Repair notices

You need to know about repair notices if:

• your business repairs goods capable of storing user-generated data
• you sometimes use refurbished parts to fix goods.

You must give the notice or notices to a customer before accepting the goods to repair. You can do this:

• in person if you see the customer face-to-face
• by email, mail or fax if the customer sends the goods to you.

You cannot start repairing the goods until the customer gets the notice or notices. If your business needs to give both notices, you can give them in 1 or 2 documents.

User-generated data

User-generated data is any data stored on goods, for example:

• files stored on a computer hard drive
• telephone numbers stored on a mobile telephone
• songs stored on a portable media player
• games saved on a games console
• files stored on a USB memory stick.

If you repair goods that can store user-generated data, the repair notice must say the repair of goods may result in the loss of the data. For example:

The repair of your goods may result in the loss of any user-generated data. Please ensure that you have made a copy of any data saved on your goods.

or

During the process of repair, some or all of your stored data may be lost. Please ensure that you have saved this data elsewhere prior to repair.

Refurbished goods or parts

Refurbished goods or parts are usually a used good or part that has been reconditioned or restored to an acceptable working order.

You can legally:

• use refurbished parts to fix a good (rather than new parts)
• replace faulty goods with a refurbished version.

If you do this you must give a customer a notice before you accept their goods for repair. You must include this wording in the notice:

Goods presented for repair may be replaced by refurbished goods of the same type rather than being repaired. Refurbished parts may be used to repair the goods.