Why most claims are won or lost on evidence
When a service goes wrong, the dispute almost always reduces to two questions: what was agreed, and what was actually delivered. Whoever can document both with timestamped, independent evidence wins — in a chargeback, a platform guarantee claim, or the small claims court. Memory and assertion lose to records.
The five evidence types you need
1. The agreed scope
The original quote, booking description, or contract. This anchors what “good” was supposed to look like. Without it, the provider can claim they did exactly what was asked.
2. Dated visual evidence
Photos and short video of the defect, taken as soon as you notice it, ideally with the date visible. Capture wide context shots and close-ups.
3. Communications
Every message, email, and note. A written exchange where the provider acknowledges the problem — or refuses to fix it — is gold.
4. Proof of payment
Receipts, bank statements, or card records showing what you paid and when. Essential for chargebacks and Section 75 claims.
5. Independent assessment
For higher-value or technical failures, a short report from a second qualified professional turns your opinion into expert evidence.
Timing rules that make or break a claim
- Capture evidence immediately — before any remedial work, which can erase proof of the original defect.
- Don’t “fix it yourself first.” Doing so often forfeits your right to repeat performance and destroys the evidence.
- Respect claim windows. Platform guarantees and chargebacks have deadlines (often 48 hours for guarantees, up to 120 days for chargebacks).
The single most common reason good claims fail is acting too late or remediating before documenting. Photograph first, fix second.
The shortcut: a signed digital receipt
Half of every dispute is arguing over what was agreed. A signed, tamper-evident digital receipt eliminates that half entirely. Every eligible Gera booking generates a signed action receipt that records the agreed scope, the provider’s verification status, the warranty cap, and the timestamp. When you raise a claim, there is nothing to argue about regarding the agreement — only whether the delivered work matched it, which your photos settle.
Because the receipt is machine-readable, it also lets an AI agent acting on your behalf check claim eligibility and assemble the evidence pack automatically.