This decision tree is part of the warranty eligibility disputes guide. It answers one question: whose yes a partner needs before introducing a company with disputed warranty claims.
Three people, three different answers
Disputed claims involve more people than ordinary claims, which makes it easy to introduce the wrong one.
- The aftermarket operations head knows why. They approved or denied the appeals, know which product lines kept clean component histories, and can say whether approvals were recorded as fields or in email. They are the right first conversation and the best sponsor.
- The warranty administrator knows where. They run the platform, set up warranty terms and know the export options. Their access is operational.
- The CEO decides whether. Warranty records are company records shaped by contracts with manufacturers, suppliers and customers. Exploring a license is a commercial decision, so it sits with the CEO.
The tree, step by step
Answer each step before moving down. Steps 2 to 4 add a check; none of them stops the introduction on its own.
| Step | Question | If yes | If no or unclear |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Has the aftermarket operations head agreed to a conversation about the dispute history? | Go to 2 | Ask who chairs claim appeals; start there |
| 2 | Does the company service or sell another manufacturer's products under a dealer or distributor agreement? | Note it for counsel; go to 3 | Go to 3 |
| 3 | Does the company recover costs from component suppliers, with recovery records kept? | Note the supplier terms for counsel; go to 4 | Go to 4 |
| 4 | Do customer service agreements say who controls information about customers' equipment? | Note it for counsel; go to 5 | Leave as unknown; go to 5 |
| 5 | Has the CEO agreed to take an introduction? | Go to 6 | Do not submit yet; ask the aftermarket head to raise it |
| 6 | Is general counsel aware that dealer, supplier or customer terms may apply? | Submit the introduction | Suggest the CEO involves counsel early, then submit |
A manufacturer servicing its own equipment through its own technicians often answers no at steps 2 and 3 and travels quickly. A distributor that services several brands usually answers yes at step 2, because the warranty work it performs is typically reimbursed under each manufacturer's program.
Contract checks that shape the answer
The partner's job is to notice these, not interpret them.
Manufacturer dealer or distributor agreements. When a distributor files claims with a manufacturer, the agreement may say how warranty records can be used. Whether that restricts licensing is a legal question.
Supplier recovery terms. Recoveries close the financial loop, and Salesforce's warranty fields even list Supplier as a warranty type beside Repair and Standard. Recovery records involve the supplier's terms, so counsel looks at them before anything is discussed.
SalesforceCustomer service agreements. Contracts with equipment owners sometimes address who controls service and equipment information. If they are silent, the question stays open for the review.
Why provenance is argued over. For consumer products sold in the U.S., the FTC's guide to federal warranty law explains that tie-in provisions, which state or imply that a consumer must use a particular company's item or service to keep coverage, are generally not allowed without an FTC waiver. That is why disputes over who supplied a replacement part turn on records, and why the swap history is valuable. It is background to the dispute, not a rule about who may license the records. The system map for these records shows where that swap history lives.
Signals in conversation that point to the right sponsor
| What you hear | Who to involve alongside the CEO | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Finance signs off on warranty reserves." | CFO | Warranty cost and recovery sit in finance |
| "Service is its own division with a P&L." | Division president or COO | The division runs the records day to day |
| "We're owned by a group." | Group officer, confirmed by counsel | The parent may hold the rights |
| "The owner approves anything with lawyers in it." | The owner, as CEO | Founder-led companies centralize these calls |
Whoever else is involved, the CEO authorizes the discussion and signs, so introduce the CEO with that person as sponsor. Advisors working on a transaction may also recognize the pattern from rep and warranty insurance, and the data license indemnification clause guide shows the kind of term counsel will later read.
Left open until SourceX's rights review
The tree identifies whom to introduce. It does not decide:
- whether dealer, supplier or customer contracts allow licensing of each record class
- which customer, site or serial details must be removed
- buyer interest in dispute histories, and on what terms
- whether an offer follows
Why data rights matter explains why these answers decide whether a discussion goes anywhere.
The introduced company needs 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded), a documented operating history, rights to license and an authorized contact. Companies in the U.S., Canada and the EU qualify, as do companies in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, South Africa, Latin America, the UAE and Saudi Arabia when at least 90% of the data is in English. Partners keep discovery at metadata level, never request claim files or exports, and sign the Channel Partner Agreement before submitting introductions. The first valid introduction within the 90-day window is credited when the company submits a verified application. The referral brief template has a field for the officer the tree points to, and the warranty claims data page covers the wider record family.
Next step
Refer a company. Earn up to $100,000. Default reward: 25% of Actual Supplier Payout, capped at $100,000 cumulatively per referred company. Eligibility and payment conditions apply, and a signed Schedule A or addendum can differ. A lead, meeting or signature alone does not trigger payment.
When the aftermarket head has brought in the CEO and the CEO has agreed to talk, and you have noted which contracts counsel should see, register as a partner, confirm the company against who qualifies and read the program terms.