Claiming on frame warranty - any advice?

I'm hoping to claim on the Trek lifetime frame warranty, as a crack has developed from the slot next to the seat clamp on the seat tube of my carbon frame. I've always used a torque wrench when fastening the seat clamp, to just below the specified torque setting, so I genuinely believe the crack is due to a manufacturing defect.
Does anyone have any advice on claiming on a frame warranty and any things you can do to maximise the chances of a successful claim?
Does anyone have any advice on claiming on a frame warranty and any things you can do to maximise the chances of a successful claim?
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I had one of them red bikes but I don't any more. Sad face.
@ratsbey
I bought my Ti Deluxe from a well known and respected shop in Alsager and when a crack appeared on the underneath of the rear stay the proprietor managed everything. Ok it was a three month wait but the frame was made to measure and from the US and was replaced without hassle or any issue.
Many years ago i broke my Halfords FS own brand which in effect was a Merida. Rear stay again and the frame was replaced FOC but i was on first name terms with the bloke in Redditch who was responsible for warranty claims....
Desmond Tutu
Going to take it back to the shop where I bought it at lunchtime today. So far they have been super helpful and supportive and I have a good business relationship with them.
Trek / bike shop were great, relatively speedily they agreed there was something wrong - quite possibly just a paint crack - it may have been because that frame / bike was a low value (<£500) but the bike shop arranged with Trek for a replacement complete bike o be offered to me. As mine was drop bars and the closest replacement was straight barred I said that did not suit so the shop allowed me to take the bike away and swap-over the bars etc from old to new so I essentially ended up with a new bike except for the bars/levers etc.
I have not read bad things about Trek's policy in general although I think some issues WRT the BB30/push-in coming loose (?) have not always come to such a positive conclusion.
Seem to recall a clubmate with an OCLV frame of a good few years vintage getting a replacement so fingers crossed for you.
just out of interest, when you got the replacement did the warranty start from new on the frame for a further 5 years or was it subject to the original time limit?
Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMbzsufHUs8
and more photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... 553407597/
I had my Bianchi frame replaced last year and they were very good about it.