Terms of Service for Suspected Faulty Electronic Devices submissions @ Micro Fix

Micro Fix Technology Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd | Reg. No. 2020/754423/07 | 38 Alcade Road, Lynnwood Glen Estate, Pretoria, 0081 | service@micro-fix.co.za | https://www.micro-fix.co.za

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern every quotation, estimate, diagnostic service, repair, and managed technical service carried out by Micro Fix Technology Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd ("Micro Fix", "we", "us", "our") for a client ("you", "the Client"). By requesting a quote, submitting or dropping off a device, approving a repair, or otherwise instructing Micro Fix to commence work, you agree to be bound by the provisions of these Terms applicable to your transaction.

These Terms are intended to comply with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 ("CPA"), the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA"), the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECTA"), and other applicable South African law. Nothing in these Terms excludes, limits, or requires you to waive any right that cannot lawfully be excluded, limited, or waived under the CPA. Where any clause conflicts with the CPA, the CPA prevails and that clause is read down to the extent of the conflict, without affecting the remainder of these Terms.

1. Definitions & Application

1.1 Consumer Client. A "Consumer Client" means a natural person acting primarily for personal, household or domestic purposes, or a juristic person whose asset value or annual turnover falls below the threshold prescribed from time to time under section 5(2)(b) of the CPA (currently R2 million). Consumer Clients receive the full protections afforded by the CPA and other applicable law.

1.2 B2B Client. A "B2B Client" means a juristic person whose asset value or annual turnover meets or exceeds the section 5(2)(b) threshold. Transactions with B2B Clients are governed primarily by the agreement between the parties and South African contract law, subject to any statutory protections that remain applicable regardless of turnover (see Section 14).

1.3 Where classification is uncertain, Micro Fix will apply the Consumer Client protections unless the Client provides sufficient information establishing that the transaction falls outside the CPA. Classification is determined by applicable law, not solely by either party's description of it.

2. Services

Micro Fix provides electronic diagnostics, fault-finding, circuit analysis and schematic tracing, component-level and board-level repair, micro-soldering, module and component replacement, corrosion and liquid-damage assessment and remediation, and repair of consumer, industrial, renewable-energy, and automotive electronics, together with related technical services expressly agreed with the Client. The specific scope of work for a given job is set out in the applicable quotation.

3. Quotations & Estimates

3.1 Every quote is provided in writing (email, WhatsApp, or hard copy). Where extended, destructive, or specialised diagnostic work is required (for example, board-level fault-finding after liquid damage) which carries a cost, that cost will be disclosed to you before the work begins, in accordance with section 15 of the CPA and its regulations.

3.2 A quote reflects the total price payable for the described repair. Unless a line-item breakdown has been expressly requested by a client in writing, the quoted price is a single inclusive figure covering the parts, labour, and quality assurance required to complete the described repair.

NOTICE (CPA s22 – Plain Language): Please read this clause carefully. Your quote states one total price for the described work unless we have expressly agreed, in writing, to break that price down by part and by labour. If you would like your specific quote itemised, ask us before you approve it.

3.3 Quotes are valid until the date stated on the quote document. After that date, prices may change due to part availability or supplier cost movements, and a revised quote may be required.

3.4 No repair, replacement, or part installation will proceed without your prior written approval of the quote (email, WhatsApp, or signature). We will not charge you for work you have not authorised. Any additional fault discovered mid-repair will be quoted separately and requires your further approval before we proceed.

3.5 If you decline a quote, your device will be returned to you. If an upfront assessment fee was charged at intake, it is retained as compensation for the diagnostic work already performed (see Section 4). A return shipping or handling fee, where applicable, will be disclosed on the quote and becomes payable only if the quote is declined and the device was delivered to us via third-party logistics.

3.6 A quotation applies only to the device and fault conditions assessed at the time it was issued, and may require revision if further disassembly and/or analysis reveals concealed damage, additional faults, prior repair work, or unavailable parts.

4. Assessment & Diagnostic Fees

4.1 No assessment fee will be charged to a Consumer Client unless the applicable fee and its purpose have been disclosed and agreed before chargeable diagnostic work begins.

4.2 Where a quotation is declined, or a device is found to be unrepairable (including due to severe board-level damage, CPU failure, or uneconomical repair cost), the assessment fee already disclosed and agreed remains payable, as it compensates Micro Fix for bench time, disassembly and reassembly, fault isolation, and preparation of the quotation.

4.3 Where an assessment fee is expressly designated as creditable on the quote, it will be credited in full against the approved repair invoice for the same device. It does not constitute a cash refund or transferable credit.

5. The Realities of Electronic and Micro-Soldering Repair

5.1 Micro-soldering is precision work joining microscopic components and ultra-fine connections on dense circuit boards, requiring optical magnification, controlled thermal work, and careful heat management to avoid permanent board damage. Turnaround depends on technician availability and the delivery of specialist parts from suppliers.

5.2 Part replacement can involve proprietary software locks (for example, on most Apple devices) and manufacturer or official-agent policies only offer a device swap rather than a repair of your original unit. Micro Fix sources OEM and high-quality aftermarket parts. Where a reconditioned, rebuilt, or grey-market part is used in a repair, this will be disclosed to you before the repair proceeds, as required by section 57 of the CPA.

5.3 Occasionally, a device cannot be repaired once troubleshooting is complete — typically due to a damaged CPU or another fault that cannot reasonably be remedied. Where a device shows evidence of a prior repair attempt, this will be disclosed to you as a risk factor before deeper diagnostics take place (see Section 6).

5.4 Devices with no prior repair history generally have a high repair success rate, and such jobs are typically completed and ready for return within three (3) to ten (10) working days of quote approval and payment, subject to parts availability.

6. Prior Repair Attempts

6.1 A device booked in as "unopened" or "untouched" may be reclassified as a Prior Repair Attempt if inspection reveals flux residue, prior soldering, missing or substituted components, damaged pads or traces, or other evidence of previous intervention. You will be notified where it is reasonably practicable.

6.2 Devices with a Prior Repair Attempt history have a materially reduced probability of successful repair, because earlier intervention may have introduced or concealed damage. Micro Fix does not guarantee successful repair of such a device merely because the originally reported fault appears technically repairable. The applicable assessment fee remains payable where diagnostic work has already been performed.

7. Warranty on Repairs

7.1 In accordance with section 57 of the CPA, all new or reconditioned parts installed and the labour performed by Micro Fix are guaranteed for a minimum of three (3) months from the date of job completion, against recurrence of the specific fault repaired.

NOTICE OF WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS (CPA s49): This warranty does not cover: liquid or physical damage occurring after collection; unrelated faults; a tampered Micro Fix warranty seal; damage caused by third-party repair attempts after collection; software issues unrelated to the hardware repair performed; misuse or abuse of the repaired part; or normal wear and tear. An exclusion applies only to the extent the excluded event caused or materially contributed to the claimed failure, and only to the extent permitted by law.

7.2 If the same fault recurs within the warranty period, we will re-inspect the device free of charge. If the failure is attributable to our workmanship or the part supplied, we will repair it again at no additional cost. If, after re-inspection, the fault is found not attributable to our repair, a new quotation will apply and will be disclosed to you before any further chargeable work begins.

7.3 Devices repaired via an outsourced third-party partner carry the same warranty terms set out in this Section. Where an in-warranty claim is investigated and the fault is found not attributable to the repair or the parts supplied, you may be invoiced for the transport cost to and from the third-party partner; this cost will be disclosed to you before it is incurred.

7.4 Nothing in this Section excludes or reduces any statutory right or remedy available to a Consumer Client under the CPA, including remedies under sections 54, 55, and 56. Where the CPA applies, those statutory rights operate independently of, and in addition to, the contractual warranty described above.

8. Data, Privacy & Device Content

LIMITATION OF DATA LIABILITY (CPA s49): We strongly recommend that you back up your device and remove sensitive personal data before drop-off. While we take reasonable care, Micro Fix is not liable for loss of data, photos, contacts, or other content occurring during diagnosis or repair, except where such loss results directly from our negligence, gross negligence, or wilful misconduct, or other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.

8.1 Where device access (for example, a passcode) is necessary to carry out diagnostics or repair, this information is used solely for that purpose, stored securely, and not retained for longer than reasonably necessary, in accordance with POPIA.

8.2 Personal information collected on a quote, job card, or invoice — such as your name, contact number, email address, and device details — is processed only to administer your repair, and for legitimate related purposes including invoicing, warranty administration, complaint handling, and legal compliance.

8.3 Micro Fix will not sell your personal information. It may be disclosed to a third party only where reasonably necessary to perform the Services — for example, an outsourced repair partner for work you have approved, a courier, or a payment processor — or where required or permitted by law.

8.4 You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information Micro Fix holds about you by contacting service@micro-fix.co.za. Full details of our data-handling practices are set out in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

9. Payment Terms

9.1 Full payment of the approved quote is due before the repaired device is released or collected. Approval of a quote is not, by itself, proof of payment, and proof of payment is not, by itself, sufficient for release — see 9.3 below.

9.2 We accept EFT, Yoco card payments (in-store or via payment link), and card payments for labour-only jobs (for example, soldering a customer-supplied part) and diagnostic or assessment fees. Diagnosis-and-repair quotes and capped-price repair jobs are preferably payable by EFT, and are released for collection once funds have reflected in our account.

NOTICE (CPA s49 – Release Conditions): Payment must reflect as cleared funds in our business bank account before your device will be released. A payment confirmation, EFT proof, or screenshot is not sufficient on its own. Yoco card and payment-link transactions typically take up to two (2) working days to reflect. For same-day collection, EFT payment must reflect in our account by 14:00 on the day of collection — payments reflecting after this cut-off mean collection is available on the next business day. Please plan your payment method and timing accordingly.

9.3 Once you have approved a quote in writing, the price is fixed and will not be renegotiated at collection. Micro Fix reserves the right to decline further business with a client who attempts to alter agreed payment terms after written approval has been given.

10. Liability

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY (CPA s49): Micro Fix's total liability for any claim arising from a repair is limited to the total value of the repair invoice, except where liability cannot lawfully be limited under the CPA — such as gross negligence resulting in personal injury or damage to property. We are not liable for pre-existing damage, undisclosed defects, or consequential or indirect losses (including loss of business, revenue, profit, or data) arising from a device being out of service.

10.1 The duty of care Micro Fix owes to property in its possession — to exercise the degree of care, diligence, and skill reasonably expected of someone safeguarding another's property — applies independently of the limitation above, and nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or reduce a duty of care or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

11. Collection, Storage & Uncollected Devices

11.1 You will be notified in writing (email, WhatsApp, or SMS) when your device is ready for collection. You are responsible for collecting your device within the period communicated to you and for keeping your contact details up to date.

NOTICE OF STORAGE & UNCOLLECTED PROPERTY (CPA s49): A device not collected within 30 days of the initial ready-for-collection notification may attract a reasonable daily storage fee, which will be disclosed to you before it is applied. If a device remains uncollected for 90 days after that first notification, and our reasonable attempts to contact you in the interim have failed, we will send a final written demand. If the device remains uncollected after final demand, Micro Fix reserves the rights available to it under South African law — including any applicable lien or right of retention — and, where the law permits, may sell, recycle, or otherwise lawfully dispose of the device to recover accrued storage, assessment, and repair charges. This does not automatically transfer ownership to Micro Fix merely because a period has elapsed, and any balance we are legally required to account for to you will be dealt with accordingly.

11.2 Where components are removed during a repair, Micro Fix will retain them and make them available to you on collection, unless you have declined their return, the component is unsafe to retain, or it must be returned to a manufacturer, supplier, insurer, or other party under a warranty or exchange arrangement.

12. Specialised B2B, Industrial, Renewable & Automotive Electronics

This Section applies only to B2B Clients whose transaction falls outside the consumer protections of the CPA by operation of section 5(2)(b).

12.1 B2B transactions are governed by South African contract law and the specific quotation, scope, and warranty agreed between Micro Fix and the B2B Client. Consumer protections that do not apply to a given B2B transaction are not incorporated merely by reference to these Terms.

12.2 Given the technical resources involved in specialised work — extensive bench time, trace analysis, high-voltage simulation, and controlled testing of industrial hardware, solar inverters, BMS units, ECUs, GCUs, and plant machinery PCBs — B2B assessment fees may be charged as standalone, non-creditable professional technical assessment fees, disclosed and agreed before the assessment begins.

12.3 Successful component-level repair on a test bench does not guarantee successful operation once the repaired unit is reinstalled into its host system (for example, wiring, sensors, or external controllers outside the repaired PCB). Final installation, system integration, and operational safety remain the Client's responsibility, or that of a qualified installer, unless expressly included in Micro Fix's quotation.

12.4 Where Micro Fix performs board-level repairs on ECUs, GCUs, instrument clusters, or other automotive electronic modules, immobiliser pairing, key coding, vehicle coding, and vehicle-level communication are not warranted unless expressly included in the quotation. Micro Fix remains responsible for loss caused by its own negligent, wilful, or unlawful conduct to the extent required by applicable law.

13. Electronic Transactions & Website Use

13.1 Where Services are requested or authorised electronically, Micro Fix may communicate with you by email, WhatsApp, online forms, or other electronic means, in accordance with ECTA. Electronic quotations, authorisations, and approvals constitute records of our agreement.

13.2 Please retain copies of quotations, authorisations, invoices, and other transaction records supplied to you electronically.

14. Complaints & Dispute Resolution

14.1 If you are dissatisfied with a Service, quotation, charge, or repair, please contact us directly first so the matter can be investigated and, where appropriate, resolved. Complaints may be submitted to service@micro-fix.co.za.

14.2 Micro Fix will reasonably investigate a complaint and may request the original quotation, job number, photographs, or other information reasonably necessary to assess it.

14.3 Where a matter remains unresolved, you may refer it to an independent arbitration organisation, the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO), the National Consumer Commission (NCC), or a court of competent jurisdiction in Pretoria, at your election. Nothing in these Terms requires a Consumer Client to waive any statutory right, or prevents you from approaching a competent authority, tribunal, or court.

15. Intellectual Property

Technical reports, diagnostic notes, photographs, and schematics created during a repair may be retained by Micro Fix for legitimate business, warranty, and record-keeping purposes, subject to POPIA. Micro Fix retains ownership of its own methodologies, templates, and diagnostic procedures. You retain ownership of your device and personal information, subject to Micro Fix's lawful right of retention or lien described in Section 11.

16. Client Responsibilities

        Provide accurate contact information and keep it up to date;

        Disclose known liquid damage, physical damage, security locks, and previous repair attempts;

        Maintain appropriate backups of your data before submitting a device;

        Promptly approve or decline quotations;

        Collect completed or unrepairable equipment within the communicated collection period; and

        Settle amounts properly due under the applicable quotation or invoice.

Micro Fix reserves the right to refuse or terminate a Service where there is a reasonable legal, safety, security, or ownership concern regarding the device.

17. Fair Terms and Your Rights

These Terms are intended to be fair, reasonable, and transparent, as required by the CPA. Nothing in these Terms seeks to exclude, limit, or require you to waive any right you hold under the CPA that may not lawfully be excluded, limited, or waived. If any clause is found to conflict with the CPA, the CPA prevails and that clause is read down to the extent of the conflict, without affecting the rest of these Terms.

18. Changes to These Terms

Micro Fix may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, Services, or business practice. The updated version will be published on our website with a new effective date. The version you accepted at the time of a particular transaction will ordinarily govern that transaction, unless a later amendment is expressly agreed or required by law.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be severed or limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in force.

20. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Nothing in these Terms prevents a Consumer Client from exercising rights or approaching a forum available under applicable consumer-protection legislation. Subject to applicable law, disputes not otherwise resolved may be determined by a court or other competent forum of jurisdiction in Pretoria.

21. Contact & Business Information

Micro Fix Technology Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd

38 Alcade Road, Lynnwood Glen Estate, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa

Telephone: 065 938 0390

Email: service@micro-fix.co.za

Business Hours: Mon–Thu 09h00–17h00, Fri 08h30–16h30, Sat 08h30–12h30 (by appointment only)

Company Registration: 2020/754423/07

CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

Where required by the nature of the Service, you will separately acknowledge specific risk provisions on the applicable intake or authorisation form — including board-level repair risk, data-loss risk, pre-existing damage, and Prior Repair Attempt status. Where a separate acknowledgement is required by law, publishing these Terms on our website alone does not replace that acknowledgement.

End of Terms of Service