How do I check a repair shop’s data recovery work before buying?

Begin with the process on paper. Ask for the intake form, the steps a technician follows, and the notes kept for each job. A shop that records what it tried on each drive is easier to judge than one that relies on memory. Ask what happens when recovery fails, and how customers are told.

Then look at the outcomes. Ask for a sample of past jobs, including the ones that went badly, and what customers said. Be careful with any claim about success without records behind it. If the seller offers numbers, ask how they were counted and whether you can check the jobs yourself.

Finally, look at customer data. Recovered files can be private, so ask where copies are held, who can open them, and when they are deleted. Your lawyer can say what duties apply. Also see which equipment and skills are essential, and whether the shop depends on one technician. Plan how you would keep that person or replace their knowledge. Keep in mind that recovery work sometimes involves clean-room tools or outside labs. Ask which jobs the shop does itself, which it sends away, and what it charges customers in each case, so you understand where the margin actually sits.

Key takeaways

• Review intake forms and job notes for a sample of past recovery jobs.
• Ask for failed jobs as well as successes, and how customers were told.
• Find out where recovered customer data sits and when it is deleted.