GENIOUS SERVICES TERMS OF SERVICE

Last Updated: May 2026

1. INTRODUCTION & ACCEPTANCE

Welcome to Genious Services (Pty) Ltd. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern the relationship between Genious Services (“we”, “us”, “our”) and our customers (“you”, “your”) regarding the repair, diagnostics, and service of electronic devices.

By submitting a device for diagnostics, repair, or any other service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and the Service & Repair Form you complete upon check-in.

2. OUR SERVICE PROCESS

We follow a transparent, four‑step process to get your device back in perfect working order:

3. DIAGNOSTICS FEE

A standard diagnostics fee of R350 applies to all devices brought in for assessment.

• Waiver: This fee is fully waived if you decide to proceed with the quoted repair carried out by Genious Services.
• Payable: If you decline the repair quote, the diagnostics fee remains payable before the device is released back to you.
• Scope: The diagnostics fee covers the time and expertise required to assess the device, identify the primary fault(s), and provide a detailed quotation.

4. REPAIR TIMELINES & PARTS SOURCING

We aim to return your device as quickly as possible, but repair times vary depending on the nature of the fault and parts availability.

• Standard Repairs (screens, batteries, charging ports, etc.): Typically completed within 4–6 hours on the same day. Drop off in the morning, collect in the afternoon.
• Board‑Level & Motherboard Repairs: Complex work such as micro‑soldering, logic board trace repair, component-level IC replacement, and multilayer board diagnostics generally require 1 to 14 working days to complete, depending on the complexity of the fault.
• Parts from Overseas: If required replacement parts are not available locally and must be ordered from international suppliers (typically from Asia, Europe, or the USA), the repair timeline will be extended. We will notify you immediately of any such delays and provide an updated estimated completion date.
• Communication: We will keep you informed throughout the repair process. If you have not received an update within the estimated timeframe, please contact us on 078 298 5294 or email [email protected].

5. BOARD-LEVEL REPAIR SCOPE & LIMITATIONS

Board‑level repairs (micro‑soldering, logic board trace repair, component‑level IC replacement, and multilayer board diagnostics) are highly specialised, delicate operations that require precision equipment and advanced technical skill.

When a device is brought to us specifically for a "no power" / "dead" condition, our scope of work is strictly limited to:

• Diagnosing the power delivery circuit (e.g., charging ICs, power management ICs, MOSFETs, capacitors, resistors, and broken traces).
• Restoring the board's ability to turn on and receive power.

Important limitations you must understand:

• Post-Repair Reprogramming Required: Once a power‑related fault is rectified, the device may still require additional firmware reprogramming or configuration before it is fully functional. This includes (but is not limited to):
  • BIOS / UEFI flashing
  • EC (Embedded Controller) firmware re‑linking
  • NAND / eMMC re‑serialization
  • Security chip pairing (e.g., T2 chip, Apple silicon, or other encrypted chipset pairing)
• We are NOT a programming or firmware company. We specialise in hardware‑level soldering and component replacement. We do not guarantee that we can or will perform post‑repair reprogramming, and we are not liable if the board requires such programming after our hardware fix.
• Unrelated components are excluded: Restoring power to a board that was previously dead does not guarantee that all other components (e.g., audio, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, camera, touch screen, USB ports, or other ICs) will function. We fix the specific fault you requested (the power issue). Any other unrelated components that fail to work after power is restored are not covered under our warranty for this specific repair, unless we were expressly contracted to fix them as well (in which case a separate quote would have been provided).
• Client Acknowledgement: By submitting a board‑level repair job, you acknowledge and accept these limitations. If your device requires reprogramming after our hardware fix, you may need to engage a third‑party data recovery or firmware specialist at your own cost and risk.

6. QUOTATIONS & ADDITIONAL FAULTS

Any quotation provided is based on the reported fault(s) described by you at the time of check‑in and our initial visual assessment.

• Revised Quotes: During diagnostics or the repair process, we may discover additional faults, damages, or underlying issues not previously reported (e.g., liquid damage, faulty ICs, corroded traces, or damaged logic boards). In such cases, we will contact you with a revised quotation.
• Client Approval: No work requiring a cost deviation exceeding the original quoted amount will commence without your explicit approval. We will halt all work and await your instructions.
• Abandonment: If you decline a revised quote, the device will be returned to you in its current state, and the diagnostics fee (Section 3) will apply.

7. CLIENT DECLARATION OF MISSING COMPONENTS

It is your sole responsibility to declare any missing components or parts before we proceed with diagnostics.

• Examples of missing components include (but are not limited to):
  • Laptops / Desktops: Missing hard drive (HDD/SSD), missing RAM modules, missing battery, missing keyboard keys, missing screws or access panels.
  • Smartphones / Tablets: Missing SIM card tray, missing memory card, missing stylus, missing back cover.
  • Consoles: Missing controllers, missing power supply, missing hard drive caddy.
• Specification Declaration: If a component is absent, you must inform us of its specifications where applicable (e.g., "Missing 1TB NVMe SSD" or "Missing 8GB DDR4 RAM module"). This allows us to accurately quote for a replacement or confirm the absence of data liability.
• Liability: We are not liable for any missing components that were not recorded on the intake form. If we discover a component is missing after diagnostics begins, we will inform you; however, any data loss, functionality issues, or additional costs arising from unlisted missing components are your sole responsibility.

8. PREVIOUS REPAIRS & THIRD‑PARTY WORK

We take pride in our workmanship, but we cannot and do not take responsibility for work performed by previous technicians, third‑party repair shops, or the device manufacturer prior to our involvement.

• Limitation of Liability: We are only responsible for the specific repair work we perform. Any pre‑existing damage, faulty components, missing parts, or incorrect installations performed by third parties are excluded from our warranty and liability.
• Discovery of Previous Work: If we discover that previous repairs were performed poorly (e.g., bridged solder joints, torn ribbon cables, incorrect screws), we will advise you. Rectifying such work may incur additional charges and will be subject to a separate quote.
• Screen & External Components: We are not responsible for pre‑existing scratches, cracks, missing glass, or damaged cosmetic components caused by previous repair attempts. You must inspect the device at drop‑off and note any existing cosmetic damage.

9. COLLECTION, STORAGE & LIEN

We understand that schedules can be busy, but we require timely collection of completed repairs.

• Notification: Once your device is ready for collection, we will notify you via the contact method(s) provided (SMS, WhatsApp, email, or phone call).
• Grace Period: You are granted a 14 (fourteen) calendar day grace period from the date of our notification to collect your device.
• Storage Fees: If the device is not collected within this 14‑day grace period, a storage fee of R100.00 (one hundred Rand) per day (or part thereof) will be charged for every day after the grace period until the date of collection.
• Lien: We retain a legal right of lien over your device. This means we are entitled to hold your device until all outstanding amounts (including repair costs, diagnostics fees, storage fees, and any other charges) are paid in full.
• Disposal / Abandonment: If the device remains uncollected for an extended period (exceeding 60 days after the end of the grace period) and we have been unable to contact you, we may, at our discretion, dispose of the device to recoup costs, provided we have complied with relevant South African law regarding abandoned goods.

10. DATA LOSS & BACKUP

Repairs often involve disassembly, software flashing, firmware updates, factory resets, and board‑level work (micro‑soldering). These procedures carry an inherent risk of data loss.

• Backup Mandate: It is your sole responsibility to back up all data (documents, photos, videos, accounts, passwords) before dropping off your device. We strongly recommend performing a full backup to an external drive or cloud service.
• No Liability: To the maximum extent permitted by law, Genious Services is not liable for any loss, corruption, or irretrievability of data, software, or operating systems during the repair process.
• Encryption / Locks: If your device is encrypted or locked with a password/PIN that you cannot or will not provide, we may not be able to perform the repair or test it. In such cases, we may be forced to perform a factory reset, which will erase all data. You will be informed of this risk beforehand.

11. WARRANTY

We stand behind the quality of our workmanship and the parts we supply.

• Coverage: We provide a warranty on the specific repair performed and the parts installed for the period selected on the Service & Repair Form (typically between 1 and 6 months, as per your chosen option).
• Conditions: The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship related to the specific repair. It does not cover:
  • Physical damage, liquid damage, power surges, or impact damage occurring after the repair.
  • Malfunctions caused by misuse, abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications.
  • Software issues, viruses, or account lockouts.
  • Pre‑existing faults not related to the specific repair performed.
  • Unrelated components that were not part of the specific repair (as detailed in Section 5 above).
• Remedy: If a valid warranty claim is made, we will, at our election, repair or replace the defective part free of charge. This is your exclusive remedy under this warranty.

12. PAYMENT TERMS

• Due on Collection: All invoices (repair costs, diagnostics fees, and storage fees) are due in full prior to the release of the device.
• Payment Methods: We accept cash and EFT (bank transfers). Proof of Payment (POP) must be provided for EFT payments, and the device will only be released once the payment reflects in our bank account.
• Banking Details:
  • Account Name: GENIOUS SERVICES
  • Bank: FIRST NATIONAL BANK (FNB)
  • Account #: 62888307389
  • Branch Code: 250655
  • Reference: Ticket / Job Number

13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, including the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 (where applicable), Genious Services’ total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to our services, whether in contract, delict (including negligence), or otherwise, shall be limited to:

• The amount paid by you for the specific service in question, or
• R2,000.00 (two thousand Rand), whichever is lower.

Under no circumstances shall Genious Services be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of data, or loss of business opportunities.

14. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

Our compliance with legislation is paramount. These Terms are designed 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 ("ECT Act")

15. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, concerns, or require clarification regarding these Terms of Service, please do not hesitate to contact us: