Lost or Faded Receipt: What Happens to Your Warranty?

If you lose the receipt you do not lose the warranty: the claim for defects expires two years after delivery (art. 210 para. 1 of the Swiss Code of Obligations), and according to SRF Kassensturz Espresso (1 February 2024) the right does not depend on the original. You do need to be able to show when and where you bought: a card charge, a digital receipt or a legible photo is enough.

Updated November 2026. Sources: Swiss Code of Obligations (CO, as of 1 October 2026) and Swiss Civil Code (CC, as of 1 January 2026) on Fedlex; SRF Kassensturz Espresso, 1 February 2024; Beobachter, 30 April 2026; ACSI, 15 August 2017 (all read on 9 November 2026). This is not legal advice.

I lost my receipt: is the warranty still valid?

Usually yes. The seller is liable for defects that remove or considerably reduce the value of the item or its fitness for the intended use (art. 197 CO). Claims expire two years after delivery, even if you discover the defect later, unless the seller promised a longer warranty (art. 210 para. 1 CO). For an item for personal use bought from a trader, the period cannot be shortened below two years, or one year for second-hand goods (art. 210 para. 4 CO). The seller can, however, limit or exclude the warranty, for example to repair only (ACSI, 19 June 2023), unless the seller fraudulently concealed a defect (art. 199 CO).

Whoever asserts a right must prove the facts it rests on (art. 8 CC). That is why the receipt is useful: not because the law requires it, but because it proves the date and the shop. You must report the defect immediately after discovering it, otherwise the item is deemed accepted (art. 201 CO). For how long to keep receipts, see the guide how long to keep receipts.

What can I use as proof of purchase?

If you have no proof at all, you are left with the shop’s goodwill: that is what the Beobachter (30 April 2026) writes. Asking politely and showing what you have is often more useful than arguing about the law. According to SRF Kassensturz Espresso (1 February 2024), two big chains say their customer account stores warranty certificates by itself: check whether your loyalty programme does so. For purchases paid in cash the road is narrower: see also digital receipts in Switzerland, where the customer account often keeps the history.

What do you tell the shop if you only have partial proof?

Show what you have: the item, the date of the charge on your account, the photo of the faded receipt. Explain when you discovered the defect and what does not work, and ask in writing for a repair, a replacement or a price reduction. If the shop refuses, turn to a consumer organisation such as ACSI in Ticino. This is not legal advice: for a specific case, ask a lawyer.

Is a photo of the receipt valid?

In general, yes. According to the Beobachter (30 April 2026), the shop must in principle accept a scan or a photo of the receipt too. That is advice from a consumer magazine, not a court ruling. Photograph the whole receipt, with the shop, date, item and total, on a table and in good light. For expensive purchases, keep the original as well. How to photograph a long receipt well: how to scan receipts.

Can a shop refuse an exchange without a receipt?

Yes, and often even with the receipt. For an item with no defect there is no right to an exchange or refund: according to ACSI (15 August 2017), shops sometimes accept an exchange or offer a voucher, but the customer cannot choose. Many shops exclude sale items. Ask about the conditions before you buy and have the exception written on the receipt. A defect is different: the warranty rules above apply.

How do you read a faded receipt?

Receipts are usually thermal paper, which reacts to heat, light and plasticisers (Beobachter, 30 April 2026). Faded text cannot be recovered: the Beobachter (25 April 2005) reports an expert’s view that vanished print cannot be regenerated chemically. You can try to read it better, with no guarantee of success:

1. Do not heat it and do not rub it.
2. Photograph it on a dark background, with light from the side, without flash.
3. Try raising the contrast and brightness in your phone’s editor.
4. Check the date and amount against your bank statement (SRF, 27 October 2013).

Why thermal paper fades and what it contains is explained in the guide to receipts, BPA and thermal paper.

How do you avoid losing a receipt again?

1. At the till, ask for a receipt for anything you might return or insure. SRF (27 October 2013) advises asking for a second copy on plain paper.
2. Photograph the receipt the same day, while it is still legible.
3. Keep the original in a paper envelope, in the dark, away from heat and plastic (Beobachter, 30 April 2026).
4. For warranties, write the date and shop on the box and save the photo in a folder named after the item.
5. Choose the digital receipt when there is one.
6. For important purchases, keep the proof for a long time: the Beobachter (30 April 2026) gives ten years as a safe margin for receipts and vouchers.

If you buy the appliance and notice a mistake on the receipt, read receipt errors and your rights.

How to go about it with Rappn

Rappn is a free Swiss app (iOS and Android) that compares the current promotions of seven Swiss retailers in all 26 cantons, in 4 languages, with promotions updated daily. You can scan your grocery receipts: the app turns them into a monthly spending overview by category. It is built for grocery shopping, so for an appliance under warranty keep the original too. Rappn has no commercial agreements with any retailer.