Service Policies

1. Repair Risks & Inherent Malfunctions

Electronic repairs, particularly at the component level, are unpredictable. By submitting a device, you acknowledge and accept the following risks:

  • Permanent Damage: Your device may be beyond repair or may be permanently damaged during the repair attempt, rendering it useless. Circuit board components deteriorate over time and can fail without warning during the application of heat or diagnostic testing.

  • Liquid Damage: Devices with prior liquid exposure are prone to sudden failure due to oxidation, corrosion, and internal short circuits that may manifest only after the device is opened.

  • Screen/Glass Failure: Repairs on devices with glued-on screens (e.g., iPads, tablets) require prying. Despite our high level of experience, these delicate screens can crack or break during the prying process. This risk is borne solely by the customer.

  • Battery Risks: Batteries in tablets, laptops, and phones may swell or fail due to the excessive adhesive applied by manufacturers. Removal of a battery may cause unavoidable damage to the battery or surrounding components.

  • Trace & Pad Damage: Ports (USB, HDMI, etc.) that have been physically ripped or damaged may have compromised motherboard pads. We are not responsible for traces that lift or break during the removal of damaged components.

  • Biometric Features: Touch ID/Face ID/Face Recognition may fail or become permanently disabled during repair. This is often a software-level lock by the manufacturer or due to the fragile nature of the sensors.

  • GPU/AIO Failure: Integrated GPUs on laptops and All-in-One (AIO) computers can fail without warning during testing or repair, especially on older models or units with known manufacturing defects.

2. Estimates & Work Authorization

  • Non-Inclusive Estimates: We do not guarantee that our initial estimate is final. It is often impossible to identify every fault until work has commenced. Estimates may change as the repair progresses.

  • Approval Process: If an estimate must be updated, we will halt work and contact you. No further work will proceed without your explicit approval.

  • Implied Consent: Upon receipt of a device, we assume the customer has performed due diligence and wishes to proceed with the repair attempt based on our quoted baseline or diagnostic fee.

3. Right to Refuse or Terminate Service (The "Zero-Tolerance" Policy)

Northbridge Tech Repair reserves the absolute right to refuse, suspend, or terminate service to any customer at any time, for any reason, at our sole discretion.

  • Abusive Behavior: We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for unreasonable, unprofessional, harassing, or abusive behavior toward our staff, whether in-person, over the phone, or via electronic communication.

  • Undisclosed Tampering: Service will be terminated if we discover a device has been tampered with, had prior "DIY" repair attempts, or has undisclosed damage that makes the repair non-viable or unsafe.

  • Disputes: We reserve the right to terminate service if conflicts arise regarding our pricing, parts, or repair methodology.

Terms of Termination: In the event that we "fire" a customer or terminate a repair mid-process:

  1. State of Return: The device will be returned to you in its CURRENT STATE. This means the device may be returned partially or fully disassembled. We are NOT obligated to reassemble a device or restore it to its original condition once service has been terminated.

  2. Liability: We are not responsible for the functionality of the device or for completing any "leftover" work.

  3. Payment: You agree to pay for any parts already installed and the standard Repair Attempt Fee for the time spent prior to termination.

  4. Legal: We are not liable for any costs, losses, or legal matters incurred by the customer as a result of our decision to cease work.

4. Hazardous Materials and Biohazards (Pests & Chemicals)

To protect our staff and our customers' hardware from cross-contamination, we maintain a strict biohazard policy.

  • Infestations: If a device is found to contain pests (live or dead roaches, bedbugs, larvae, or rodents), work will stop immediately. The device will be double-bagged and sealed.

  • Hazardous Chemicals/Bio-fluids: Devices contaminated with undisclosed industrial fluids, mold, nicotine/tar, or biological fluids will not be serviced.

Fees & Immediate Disposal:

  1. Mandatory Handling Fee: A non-refundable $75.00 Hazardous Handling Fee will be added to your invoice (in addition to the Repair Attempt Fee) to cover sanitation and bench cleaning.

  2. Return Shipping: You will be notified and must provide a prepaid shipping label within 48 hours.

  3. Authorized Disposal: If we do not receive a return label within 48 hours, or if the device is deemed an immediate health risk, Northbridge Tech Repair will dispose of the device immediately. Disposal constitutes a total loss of property; we are not liable for the value of the device or the data therein once it is discarded.

5. Limited Shop Warranty & Exclusions

We offer a 30-day warranty on the specific repair performed. If the original issue recurs within 30 days, we will re-service the device at no charge. Warranty Exclusions (No Warranty Provided For):

  • Any service using parts provided by the customer.

  • Software-related issues (virus removal, OS errors, updates).

  • Systems randomly shutting down or overheating.

  • Printers (Note 1):* We do not recommend printer repairs due to high part costs and low device value. If we perform work at your insistence, it is provided "as-is" with no warranty and you assume all risk of further damage.

  • Smoke/Vaping Damage (Note 2):* Nicotine and tar create a conductive/sticky film on components. We cannot guarantee a fix or provide a warranty on any device with visible smoke residue or odor.

  • Liquid Metal (Note 3):* Devices with liquid metal damage or those where the customer has applied liquid metal are excluded from all warranties. Liquid metal is highly corrosive and conductive; repairs are "best effort" only.

Warranty Voidance: Your warranty is instantly void if the device is:

  • Opened or tampered with by anyone other than Northbridge Tech Repair.

  • Physically damaged (drops, dents, cracked screens).

  • Subjected to liquid, temperature extremes, or electrical surges.

  • Used with non-original/low-quality charging cables.

6. Payment, Shipping, and Abandonment

  • Diagnostic Fees: An upfront Bench/Board/Diagnostic fee is required for motherboard work or data recovery. This is non-refundable but is applied toward the final labor cost if the repair is successful.

  • Abandoned Property: Devices not picked up or paid for within 30 days of notification are considered ABANDONED. We reserve the right to sell the device to recover costs or recycle it.

  • Shipping: We are not liable for any damages occurring during transit. It is the customer's responsibility to request and pay for shipping insurance.

7. Data Responsibility

Northbridge Tech Repair does not guarantee the safety of your data. You are solely responsible for backing up your files before submission.

  • Data Recovery: This is a "best effort" service to recover personal files only. We do not recover software, programs, or licenses.

  • Cloning: If we clone a drive, we are simply moving the "image." Any pre-existing Windows errors or software bugs will be moved to the new drive.

8. Walk-In Agreement

By leaving a device at our service desk, you agree to these terms in full. While we provide printed summaries upon request, the most current version of our policies is always available on our website and supersedes all previous versions.