PC/Laptop Repairs/Maintenance

What happens if the engineer is unable to repair my PC or Laptop?

In this case, our No-Fix-No-Fee * policy means that there will be nothing to pay at all, apart from a small callout fee if onsite or just the collection/return delivery charge.

Do you offer a nationwide on-site callout?

Unfortunately no, because we only have limited trained staff we don’t want to depend on third part support, therefore, we can only cover the Midlands area where we operate from.

Do you repair laptops on-site?

We carry out software related repairs to laptops; however, we do not repair laptop hardware failures on-site. For laptop hardware failures, we recommend you to contact us so that we can arrange for a courier to collect it from your place and have it sent to our repair centre.

Do you repair printers?

We carry out software related repairs to printers - driver and/or installation problems; however, we do not repair printer hardware failures. For printer hardware failures, we recommend you to contact the manufacturer.

Do you repair monitors?

Unfortunately, we do not carry out repairs to monitors. For monitor hardware failures, we recommend you to contact the manufacturer.

What happens if the customer decide not go ahead with the repair?

If the engineer provides a clear and precise diagnosis of a failed component and is able to resolve the problem or effect the repair, but is only prevented from doing so by the customer requesting the engineer not to proceed with the work or the customer does not possess the required software CD-Rom or Product Key, then the customer is charged for the engineer's time spent to that point. In most cases this can be a standard flat rate, please check with engineer for more information.

What kind of laptop problems can you handle?

Since we are able to perform board level repair, there are not allot of problems we cannot handle.
Some common problems we encounter and repair each day are:
Blank screens
Systems that don't power on, or turn on then off
Systems that cannot charge batteries
Ac adapter receptacles which are broken,
We also perform simpler repairs such as keyboard replacements, memory upgrades, LCD replacements just to name a few.

What brands of PCs and laptop can you repair?

We repair all makes and models of PCs and laptops.

How quick can you repair my PC/laptop?

All repairs carried out in our own repair centre allowing most repairs to be turnaround within 2-3 days.

Can you carry out same day repair?

Same day laptop repair, including screen replacement and data recovery is available but will incur an extra charge.

What does board level repair mean?

It refers to being able to replace components (i.e.: fuses, capacitors, IC’s, etc.) on a system board. This enables us to reduce the cost of repair by not having you be required to replace major components such as motherboards, LCD displays, and video boards.

How are qualified are your engineers?

All of our engineers are fully qualified electronics engineers with full training, including microprocessor modules. You cannot repair PCs and laptops without digital and microprocessor qualifications.

What experience do your engineers have?

All Our engineers are carefully selected, they are fully qualified and highly experienced and have at least 10 years experience spent working on PCs and laptops in repairing to component level which allows them to take on complex faults turned down by other companies.

Who do you do repairs for?

With our expertise, resources, and patience, we have now been repairing PCs and laptops for end users and other major computer companies Nationwide.

Can I get a quote before sending in my PC/laptop for repair?

Yes: All of our repairs are done at a fixed price, (no fix, no fee)
Laptop repairs are complex, and we work on this basis, for the client's benefit, it saves you (the client) from encoring large bills, for un-repairable machines.

Simply put!  We don't know what is happening inside of your laptop without taking it apart. A blank screen, for example, could be caused by a bad bulb. It also could be caused by a bad inverter, bad LCD cable, or a bad main board.  That is why for the client's benefit, all work is priced up front, so you always know the cost.

What is your typical turn-around time for repairs?

We try to have all repairs completed in 3-7 days. Sometimes, though we receive large quantity of systems at one go. This does tend to slow us down a bit and the repairs may take a couple more days to generate. Also occasional batches of machines that have odd problems slow us down, that is unfortunately the nature of the business.

Sometimes, we need to order a part and then we are at the mercy of our vendor or manufacturer of the laptop. This can take up to 7 days in some cases. Also, keep in mind that almost all the laptops we look at have been worked on before us. We must go track to the original problem before attempting to repair its current failure. If we have the luxury of being the first to look at your laptop, the chance of repairing your laptop within 3 day's is pretty good.

What I need to do to book a repair?

Call GNS on 0121 236 0400 between 9:00-17:00 Mon-Fri or complete the on-line repair-form-request and we will call you. In the case of faulty laptops, you call our sister company 'Laptop Solutions' direct on 0121 773 4343. In the case of faulty PC or Server, you can call our sister company 'Micro Repair' on 0121 772 7765.

One of our satff will confirm the details of the equipment and fault symptoms, and issue you with a booking Ref. No.
Send your PC/laptop to us at the address below WITH THE REF NUMBER CLEARLY VISIBLE on the package.

Yemtec Group
506-508 Coventry Road
Small Heath
Birmingham
B10 0UN

The equipment must be securely and properly packaged. See our shipping information.
If required, GNS can arrange collection and return for a nominal fee.


We will let you know when your laptop has arrived at our workshop.
The fault will be assessed and repaired. Chargeable repairs are normally assessed within 2 days of receipt at our workshop and your authorization is required before work proceeds.
GNS will inform you of any delays due to parts availability, etc.
GNS will inform you when your laptop is ready and confirm dispatch to you by next business day carrier. Return carriage for warranty repairs is free of charge within UK Mainland.

Can you repair systems that are under someone else's warranty?

We only provide warranty service for the systems we built or sell as used. We provide post-warranty service for all systems. If you require warranty service from a particular vendor or manufacturer, please contact them, and next time buy a better system from us.

Can I bring my PC or Laptop to your workshop for repair?

Absolutely, in fact it is usually to your advantage to do so.

What are the advantages of bringing my PC or Laptop to you for repair?

We have many more resources available at our shop; therefore we can deal with almost any issue that may arise during service. We can also run several comprehensive diagnostics. These diagnostics are time-consuming, and we have higher hourly rates for onsite service.

Does it cost less if I bring my PC or Laptop to you for repair?

Yes. You will probably need onsite service if you are having problems with your network, otherwise most issues can be resolved at our workshop.

Do I need to bring my PC or Laptop in for repair?

Most issues can be resolved on-site if you prefer, however sometimes a preliminary onsite diagnosis may determine that further testing is needed at our workshop to facilitate an accurate diagnosis and subsequent repair.

Can you pick up and/or deliver my PC or Laptop?

Yes, provided that you are located within our service area. This service is subject to availability and a fee may apply, depending on the amount of work required and the distances involved.

Can you fix my PC or Laptop right away?

During normal business hours we can usually start working on your computer within 24hrs. Sometimes we may have to finish other customer's systems before we can get to yours. If you want to jump the queue and get Rush/Priority Service that also extends beyond normal business hours, you can get this service for a premium. If parts have to be ordered, service may be delayed, but will resume as soon as the parts arrive. Our premium rates will still apply. Please see our Emergency Service page for more information.

Do you provide emergency service after hours?

Yes, subject to availability and premium rates will apply.

Do you provide emergency service on Sundays and holidays?

Yes, subject to availability and premium rates will apply.

My computer is not working, can you help?

Yes, we can repair your system so that it is working like new, so long as the required parts and software are readily available.

What do I need to bring when carrying repair?

Bring your tower, windows CD's, driver CD's, and product keys as applicable. We also need the logon information for the Administrator account if there is one. You do not need to bring any cables or peripheral devices, unless there is a particular device you want installed. If you're bringing a laptop, please bring the power adapter.

Charges

What are your charges?

We constantly review our charging structure to ensure that it remains as competitive as possible and always represents excellent value for money. Please call us and one of our friendly staff will be happy to advise you.

Is there a callout fee to pay?

We charge a small callout fee of 30 pounds – less than half of what other companies charge, this is intended only to cover the engineer's time and petrol costs.

Do you charge for travelling time?

         See is there a callout fee to pay?

Which methods of payment do you accept?

We accept payment in cash, by cheque (with guarantee card) and we also accept all major credit and debit cards. A full receipt will be given.

If the repair takes only forty minutes, will I have to pay for a full hour?

Our minimum charging period is one hour. If the repair is completed in less time than this, the engineer will offer to stay for the remaining time to carry out a general PC health check or a virus scan.

Can I limit the booking to one hours' work?

Yes, you can choose to limit the booking to one hour and the engineer will do his very best to complete the work within the agreed timescale.

What are my costs for your service?

We price each repair on the basis of the CPU in the machine, tell: and one of our sales people/engineers will discuss the repair with you and give you a fixed price.

If we cannot repair your laptop, we will not charge for the repair.

I am a reseller; do I get any special discounts?

Absolutely. Due to the nature of the business we don't have any fixed discounts except we price your repair at a level where it benefits both of us. We normally require you to process 5 repairs before we accept you as a reseller, however our sales team will be happy to give you trade discount on your first order if you have a computer shop with over 10 employees, and you are vat registered and have a website for us to check.

Will I know what cost will be incurred?

We do not surprise our customers with hidden extra costs. GNS will always make clear what costs you are likely to incur before you are committed to them.

Do you provide an extra quote if you can’t repair a part?

The only time we would give an extra quote, is if we cannot repair a part, we do not have stock, and we have to buy one in. However if we do quote on this basis, and you do not want to go with this option, we charge nothing, we will return your laptop at no cost to yourself apart from delivery charges.

What do you include in your fixed price repair scheme?

We do not include the consumables in our fixed price repair scheme, such as batteries, however, if it is a battery that we have second hand stock of that has not cost us a premium, we would supply a complimentary replacement, but the free replacement would not carry a warranty.

Brand new motherboards are not included, HDD are included up to 80 Gb, and CPU's are included up to P4 2.4, we will split the cost on higher spec replacements.

General

What are your opening times?

Our opening times are 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Are there any current job vacancies?

We are always pleased to receive applications from suitably qualified and experienced computer engineers - please send your CV to us at jobs@yemtec.co.uk.

Do you accept walk-in traffic?

We do.  Although most of our work comes from business generated from trade & corporate clients, as we collect from anywhere in the UK see shipping charges, most of our clients find it saves time to have us collect, remember,
if you want we can collect from your work.

What is No-Fix-No-Fee Policy?

Our No-Fix-No-Fee policy means that if the engineer does not possess the necessary technical knowledge or ability to resolve the problem or effect the repair, then no charge is made to the customer, apart from a small callout fee if on-site or just the collection/return delivery charge.

Guarantee

Can you guarantee you can fix my system?

We do repair 95% of the machines we see. However, there are some machines where we must replace a major component rather than repair the existing part due to part availability or because of extensive damage to the unit. We do our best, we are damn good, but not miracle workers.

Is your work guaranteed?

Our work is fully guaranteed. All components supplied are covered by a full twelve months parts and labor warranty.

What is your warranty?

Based on our ability to fix your computer just right, we offer the best warranty around. A twelve month parts and labour warranty is attached to every laptop we repair. No one else in the UK trusts their work well enough to give a 1 year warranty.

What does the warranty cover?

Our warranty covers our work (Our workshop report lists repairs and replacement), not batteries or other things that we have not repaired or replaced.

What happens if my system fails again within the twelve month warranty?

Rarely do we encounter this situation, but since we are dealing with various electronic components and outside power sources, the situation could arise.

If your system fails again within the twelve months and it shows the exact same symptom and failure we will ask that you use your original Repair Order Number and we will collect the system from you for free. (mainland UK only)
We will of course not cover any part's that were not related to your original fault, or that we did not supply, i.e. if the machine came in for a dead motherboard, and the hard drive went down 6 months later (presuming we did not supply the drive) we would no of course replace the hard drive for free.

There will not be any more occurring charges and you will not pay for shipping the unit back to you again. We stand firm behind our commitment to repair your system correctly.

PC/Laptop Spares

Do you stock PC and laptop spares and can we order online?

Of course, some systems may require a part or component that is no longer available which makes some repairs more difficult and time consuming however with over 20,000sqft stockholding complex means, that we can normally put our hands on any parts immediately.

With access to over 3000 systems being dismantled for spares, gives us the confidence to quote for almost any part whether for use in in-house repairs or dispatch
A large stock of spares at competitive prices available for immediate dispatch and further saving can be made by ordering on line and/or in volume.

Do you sell backlight?

Backlights for most screens available for dispatch but if fitted in-house will carry a one year warranty.

I am a computer expert; can I buy just the part from you?

Yes and no. We repair laptops and that is what we do best. We do not really sell main boards, as it is much cheaper to have us repair your old board.  We do sell all other parts though. (And you get a 12 month warranty on the repair, and only 3 months on the replacement)

However, send an email below if you want to buy a part, or look on the spares section of our online catalogue.

Shipping

What are your recommended shipping instructions?

You can get that information at shipping instructions section.

Will my box be returned to me?

We don't save any boxes unless specifically mentioned to us before we start working on your computer. We receive such a great number of computers, storing these boxes has become nearly impossible as we do not have the room for them or the time to locate your box before packing the system to return to you. We ship each laptop out in our own approved box and packaging materials to guarantee your laptop's safety. Again, if you NEED your box please let us know.

Other services

Do you handle IT Disposal?

Yes, click on IT Disposal for more info

Do you offer password removal?

Yes, click   on password removal for more info.

Do you offer data-recovery?

Yes, click on data recovery for more info.

Do provide Insurance Report?

If your laptop is damaged and your insurers require an engineer’s report we can provide this, you will need to send the laptop to us for inspection, the price for this service includes returning the machine to you by insured carrier.  Again for an extra charge we can arrange for the machine to be collected from you.

What else do you sell?

We sell laptops, desktops, media centres, workstations, servers, network products, software, hardware and accessories. We maintain a large inventory of commonly needed items and have access to thousands of products.

Can you retrieve my files?

Yes, we can provide data retrieval services as long as your data is intact and accessible.

Can you recover my files?

Yes, see Data Recovery.

Can you backup my files?

Yes, we can provide data backup services as long as your data is intact and accessible. We can record your data to CD, DVD, or to another hard drive. See Data Backup for more info.

Can you restore my files?

Yes, we can provide data restoration services as long as your data is intact and accessible. Just let us know what you want restored.

Can you restore my programs?

We can reinstall programs if we have the software. If you do not have the installation disks, we can usually obtain software at prices lower than most retail outlets. Most programs cannot be "pulled" from a hard drive and restored. It just doesn't work that way. You need to provide us with the installation disks. We do not provide pirated software.

Can you restore functionality to my current Windows installation?

Maybe Sometimes data can be corrupt beyond repair, other times it may only take an hour or two to repair. Systems that are really messed up can take sometimes take several hours to repair, and there is no guarantee that everything will perform as it should. The best way to restore functionality to a system is to wipe it clean and perform a fresh install.

My hard drive is full, can you help me?

Yes. We can free up space by cleaning out unused files, compressing data, and moving data to alternate storage mediums such as a CD, DVD, or another hard drive. We can usually install a second hard drive, or a CD or DVD recorder which will allow you to increase your available space.

I think my hard drive may have a problem, can you retrieve my data?

Most likely, we 'retrieve' accessible data, we can in most cases 'recover' lost data or data from dead hard drives. If the drive has failed, we can sometimes retrieve or recover data. If your data is intact and accessible, we can provide data retrieval, backup and restoration services. Remember, all hard drives will eventually fail.

Printer FAQ's

Will my warranty be affected by using your cartridges?

Before I install the cartridge, do I remove all of the label?

Is there any difference between a compatible cartridge and Epson originals?

Cleaning

How do I use a cleaner cartridge to unblock my printer heads?

How do I unblock a printer nozzle?

I need to clean my printer but there's no cleaner cartridge?

Installation

When the cartridge is inserted, the printer states that the cartridge is incompatible. Why is this?

When I insert the cartridge into my printer it does not recognise the cartridge.

When inserted, the printer states the new cartridges are half full.

My printer doesn't seem to print out since I installed the new cartridge.

My new cartridge does not seem to fit my printer.

My new cartridge does not seem to fit my printer.

Technical

Vertical lines are not aligned or vertical banding appears. How do I align the print head on my printer?

Only garbled text is printing. Why?

When I print off a sheet, the colours do not exactly match the ones displayed on my screen.

How do I select the correct media type?

Can I still use the printer to print black if the colour cartridge is empty?

What does OEM Stand for?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
In the case of ink cartridges it means that the manufacturer of the printer also manufacturers the ink cartridge as well, e.g. An Epson cartridge for an Epson machine.
Since Epson, Canon, Brother, Xerox, Dell and most other brands all sell their printer as a loss leader (The printer is sold at a loss, and then they then use the cartridges to make their money back), it is possible for other companies to make compatible cartridges for their printers, which are generally a lot cheaper than OEM cartridges.