is better to bring it, because it shows the date and the service done. If you lost it, let us know on WhatsApp: the shop may be able to find the record of your visit.
Does the warranty have a cost?
Redoing a defect from the repair itself should not have a labor cost, but the check decides whether the case is covered. If the damage is new, the shop explains it and gives you the price of the new repair on Help Cell's WhatsApp.
Can I claim the warranty for a repair done by another shop?
No. The Help Cell warranty covers work done by Help Cell. For a repair done somewhere else, the warranty belongs to that shop, and you need to contact them.
