2010 has been a great year for Apple. The company released its fourth version of the iPhone, as well as its first tablet, the iPad. Both products have high-tech designs and unique capabilities that make electronic communication easier, cooler, and more enjoyable than ever.

If you are a proud owner of one or both of these popular Apple products, you probably use them a lot. However, as with any piece of technology, they are not guaranteed to work perfectly forever, so if you run into problems, you need to have somewhere to turn.

With all the companies claiming to be experts on Apple products, how do you know which one is best rated to fix your broken iPad or iPhone?

It is easier than you think. Once you do a few searches for “iPad repair, iPhone repair” and other such sentences, you will see that you have a lot of options. Avoid companies that sound too sophisticated or sales oriented; They should promote what they are good at, but if the message is too aggressive, it is probably not genuine.

Once you’ve removed the bad apples, the next step is to make sure that all of the companies you’re considering are Apple-authorized repair facilities that employ certified Macintosh technicians. If you don’t see these certifications stamped somewhere on the company’s website, please continue.

Once you’ve established the proper certification, here are some other key factors to consider:

• Does the business have a physical location on its site? Most iPad and iPhone repair companies encourage customers to mail in their products, so it’s always smart to legitimize your location.
• How long has the company been in business? Apple’s technology has been around since the 1990s, so it’s important to see how long a company has been dealing with it.
• Does the contact information connect you directly to a real person? You’d be surprised how many don’t.
• Is there adequate information that details the types of repairs carried out by the companies and in what terms they are carried out? If not, you may be looking at a scam site.

The most important thing is that you use your best judgment when choosing an iPad or iPhone repair company. There are many high-quality options, but there are also quite a few scams. Look for links to blogs, social media profiles, and other similar accounts, because they also go a long way toward increasing credibility. Word of mouth referrals are great, but if you can’t get one of those, try looking for business reviews on the internet. People who have received poor service often express it.

Repairing your prized iPhone or iPad and getting it back in your hands is easy if you follow the tips outlined above. Find a company you trust and stick with it. You shouldn’t run into many problems with your Apple products, but when you do, it’s important to have a reliable place to turn.