I work in a computer repair shop. We have an increasing amount of abandoned machines, that have either been worked on and not picked up, or just totally abandoned as non-working. The customers have not contacted us, or promised to collect but failed to. Obviously, as some of these machines have had time spent on them, and new parts, they are owing us money. We would like to know if there is a length of time after which we are allowed to sell the equipment to recoup these costs. Of course, we make every effort to contact the customer first! Any advice would be apprecated.
usually shops here have somewere printed that after XX days they do not assure to give back stored items... or in the assistance order or on some wall
Yeah, that's what I'm going for - an agreement to be signed when the machine is taken in. We've never had any trouble before, but it is always best to be safe than sorry!! Someone told me once we'd have to keep it 3 months, and contact them in writing, but I can't remember who, nor where they got that information!
well , as a professional advice , I would be against open advice, especially on a forum. Seek legal advice at the appropriate office where you can count on it. I would be malpracticing if I gave any sort of advice to you from a forum and "on the air" unfortunately.
Yeh. Unless you already had that statement when they signed the paper, you really can't do anything about it. They might come down a month later and find out its been parted out or sold completely, they can sue your company.
Thanks for the replies, guys. Madhatter - that's pretty much what I'm going for. We're getting fed up of people not picking up their machines... and of course, these machines owe us money often. So we want our customers to sign an agreement when they leave their machines. I think Barc0de is right in that professional advice should be sought, only problem is persuading my boss this! He would re-use a cotton bud to get his money's worth!!
Any agreement that you put in place and is signed by both you/the store and the customer is legally binding So just draw one up and ensure that you cover all eventualities. You will want to get someone to play devils advocate with all the details provided in this agreement. For example: You will give a collection time/approx costing once the pc has been repaired/upgraded. After 30 days after the machine has been left with you, if it is not collected, you will contact the client by the means that you have been given by them, phone/e-mail/fax. "Document" the details if when this was done. After another 7 days one further attempt to contact will be made again as per above. If no response is made within a further 7 days from this second attempted contact the item then becomes the property of you/the store. I am sure you can develop/find some software even an excel spreadsheet to document what has come in, expected work, expected costings etc so that this can also be shown to future clients/customers that may get awkward if they haven`t been contacted to show this is normal practise. If is then a practise by you/the store to ensure that this is signed , ran through when any customer leaves items to you. So this is about 6 weeks, which is more than acceptable As I say, any agreement that you put in place and the customer/client signs is legally binding Just fyi (I have an idea on this ;-) ) www.linklaters.com
