When you purchase a new computer component or peripheral – printer, monitor, scanner, mouse, keyboard, speakers etc. – it will come with a warranty of from one to five years. Familiarise yourself with the warranty provisions. For instance, many monitors come with a three-year "on-site" warranty. However, the fine print interprets that to mean that the local warranty repair agent will send a courier to collect the monitor and may loan you a replacement, subject to verification of the date of purchase.

Complete the warranty card, send in portion of it if required to do so. Attach the receipt and file the card carefully so that you can find it in two and half years time when you may need it.

In the event of a claim, find the warranty card and contact the reseller from whom you purchased the item. The reseller will advise you of the next step. Alternatively, if the warranty card says to contact the local service agent directly, do that.

If the warranty given by the reseller has run out, check with the manufacturer/distributor. A hard drive, for instance, may be sold with a one-year reseller warranty but have a three-year manufacturer's warranty that you can still claim on. You may also have a claim under the Australian legislation that over-rides the restrictions imposed by the supplied warranty. Consult the ACCC or your local Consumer Affairs branch if you think that may be the case.

It would be nice to think that you would never have to claim on your warranty, but computer components are made to a price and some fail. If yours does, you will be prepared, won't you?