TechMates – Repair Terms & Conditions
Version 1.4 (26 June 2025) Next scheduled review: December 2025 or on legislative change, whichever is earlier.

Statutory notice

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes your non-excludable rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or any other applicable consumer legislation.

Key Facts (pre-contract information)

Trader: TechMates (sole trader – Scott Hardy)
Address: 11 Sandpiper Lane, Wyberton, Boston, PE21 7SN
Telephone: 01205 625001 Email: hello@tech-mates.co.uk
Total price: £25 diagnostic (waived if repair accepted) + parts at the price shown on your written quote (which may include our handling margin) + labour £60 per hour (minimum 30 min). The final price will never exceed the itemised written quote you approve.
VAT: TechMates is not VAT-registered; no VAT is chargeable.
Payment methods: Cash, major debit/credit cards, online payment link or invoice by prior agreement.
Completion time: Quoted individually; target seven days. We will keep you informed if parts delays make completion later or earlier.
Complaints: See Clause 15 below.
Liability cap: Up to the device’s full market value for loss or damage while in our care (see Clause 16).
Right to cancel: See Clause 3; model cancellation form follows.

Model cancellation form (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 Schedule 3)

Model cancellation form
(Complete and return this form only if you wish to cancel the contract)

To TechMates, 11 Sandpiper Lane, Wyberton, Boston PE21 7SN
Email hello@tech-mates.co.uk

I/We () hereby give notice that I/We () cancel my/our (*) contract for the supply of the following service —

Ordered on () / received on ():

Name of consumer(s):
Address of consumer(s):
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is posted):
Date:

(*) Delete as appropriate.

Terms & Conditions

1. Scope of service

TechMates repairs consumer electronics (computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and related peripherals). Work may be carried out on-site at your premises or off-site in our workshop, depending on diagnostic requirements.

2. Statutory consumer rights

Repairs are provided with reasonable care and skill and within a reasonable time, as required by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. These rights apply in addition to any warranty given below and are not affected by any other term herein.

3. Bookings, cancellation & early-start consent

3.1 For bookings arranged online, by telephone or during a doorstep visit you may cancel within 14 days of contract formation under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
3.2 If you want work to start within the 14-day period you must provide explicit written consent (signature or tick-box), acknowledge that the £25 diagnostic fee and any authorised repair costs remain payable if you later cancel, and understand that once the repair is completed in full your 14-day cancellation right is lost.
3.3 A copy of the model cancellation form is supplied above.

4. Diagnostics & repair approval

4.1 Diagnostic inspection is free unless you decline a viable repair quote, in which case a £25 fee applies.
4.2 No charge is made if the device is unrepairable or outside our capability.
4.3 No paid work is undertaken without your written approval.
4.4 Parts are charged at the price stated on your written quote, which may include our handling margin. No additional parts costs will be added once you approve the quote.

5. Disassembly consent

You authorise TechMates to partially or fully disassemble your device during diagnostics, even if no repair is ultimately performed.

6. Customer-supplied parts

Where you supply parts, TechMates gives no product warranty on those parts. TechMates remains liable for negligence in fitting and workmanship. Labour charges remain payable regardless of outcome.

7. Data responsibility & ancillary data services

7.1 You are solely responsible for backing-up data before submitting your device.
7.2 TechMates is not liable for data loss, corruption or failure unless caused by our negligence.
7.3 Data transfer or recovery is provided on a best-efforts basis without guarantee.
7.4 Processing necessary for backup, imaging or recovery is undertaken under UK GDPR Article 6(1)(b) (performance of a contract); limited system imaging for disaster-recovery purposes relies on our legitimate interests. Any working copies or system images we create are securely erased within 14 days of successful completion of your repair.
7.5 See our Privacy Policy at www.tech-mates.co.uk/privacy for full details of data security, retention and erasure.

8. Payment terms & particular lien

8.1 Payment is due on completion unless otherwise agreed in writing.
8.2 Until paid in full TechMates retains (a) ownership of any fitted parts; and (b) a lien over the device and accessories.

9. Warranty

9.1 Repairs (excluding software-only work and liquid-damage repairs) carry a 12-month parts-and-labour warranty.
9.2 The warranty does not cover accidental damage, misuse, liquid ingress or unrelated faults arising after the repair.
9.3 This warranty is in addition to your statutory right to claim for latent defects for up to six years under the Limitation Act 1980.
9.4 Workmanship on customer-supplied parts is covered; the part itself is not unless failure is due to our fitting negligence.

9A. Digital-content repairs

Where we supply operating systems, firmware or other software we warrant that we are entitled to do so and that it will not infringe third-party IP rights. You must accept the applicable licence terms (free/open-source or paid as quoted).

10. Liquid-damage repairs

Liquid-damaged devices are treated on a best-effort basis and carry no warranty unless confirmed otherwise in writing. This exclusion does not affect your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

11. Collection, delivery, custody & insurance

11.1 Risk in transit (a) If TechMates arranges courier collection or delivery, risk remains with TechMates until the device is delivered to you. (b) If you arrange the courier, risk passes when we hand the parcel to your carrier.
11.2 Devices moved by TechMates’ courier remain at our risk; if lost or damaged in transit we will reimburse up to the device’s full market value.
11.3 On-site insurance – while a device is on our premises it is insured against fire or theft up to the device’s full market value.

12. Abandonment & uncollected devices

12.1 Devices not collected within 90 days after written notice will be treated as uncollected goods under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.
12.2 We will send at least one reminder and a final registered notice.
12.3 After 90 days we may sell, recycle or dispose of the device to recover outstanding charges and reasonable storage costs.
12.4 Records of all notices and disposal actions are kept.

13. Marketing consent & privacy

13.1 We use the soft-opt-in under PECR to email existing customers about similar services; every message contains a one-click unsubscribe.
13.2 Marketing emails/SMS will otherwise only be sent with your recorded opt-in consent.
13.3 Our full Privacy Notice (UK GDPR-compliant) is available at www.tech-mates.co.uk/privacy.

14. Ownership & disposal of removed parts / environmental compliance

14.1 Removed parts become TechMates property unless you request them back at the time of service. Data-bearing drives are returned by default.
14.2 Our annual EEE turnover is below £100 000; we therefore participate in the Distributor Take-back Scheme instead of in-store WEEE take-back.
14.3 Electronic waste is processed through licensed WEEE facilities; TechMates operates under the T11 repair/refurbish exemption where applicable.

15. Complaints & alternative dispute resolution

15.1 Stage 1: Please contact us by phone (01205 625001) or email (hello@tech-mates.co.uk) as soon as possible (ideally within seven days of repair completion) so we can put things right quickly.
15.2 Stage 2: If unresolved after three working days, request owner review; we will issue a written outcome within ten working days.
15.3 Stage 3: If still dissatisfied you may seek advice from Citizens Advice and may refer the matter to RetailADR (www.retailadr.org.uk). TechMates will participate in RetailADR if you choose to escalate your complaint through that scheme.
15.4 Nothing prevents you from pursuing court action at any time.

16. Limitation of liability

TechMates’ total liability for loss or damage to a device while in our care is limited to its full market replacement value. This cap does not apply to (a) death or personal injury caused by negligence, (b) fraud, (c) liability that cannot be excluded under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, (d) loss caused by our negligence in handling your data, or where such a limitation would be unreasonable under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.

17. Force majeure

TechMates is not liable for delay or failure caused by events beyond its reasonable control (e.g. fire, flood, pandemic, component shortages, carrier strikes). A party is not obliged to accept non-contractual performance unless this clause expressly requires it, consistent with MUR Shipping BV v RTI Ltd [2024] UKSC 18.

18. Third-party rights

No third party may enforce any term of this contract under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

19. Severability

If any clause or part is held unenforceable, the remainder continues in effect.

20. Governing law & jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales; any dispute is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.