1. General Information

    1. In this Return Drive Policy:

      1. "Fields Data Recovery" refers to Fields Data Recovery (Canada) Inc., or any affiliated Canadian subsidiary under the Fields Associates Ltd. umbrella.

      2. "Client" refers to any individual, business, charity, or other legitimate entity that sends digital media or related peripherals to Fields Data Recovery for data recovery services at any of its Canadian offices or postal boxes.

      3. "Media" refers to any hard disk drives, floppy disks, USB flash drives, external hard drives (with the hard disk securely attached to the enclosure), laptops, personal computers, tapes, or any other digital storage device sent to Fields Data Recovery.

      4. "Peripherals" refers to items associated with the media—such as wires, cables, controller cards, or unattached external enclosures—that can be removed without affecting the media’s capacity to store data.

    2. These terms and conditions apply only to the return of the original digital media sent to Fields Data Recovery by the Client. They do not govern the carriage of any recovered data, which is subject to Fields Data Recovery’s General Terms and Conditions of Service.

    3. Fields Data Recovery will exercise reasonable care while the Client’s media is in its custody. However, Fields Data Recovery disclaims liability and responsibility for any harm or damage to caddies or enclosures that must be opened (or destroyed) to access internal hard drives. In such cases, only the internal hard drive(s) will be returned, not the damaged enclosure.
    4. Fields Data Recovery is not responsible if any warranty on the media or enclosures becomes void as a result of necessary data recovery work.
    5. If no request to keep or return peripherals (e.g., cables, enclosures, original packaging) is received in writing—either at the time of inquiry or via a letter enclosed with the shipment—Fields Data Recovery may discard those peripherals. Fields Data Recovery is not liable for replacing any discarded items if they are needed for a warranty claim or for any other reason.
    6. The Client acknowledges that if the original media are not requested within 7 days of (a) declining the recovery quotation or (b) the date on which recovered data are shipped, the media may be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Fields Data Recovery will not be liable for any warranty claim that requires returning the original media if a request is made after the 7-day period and the media has already been disposed of.

  2. Shipping Services

    1. Fields Data Recovery offers a free standard return shipping service (tracked) within Canada for paying and non-paying customers unless:

      1. The media is a large/heavy item (e.g., a laptop or multiple drives) whose combined weight exceeds 2 kg;

      2. The shipment consists of servers, large form-factor computers, or similarly oversized hardware;

      3. There are other special circumstances outlined below in Section 2.2.

    2. Where items exceed weight or size limits, or otherwise require special handling, Fields Data Recovery reserves the right to charge the Client. However, any such charges will be discussed and agreed upon in advance.

    3. Shipping Frequency & Timelines

      1. Standard free returns (via a tracked service) are typically processed at regular intervals, depending on operational factors.

      2. The expected delivery time for standard tracked mail is generally around 7–14 business days from the date of dispatch.

      3. Where a courier service (e.g., UPS, Purolator, FedEx) is used, typical delivery is 1–3 business days from the date of dispatch.

    4. The Client accepts that these delivery times are estimates and are not contractual guarantees. Fields Data Recovery is not responsible for any losses resulting from late deliveries by carriers.

    5. The Client acknowledges that, in accordance with Fields Data Recovery’s General Terms and Conditions, their media may be located at one of Fields Data Recovery’s offices (in Canada or abroad). Nevertheless, if free standard return shipping is offered, it will be done through a tracked method—for example, Canada Post Tracked Parcel, UPS Ground, or another recognized courier service as deemed suitable.

    6. If Fields Data Recovery can provide a valid tracking number or proof of dispatch, the Client agrees that Fields Data Recovery has fulfilled its obligation to return the media. Any subsequent loss or delay caused by the shipping carrier is outside Fields Data Recovery’s control and liability.

    7. Other Shipping Requests

      1. For oversized items (e.g., multiple drives, large RAID systems, servers, large form-factor PCs) or any shipment exceeding 2 kg, shipping fees may apply.

      2. Where the Client specifically requests expedited or special courier services (e.g., express overnight), additional charges may apply.

      3. Fields Data Recovery accepts credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), PayPal, and bank transfers for payment of any shipping-related fees.

  3. Redress for Lost Media or Peripherals

    1. Provided Fields Data Recovery can show proof of dispatch (e.g., a tracking number, courier receipt), Fields Data Recovery is not liable for any financial or other losses due to media or peripherals being lost, delayed, or damaged in transit by the postal/courier service.

    2. he Client acknowledges that the media and peripherals provided to Fields Data Recovery were faulty or had minimal monetary value as non-functioning devices. Therefore, the maximum tangible value for media or peripherals—if lost or damaged before dispatch—is deemed to be one dollar ($1) (CAD). This is the maximum extent of Fields Data Recovery’s liability for such items.

  4. Legality

    1. The Client affirms that all media and its content provided to Fields Data Recovery is lawful property of the Client or that the Client has the legal right to request data recovery services. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.