General Information
In these terms and conditions:
"Data Recovery Expert" refers to a subsidiary of Fields Data Recovery Pty Ltd whose registered address is 1 Denison Street, Sydney, NSW 2060.
"Client" refers to any business, organisation, charity, or other legitimate entity with the necessary authority to agree to these terms and conditions who has sent, or may send, digital media and associated peripherals to Data Recovery Expert for data recovery services to any of its offices or postal addresses.
"Media" refers to any hard disk drives, SSDs, USB drives, external hard drives (where the hard drive remains securely attached to the enclosure), laptops, desktop computers, tapes, RAID arrays, NAS devices, mobile devices, or any other digital storage device sent to Data Recovery Expert.
"Peripherals" refers to any items associated with the media such as cables, leads, controller cards, unattached external enclosures, power adaptors, or accessories that can be detached from the media without affecting its ability to store digital data.
These terms and conditions apply only to the return of the original digital media supplied to Data Recovery Expert by the client and do not apply to the delivery of recovered data, which is governed by our general terms and conditions of service.
While Data Recovery Expert will use reasonable care to safeguard your media while it is in our possession, Data Recovery Expert disclaims all liability and responsibility for any damage caused to external enclosures or caddies where it is necessary to open them in order to access the internal hard drives or storage components. In some cases, this process may result in irreparable damage to the enclosure. Where this occurs, only the internal storage media may be returned.
Data Recovery Expert is not responsible if any manufacturer’s warranty becomes void as a result of work required to provide data recovery services.
Unless specifically requested at the time of enquiry or included in written instructions with the shipment, peripherals supplied by the client, including cables, packaging, adapters, or original boxes, may be discarded during processing. Data Recovery Expert is not responsible for replacing discarded peripherals or original packaging materials.
The client acknowledges that if the original media is not requested for return within 7 days of declining a quotation or after recovered data has been delivered, the media may be securely destroyed or disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Data Recovery Expert accepts no responsibility for any warranty or replacement claim requiring the original media once it has been disposed of following this period.
Shipping Services
Data Recovery Expert may offer complimentary return shipping services to paying and non-paying customers in accordance with promotions or information published on its website. The client acknowledges that complimentary return shipping may not apply to laptops, large items, media supplied with multiple peripherals, or shipments exceeding 2kg in total weight.
The client acknowledges that standard postal returns may be processed periodically rather than daily.
Estimated delivery timeframes for standard postal services may vary depending on location and carrier. Courier services typically deliver within 1–5 business days following dispatch; however, these timeframes are estimates only and are not contractual obligations.
The client acknowledges that Data Recovery Expert is not liable for delays caused by postal services, freight carriers, customs processing, weather events, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
The client understands that media and/or peripherals may be located at one of Data Recovery Expert’s operational laboratories or affiliated facilities during the recovery process and that complimentary return shipping services may utilise standard untracked postal services unless otherwise agreed.
Shipping providers used by Data Recovery Expert may include Australia Post, StarTrack, DHL, UPS, FedEx, or other recognised courier and postal services.
A signature may not be required for standard postal services. The client acknowledges that proof of dispatch, postage confirmation, courier receipt, or tracking number may be accepted as evidence of shipment.
Tracking numbers may not be available for all standard postal services.
Provided Data Recovery Expert can supply proof of dispatch, the client acknowledges that Data Recovery Expert is not responsible for loss or damage caused by postal or courier providers after dispatch.
Where courier services are used, a tracking number issued by the relevant carrier will be accepted as proof of dispatch.
Redress for Lost Media or Peripherals
The client acknowledges that, provided Data Recovery Expert can provide proof of dispatch, Data Recovery Expert is not responsible for any financial loss arising from media or peripherals lost while in transit with postal or courier providers.
The client acknowledges that media submitted for data recovery is typically faulty or damaged and that the residual hardware value of such media may be minimal. Liability for physical media or peripherals is limited to the replacement value of the physical item only and excludes consequential losses, loss of profits, business interruption, or loss of data.
Legality
The client agrees that all media and content supplied to Data Recovery Expert is legal, lawfully possessed, and that the client has the legal authority to request data recovery services in accordance with applicable Australian laws.