Terms & Conditions
These Terms and Conditions govern all services provided by Tek Centre and your use of our website. Please read them carefully before booking a repair, purchasing a product, or using our services. By using our services you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
1 About Us
Tek Centre is a device repair, sales, and recycling business operating from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
Tek Centre is a trading name of 9step Limited (company number 10360528), a company incorporated in England and Wales. All contracts for repair, sale, and related services are entered into with 9step Limited trading as Tek Centre.
References to "we", "us", or "our" throughout these Terms refer to Tek Centre. References to "you" or "your" refer to the customer.
2 Repair Services
2.1 General
We offer repair, diagnostic, and technical services for a range of electronic devices including but not limited to smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, and games consoles.
2.2 Diagnostic Fee
A diagnostic fee of £24.99 applies to all fault assessments. This fee is charged whether or not you proceed with a repair. No repair work will be carried out without your express approval of the quoted repair cost.
2.3 Your Authority to Repair
By submitting your device to us for repair you confirm that:
- You are the legal owner of the device, or you have the full authority of the legal owner to authorise its repair.
- The device is not subject to any finance agreement, lease, or lien that would prohibit repair or transfer.
- The device has not been reported lost or stolen and is not listed on any loss/theft register (e.g. IMEI blacklist).
- You are aged 18 or over, or are acting with the consent of a parent or guardian.
By signing the check-in form you confirm you are the owner of this device, or are authorised by the owner to request this repair.
We reserve the right to refuse to accept or return any device we reasonably suspect to be stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained, and to report such suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
2.4 Device Condition at Drop-Off
By leaving your device you authorise Tek Centre to carry out the agreed repair. We are not responsible for pre-existing faults discovered during repair, or for any damage that was pre-existing prior to the device being left with us.
We will carry out a visual cosmetic inspection of your device at the point of drop-off and record any pre-existing damage. You will be asked to confirm the recorded condition.
We recommend that you remove any SIM card, memory card, and accessories before handing your device to us. Tek Centre accepts no responsibility for any SIM cards, memory cards, or accessories left in the device unless specifically noted on the job sheet.
2.5 Liquid Damage
Devices submitted with liquid damage are subject to additional risk. Corrosion may be concealed and can continue to develop after initial repair. Liquid-damaged devices are accepted on a best-efforts basis and no guarantee of successful repair can be given. The full quoted diagnostic/cleaning fee is payable regardless of the repair outcome. Our standard 90-day warranty does not cover the recurrence of pre-existing liquid damage.
2.6 No Fix, No Fee
Where we are unable to repair your device for a fault that was diagnosed and agreed prior to work commencing, no repair charge will be made. The no-fix-no-fee policy does not apply where:
- A diagnosis or inspection fee was agreed in advance;
- Parts have been ordered or consumed at your request;
- The device is found to have liquid damage, third-party repair attempts, or concealed secondary faults;
- You change the scope of the repair after work has commenced.
2.7 Third-Party Repairs
If your device has previously been repaired by a third party using non-genuine or substandard parts, we cannot guarantee that our repair will be successful. Any pre-existing third-party repair work is excluded from our warranty. Where third-party parts are found to be incompatible or unsafe, we reserve the right to remove them; we will inform you before doing so.
2.8 Software and Data
Some repairs may require a device to be factory reset or may result in data loss as an unavoidable consequence of the repair process. You are solely responsible for backing up all data on your device before dropping it off. Tek Centre accepts no liability whatsoever for any data loss arising from repair work, including but not limited to photographs, contacts, messages, application data, or financial information.
We do not access, view, copy, or transmit any personal data stored on your device unless it is strictly necessary to test the device's functions as part of the repair process.
3 Booking & Deposits
3.1 Bookings
Repair bookings can be made online via our website or in person at our premises. Bookings are subject to availability and are not confirmed until you receive a booking reference (format: TEC-XXXXXXXXXX) by email.
3.2 Online Booking Accuracy
Quoted prices displayed during the online booking process are indicative estimates based on the information you provide. The final confirmed price will be given following physical inspection of your device. If the final price differs materially from the online estimate and you do not wish to proceed, no charge will be made.
3.3 Deposits
For repairs quoted at more than £100, we require a deposit of 50% of the quoted repair price, payable on drop-off of the device. The deposit is non-refundable in the following circumstances:
- You cancel the repair after parts have been ordered or work has commenced;
- You fail to drop off the device within 7 days of your confirmed booking date without reasonable prior notice.
The deposit will be fully refunded if we are unable to carry out the repair as quoted and no chargeable work has been undertaken.
3.4 Cancellations and Rescheduling
You may cancel or reschedule a booking free of charge by contacting us at least 24 hours before your booked appointment. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice where parts have already been ordered may result in the deposit being retained to cover costs incurred.
4 Pricing & Payment
4.1 Prices
All prices quoted are in Pounds Sterling (GBP) and are inclusive of VAT at the applicable rate unless expressly stated otherwise. We reserve the right to amend prices without notice, but any price confirmed to you at the time of booking will be honoured unless the scope of repair changes following inspection.
4.2 Payment Methods
Payment is accepted by cash or bank transfer. Payment is due in full on collection of your device unless a deposit arrangement has been made. We do not currently accept online card payments for repair services.
4.3 Lien
Tek Centre reserves the right to retain your device until payment has been made in full. This right of lien applies to all repair charges, parts costs, and any storage fees that may have accrued under Section 6 below.
4.4 Revised Quotes & Additional Costs
The quoted price is our best estimate. If additional parts or labour are required we will contact you before proceeding. You are not obligated to accept a revised quote — your device will be returned unrepaired at no charge.
Where the repair reveals additional faults not identified in the original diagnosis, we will contact you with a revised quote before proceeding. You may decline additional work at no cost for the additional items; the original agreed scope of work will either be completed or, if the new fault makes the original repair impractical, discussed with you.
5 Warranty
5.1 Repair Warranty
We provide a 90-day warranty on parts and labour for the specific repair carried out. This does not cover accidental damage, liquid ingress, or unrelated faults arising after collection.
During the warranty period, if the same fault recurs and is attributable to our repair work, we will rectify it free of charge.
5.2 Warranty Exclusions
The warranty does not cover:
- Physical damage, accidental damage, or liquid ingress occurring after collection;
- Any fault unrelated to the original repair;
- Faults caused by software, viruses, or user error;
- Devices that have been opened, tampered with, or repaired by a third party after collection from us;
- Normal wear and tear;
- Consumable parts such as batteries where capacity reduction is consistent with normal use;
- Liquid-damaged devices where liquid damage is the root cause of the recurring fault;
- Any fault arising from use of incompatible accessories or non-approved chargers.
5.3 How to Claim Under Warranty
To make a warranty claim, please contact us by telephone on 01480 700190 or by email at contact@tekcentre.co.uk, quoting your booking reference. You must return the device to us for assessment. If the fault falls within the warranty, repair or replacement parts will be provided at no charge. If the fault falls outside the warranty, we will advise you of the cost before carrying out any chargeable work.
5.4 Refurbished Product Warranty
Refurbished devices and products sold by Tek Centre carry a warranty as stated on the product listing. Where no warranty period is specified, a minimum of 90 days applies. This warranty covers manufacturing defects and functional failures and does not cover accidental or cosmetic damage occurring after purchase.
6 Uncollected Devices
6.1 Notification of Completion
When your repair is complete or when a quote is ready, we will contact you using the telephone number and/or email address provided at the time of booking. It is your responsibility to ensure that the contact details you provide are accurate and that you are able to receive communications from us.
6.2 Storage Charges
We do not currently levy a daily storage charge; however, we reserve the right to introduce a reasonable storage fee for devices not collected within 14 days of notification. Where a storage fee applies, we will notify you clearly before it begins to accrue.
6.3 Reminder Notices & Disposal
Devices not collected within 60 days may be disposed of under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977. We will make at least two attempts to contact you before any disposal. Data will be erased before disposal.
Reminders will be sent by email and/or SMS to the contact details on record. We accept no responsibility if reminders cannot be delivered due to incorrect or outdated contact details.
6.4 Abandoned Devices — Transfer of Ownership
If a device remains uncollected for a period of 60 calendar days from the date of the first notification that it is ready for collection (or, where repair was declined, from the date of the declined quote), the device will be deemed to have been abandoned by the customer. In such circumstances:
- Legal ownership of the device transfers to Tek Centre without further notice;
- Tek Centre may, at its sole discretion, recycle, dispose of, repurpose, or sell the device;
- Any outstanding repair charges remain payable and Tek Centre reserves the right to pursue those charges;
- No compensation will be payable to the customer for the device or any data stored on it.
This provision is made under our right of lien and in accordance with the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977. We will take reasonable steps to erase personal data from abandoned devices before disposal in accordance with our data protection obligations under UK GDPR.
6.5 Recovery After the 60-Day Period
Once the 60-day period has elapsed and ownership has transferred, we are under no obligation to return the device. Any request for recovery after this period will be considered on a goodwill basis only and cannot be guaranteed.
7 Your Data & Personal Property on Devices
7.1 Data Backup
You are responsible for backing up your data before leaving your device. Tek Centre accepts no liability for data loss during repair, even where a factory reset is required.
We strongly recommend performing a full backup before dropping off your device. Tek Centre accepts no responsibility for the loss of any data, files, photographs, contacts, accounts, application data, or other content stored on your device.
7.2 Access to Device Data During Repair
Our technicians may need to access device functions in order to test a repair. This is limited to functional testing only (e.g. verifying that a screen displays correctly, that a charging port charges, or that audio functions work). Our staff will not browse, copy, share, or otherwise access your personal data beyond what is strictly necessary for testing purposes.
7.3 Confidentiality
All staff at Tek Centre are bound by confidentiality obligations. Any personal data incidentally accessed during the repair process will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party, save where required by law.
7.4 SIM Cards and Storage Media
We recommend removing all SIM cards and removable storage media before submitting your device. If SIM cards or memory cards are left in the device, they are your responsibility. Tek Centre accepts no liability for any charges, data loss, or damage relating to SIM cards or storage media left in devices.
8 Limitation of Liability
8.1 General Limitation
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Tek Centre's total liability to you in connection with any repair, product, or service shall not exceed the amount paid by you for that specific repair, product, or service.
8.2 Excluded Losses
We shall not be liable for any:
- Loss of data or software;
- Loss of profits, business, or anticipated savings;
- Indirect, special, or consequential losses;
- Losses arising from your failure to back up data prior to submitting the device;
- Damage caused by pre-existing faults, liquid damage, or third-party repair attempts.
8.3 No Exclusion of Statutory Rights
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any matter in respect of which it would be unlawful for us to exclude or restrict liability. Your statutory rights as a consumer are not affected.
8.4 Force Majeure
We shall not be liable for any failure to perform our obligations where such failure results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, epidemic, pandemic, terrorism, civil unrest, or failure of third-party suppliers.
9 Consumer Rights
9.1 Consumer Rights Act 2015
Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 are not affected. You may request a repeat repair, price reduction, or refund if our service was not carried out with reasonable skill and care.
If you are a consumer (i.e. you are acting outside any trade, business, or profession), our services must be performed within a reasonable time. If our work does not meet the required standard, you may be entitled to have the work redone at no extra cost or, where this is not possible, a price reduction.
9.2 Right to Cancel Online Bookings
Where a booking is made online and we have not yet commenced work on your device, you may have a 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. However, by submitting your device for repair you acknowledge that you are requesting that the service commences immediately, and that your right to cancel may be lost once the repair begins. You will be liable for any reasonable proportion of the cost if you cancel after work has commenced.
9.3 Dispute Resolution
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, please contact us in the first instance (see Section 13). We aim to resolve all complaints promptly and fairly.
10 Shop & Products
10.1 Product Descriptions
We make every effort to ensure product descriptions and images are accurate. However, minor variations in colour, specification, or appearance may exist between the product listing and the actual product. Grading descriptions (Grade A, Grade B, etc.) reflect cosmetic condition and are applied at our reasonable discretion.
10.2 Stock Availability
All products are sold subject to availability. In the event that an ordered item is out of stock, we will contact you as soon as possible to offer a suitable alternative, a delay, or a full refund.
10.3 Collection Only
All shop orders are currently available for in-store collection only. Orders must be collected from our premises during opening hours within 14 days of the order being confirmed as ready. Uncollected orders beyond 14 days will be subject to the uncollected goods provisions at Section 6.
10.4 Returns
Faulty items may be returned within 30 days of purchase for a full refund, exchange, or repair. Items must be returned with proof of purchase. This does not affect your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. We do not accept returns of items that have been intentionally damaged, used contrary to their purpose, or modified after purchase.
10.5 Sell to Us
If you sell a device to Tek Centre, you warrant that you are the legal owner and have full authority to sell it, that it is free from finance agreements, and that it has not been reported lost or stolen. By selling a device to us you transfer full legal title. Prices offered for buy-in are at our discretion and are not binding until confirmed in writing. Once a transaction is complete it cannot be reversed.
11 Website Use
11.1 Accuracy
We endeavour to keep the content of our website accurate and up to date but make no warranty that it is free from errors or omissions. Service prices, availability, and opening times displayed on the website are subject to change without notice.
11.2 Prohibited Use
You must not use our website to transmit unsolicited communications, attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the site, introduce malicious code, or engage in any activity that disrupts or interferes with the website's operation.
11.3 Intellectual Property
All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of Tek Centre or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our express written consent.
11.4 Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We have no control over the content of those sites and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them.
12 Data Protection & GDPR
12.1 Data Controller
Tek Centre is the data controller for all personal data collected in connection with our services. You can contact us regarding your data at contact@tekcentre.co.uk or by telephone on 01480 700190.
12.2 What Data We Collect
We may collect the following categories of personal data:
- Identity data: full name;
- Contact data: email address, telephone number, and where applicable, postal address;
- Device data: device make, model, IMEI/serial number, and any fault description you provide;
- Transaction data: booking references, repair history, order history, and payment records;
- Technical data: IP address, browser type, and usage data collected when you use our website (see Cookies below);
- Communications data: any communications between you and Tek Centre (emails, contact form submissions, support messages).
We do not collect sensitive personal data (as defined under UK GDPR Article 9) and we do not knowingly collect data from children under the age of 16.
12.3 Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data on the following lawful bases:
- Contract performance (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(b)): to fulfil repair bookings and orders you place with us;
- Legitimate interests (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(f)): to operate and improve our services, prevent fraud, and communicate with you about your existing repairs or orders;
- Legal obligation (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(c)): to comply with tax, accounting, and other legal requirements;
- Consent (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)): for marketing communications, where you have opted in.
12.4 How We Use Your Data
We use your personal data to:
- Process and fulfil your repair bookings and shop orders;
- Send booking confirmations, repair status updates, and collection notifications by email and/or SMS;
- Manage your customer account if you have registered on our website;
- Respond to enquiries and complaints;
- Send marketing communications where you have consented — you may unsubscribe at any time;
- Comply with our legal and regulatory obligations;
- Improve and develop our services and website.
12.5 Your Data Belongs to You
Your personal data remains yours at all times. We act only as a temporary custodian of that data for the purposes set out above. We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party for their own marketing purposes.
12.6 Data Sharing
We may share your personal data with:
- SMS/notification providers (e.g. Twilio) solely to send you booking and status SMS notifications;
- Email service providers solely to send transactional emails relating to your booking or order;
- Accountants or auditors where required for legal or financial compliance purposes;
- Law enforcement or regulatory bodies where we are legally required to do so.
All third-party processors are contractually bound to process your data only on our instructions and in accordance with UK GDPR.
12.7 Data Retention
We retain your personal data for the following periods:
- Booking and repair records: 6 years from the date of the repair (to satisfy HMRC record-keeping requirements);
- Order records: 6 years from the date of purchase;
- Customer account data: for as long as your account remains active, plus 2 years after last activity;
- Contact form / enquiry records: 2 years from the date of the enquiry;
- Marketing consent records: until consent is withdrawn;
- CCTV (if operated on premises): up to 31 days unless required for an active investigation.
After the relevant retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.
12.8 Your Rights Under UK GDPR
You have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
- Right of access: to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you (Subject Access Request);
- Right to rectification: to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data;
- Right to erasure: to request deletion of your data where it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, or where you withdraw consent;
- Right to restriction: to request that we restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances;
- Right to data portability: to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format;
- Right to object: to object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes;
- Rights related to automated decision-making: we do not currently make any solely automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects on you.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@tekcentre.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days. There is no charge for exercising your rights. If you are not satisfied with how we handle your request, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
12.9 Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. These include password-protected systems, encrypted data storage, restricted staff access on a need-to-know basis, and regular security reviews. However, no system is entirely infallible and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12.10 Cookies
Our website uses cookies to ensure its correct operation, maintain your session, and remember preferences. We do not currently use third-party advertising cookies. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device. You can control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our booking system and account features. For full details see our Privacy Policy.
12.11 Data on Abandoned Devices
Where a device is treated as abandoned under Section 6 above, we will take reasonable steps to perform a factory reset or secure erase of the device prior to recycling, resale, or disposal, in accordance with our obligations under UK GDPR. We cannot guarantee recovery of data from abandoned devices and accept no liability for loss of data arising from this process.
12.12 International Transfers
We do not routinely transfer personal data outside the United Kingdom. Where any third-party processor operates outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR Chapter V requirements.
13 Complaints
We take all complaints seriously. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, please contact us as soon as possible:
We aim to acknowledge complaints within 2 business days and to provide a full response within 14 days. Where a complaint is more complex and requires additional investigation, we will keep you informed of progress. If we are unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you may seek advice from Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or the Trading Standards service via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
14 Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
You and we both agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except where you are a consumer and applicable consumer protection laws provide you with the right to bring proceedings in the country of your habitual residence.
14.1 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from the remaining Terms, which shall continue in full force and effect.
14.2 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any specific terms communicated to you at the time of booking or purchase, constitute the entire agreement between you and Tek Centre in relation to our services and supersede all prior representations, agreements, and understandings.
14.3 Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes will be published on our website with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our services following the publication of updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of those changes. For material changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify registered customers by email.