Disposing Of Customers Computers. In a shop. After a year.

jamesfreddie

jamesfreddie

jamesfreddie

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Hi,
Just wondering if anyone knows about disposing of customers computers. My friend has a computer shop and he has had machines sitting there for about 2 years, all repaired waiting for customers to pick them up. Are we allowed to dispose of machines after a certain time?
All help Appreciated
 
I would say it depends on the paper work the customers signed. If there was a clause saying once notified of completion of work & no payment PC would be sold to cover the repair.

I'm no lawyer but its my 2 cents.....
 
I would imagine if your friend has tried to contact the owners and they have failed to collect, then yes. Sell them and recoup parts and labour. But, to be on the safe side, get in touch with Department of Fair Trading and get there advice. Better safe than sorry.
 
The customers leave there PCs along with contact info. He contacts the customers after the job is done then tries a few more times.

The customers dont sign any contract but we do have a sign up saying any PCs left for more than 3 Months will be disposed of.

What Do you think?
 
I have no idea why anyone would put a PC in for repair and then not bother collecting it or wanting it back. Would you do this with the car in the local garage?

Any reason why they don't collect? Seems a bit weird to me.

Anyway... after 2 years, I hardly doubt they will be wanting it back. Just sell them!
 
jamesfreddie said:
The customers leave there PCs along with contact info. He contacts the customers after the job is done then tries a few more times.

The customers don't sign any contract but we do have a sign up saying any PCs left for more than 3 Months will be disposed of.

What Do you think?
Click to expand...

I think it is best that the customers sign a written contract in the future - always in writing.

I think that it is best to be able to demonstrate that a reasonable number of attempts were made to contact the PC owner, reminding them that in 3 months from now the PC repair shop has the right to charge for their repairs and they can dispose of the PC if it is not collected within x amount of time.

I think three attempts is entirely fair.

I would keep a record of phones calls but particularly keep copies of 3 letters that include an invoice for the repairs, with a SAE and a reply form to the PC owner, hopefully the PC repair guy would receive a cheque and a reply form, as follows:

Dear Repair guy

(please tick which applies)

a I no longer wish to pick the PC up please dispose of it, I enclose payment for the repair work carried out, thank you.

b I intend to pick the PC up within 2 weeks of this letter and I enclose payment. You can reach me on the following daytime contact number to arrange pick up................... I understand the responsibility to pick the computer up remains with me.

Kind regards

Signature
Print name
Date
Company
Daytime telephone number

....

This way the repair guy should get paid in any case.

If they do not receive a reply within 3 months after 3 attempts they can easily demonstrate that they took reasonable attempts to contact the owner but they did not respond. If they were taken to a small claims court (a county court) they could produce their records and demonstrate this to a judge who I am sure would be satisfied that reasonable attempts were made to contact the owner who breached the contract.

Finally if the average computer repair is £45, or an estimate can be given at the out set, why not ask for a part payment. If for example a system check takes at least 30 minutes and your hourly rate is £50 charge £25 up front. It's a skillful job if your any good at it, do it.

pod:cool::p;)
 
I'll bet most of the PC's/laptops that came in for repair were pretty old and knackered and that some or most of the people that didn't collect bought a new system in the meantime.
 
Fire them an e-mail and 2 or 3 phone calls (inc voice message) a year after they drop the PC off. If they don't answer or get back to you within 2 weeks just sell of the comps.
 
Mutt said:
I'll bet most of the PC's/laptops that came in for repair were pretty old and knackered and that some or most of the people that didn't collect bought a new system in the meantime.
Click to expand...

Some of the machines are not that old. a lot around a year, but they just wont pick them up. Ie. He had one customer who had a machine with a faulty M/B. Then later we found the CPU was faulty so he replaced all the faulty parts for the origional repair cost, Which was £130 (For replacement M/B with Fitting Asus G41 DDR3 775 Board)

I like jpod's idea about sending them a letter at least then he would have real proof of trying to contact them. He dosent even mind if they dont pay as long as he can recope the money spent out on them.
 
jpod said:
Finally if the average computer repair is £45, or an estimate can be given at the out set, why not ask for a part payment. If for example a system check takes at least 30 minutes and your hourly rate is £50 charge £25 up front. It's a skillful job if your any good at it, do it.

pod:cool::p;)
Click to expand...

The reason he dosen't ask for part payment is a lot of jobs are diffrent in price. He may say it might be a PSU so that would cost £68 but then he might find out acctually it is a M/B and will be £130. So the customer might not want that so they would come and pick it up. So if he asked for 50% upfront then he would have to give that back when they reeturned to pick it up. and he dosen't like having any more money in the shop then he has to.
 
Write a letter to whoever has left the computer clearly stating that you have had the computer for x amount of time, and you have made several attempts to contact them without any reply. State that your policy, as clearly displayed in the shop, is to sell items that have not been paid for 3 months after repair in order to recover costs. Tell the customer that they have two weeks to contact you from the date of the letter before you offer the item for sale.

If you include all of the above information, legally speaking you should be fine (not a lawyer).
 
Lot's of good common sense answers, but this is a legal matter, common sense may not apply.

Get mate to talk to solicitor about what he can legally do with these computers and draw up a business contract which his customers can sign and which will protect him in the future.
 
it may be worth posting this thread in the gerneral discussion forum.
i know there are a few members there, that have studied law.
from memory Ahleckz is one but there are others ;)

as said above, after 3 months, i would try an email, phone call then a letter,
if no reply within 1 month, then i would sell them.
 
j.col said:
it may be worth posting this thread in the gerneral discussion forum.
i know there are a few members there, that have studied law.
from memory Ahleckz is one but there are others ;)

as said above, after 3 months, i would try an email, phone call then a letter,
if no reply within 1 month, then i would sell them.
Click to expand...

The problem is some ne're do well will return and say that they didn't know about the policy, they never received the emails or got a phone message or a letter and they wanted their computer back, you sold it so they want compensation for that mouldy Packard Dell and they are now going to take you to small claims court.

The good thing about a written agreement and copies of letters, perhaps one recorded, is that you can demonstrate to that individual or a county court judge that you tried to contact them a reasonable number of times and they did not respond, therefore you were entitled to dispose of their water cooled quad SLI rig :D

I am not a solicitor but I have watched a lot of Judge Judy which qualifies me to dispense legal advice in the United Kingdom, United States including the Magic Kingdom :p
 
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