Handling fees

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droidx

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My brother took his laptop to a repair shop to fix the screen (didn't go on).
Recently I found out that it still wasn't repaired since January, they assured him that they knew what the problem was and could fix it within two weeks.

Their terms and conditions state that should the customer collect the laptop or if they cannot repair it, a R350 handling fee will be charged.
Is this legal. He signed next to the term and had I known he was doing this I would stopped him.
It just doesn't sit right with me, he has been way too lenient with these guys with them asking for extensions.

He is willing to pay the handling fee, I feel it's thievery. Is there anything in the CPA preventing this, or should it be seen as school fees?
 
You are not allowed to charge a fee for quoting.. but by calling it a "handling" fee they are trying to sidestep that one.

I would challenge them on it. Esp since they haven't actually fixed it.
 
ToxicBunny said:
You are not allowed to charge a fee for quoting.. but by calling it a "handling" fee they are trying to sidestep that one.

I would challenge them on it. Esp since they haven't actually fixed it.
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I am not sure what the law is either way, but troubleshooting a computer is time consuming and time is money. Whether it is able to be fixed or not, man hours were spent trying to ascertain whether it could indeed be repaired.
 
The law pretty much states, that unless you agree to it, the company can't charge you a quoting fee.
 
ToxicBunny said:
The law pretty much states, that unless you agree to it, the company can't charge you a quoting fee.
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Thanks after your reply last night, I found this and told him he has to pay up.

Thanks for the other responses, Agreed the trouble shooting etc may have taken time. They have however identified the part and have been waiting all this time (apparently), it is well past their initial promise in terms of time frame. They have inconvenienced him and he kept giving them extensions but he has to pay for work not done.

But they are not in the wrong, I accept that now. It just never say well with me initially.
 
I refuse to deal with companies that charge a "quoting" fee or a quote rejection fee, and I tell them straight up why I refuse to deal with them.
 
ToxicBunny said:
I refuse to deal with companies that charge a "quoting" fee or a quote rejection fee, and I tell them straight up why I refuse to deal with them.
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I would have done the same. I told my brother never to sign something like that again.
He was desperate to have it fixed and they promised it could before his exam. Instead he's been using my mother's laptop ever since.
 
droidx said:
I would have done the same. I told my brother never to sign something like that again.
He was desperate to have it fixed and they promised it could before his exam. Instead he's been using my mother's laptop ever since.
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Then no offence, your brother needs a klap around the back of the head. I've had 1 company promise me they'll fix something within x time frame, when they hadn't i made a massive scene inside their very busy customer care centre at the manager and they just gave me a refurbished unit to get me to go away. Never heard from them again.
 
I agree that he needs one. I was actuality thinking of going with him to collect it so that I can give these guys a piece of my mind.
 
fonoi said:
droidx said:
They have however identified the part and have been waiting all this time (apparently).QUOTE]

So why not just tell them to go ahead and replace the part?
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They claim to be waiting to receive the part. My brother went to collect and pay the handling fee previously and they asked for a week extension it is just dragging on now.
They obviously cannot repair the laptop, and are going to score from it, for all I know they just left the thing in storage for 6 months.
But they pointed this out to him and he signed it, so he is at fault. School fees. He definitely won't be signing anything of the sort in the future.
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ok, completely off topic, but whats the matter with the screen, if he needs a new one they very easy to replace and not too expensive

ok you said didnt turn on in first post, does the laptop work with an external monitor?
 
Yes it works with an external monitor. It is out of warranty so he opened it up himself initially. The ribbon between motherboard and screen was damaged (burned). I imported a new ribbon for him and he replaced it. Haven't fiddled further than that. But also never got it to work. He was meant to check it out, but I guess he couldn't find the fault himself.
Neither of us are in IT but have limited knowledge. We'll take a look again once we have the laptop.
 
droidx said:
Yes it works with an external monitor. It is out of warranty so he opened it up himself initially. The ribbon between motherboard and screen was damaged (burned). I imported a new ribbon for him and he replaced it. Haven't fiddled further than that. But also never got it to work. He was meant to check it out, but I guess he couldn't find the fault himself.
Neither of us are in IT but have limited knowledge. We'll take a look again once we have the laptop.
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You should have imported the screen - which model laptop is it? You really dont need any IT skills - just go onto youtube it will show you how to remove your screen.

Once the screen is out on the back there will be the model number of the screen.

Interesting that the connection between the screen and board fried - did anything specific happen - spill a drink, power failure.
Anyhow if the laptop works with an external monitor sounds like the board is fine and hasn't blown.
I wonder what part this company he took it to are waiting for, do they have an eta when it will be arriving - maybe they have ordered a new screen?
I can understand the fee they are charging as they have probably worked a tad on the machine but nothing should take longer than 3 -4weeks, even if they have to import a specific item.
 
Yeah. My next move was to import the screen. But because my bro was in a hurry he took it to get repaired. He is comfortable with doing such replacements himself.
It was the time factor.
No idea why the connection was fried, he says nothing out of the usual happened with the laptop. It just stopped working one day. Will go the import and self replacement route this time.
Sure they put a bit of work in, but he was also without his laptop for 6 months because of empty promises on their side. This is why I feel he got the short end of the deal, but it is his own fault and he'll definitely learn from it.
 
TBH if they have had for longer than 8 weeks they should have the decency to forgo any charges
 
lived666 said:
TBH if they have had for longer than 8 weeks they should have the decency to forgo any charges
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Don't think they will. When he wanted to collect previously they asked for an extension and mentioned that if they cannot fix it he can pay the handling fee and get his device.
 
droidx said:
Don't think they will. When he wanted to collect previously they asked for an extension and mentioned that if they cannot fix it he can pay the handling fee and get his device.
Click to expand...

What laptop is it? I would never have left a laptop for so long, heck its aged by now, these things have a limited life span.
 
It was aged when it got there haha, not sure of the model # but it is an entry level Toshiba with i3 processor.
Personally I would not have left it either, but it is not mine so I never had a hand on this.
Trust me I do find the whole thing ridiculous as well.
 
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