General terms and conditions for the repair, kit building, modification, and design of consumer electronics and professional studio equipment.
This is a translated version for your convenience, the Dutch version is leading.
Latest version:
1. Handing in your device at Human Error
Make sure your device is properly packed and can be stored safely. I am not liable for damage caused by inadequate packaging, either during transport or in storage. If I have to prepare the instrument for shipping, I charge a surcharge of € 38,75 (€ 32,02 excl. btw).
I’d prefer to receive your device in its original packaging, or otherwise in a sturdy case. Materials such as bubble wrap, garbage bags or towels offer insufficient protection and are therefore not suitable.
Make sure that the device is not contaminated.
Cleaning fees may be charged if items arrive in unsuitable packaging. Do not use garbage bags as packaging unless absolutely necessary.
For return shipments, I will in principle use the original packaging. If that is insufficient, I will arrange new packaging at a minimum of € 38,75 (€ 32,02 excl. btw), excluding material costs.
Always send me a track & trace code. Without a traceable shipment, I am not responsible if the package gets lost or is sent back.
Do not send in individual parts without prior consultation.
2. Duration of repairs
The minimum investigation time per device is three weeks. Repairs are carried out in order of receipt.
If you don’t provide a serial number on the registration form, I can’t offer any warranty for damage caused by fire, theft, or other external factors.
3. Problem description and registration form
Fill in the registration form for every repair. Clearly state what is wrong, how the problem can be reproduced, and what the device is supposed to do.
Without a clear description of the problem, the repair will not start. If necessary, I will contact you for clarification.
You will receive a copy of your registration. If desired, I will prepare a quote with an estimate of the repair time and costs.
4. Kit Construction
Self-built products and kits built by me come with a 12-month warranty. This does not apply to individual components, firmware, or other things I have no control over.
After the warranty period ends, you always receive a 10% discount on repair work, unless otherwise stated in the exceptions.
Open communication is essential. During the project, we can consult each other if adjustments are needed.
Once full payment has been made, ownership of the product will be transferred to you. The copyright on designs remains with Human Error, unless otherwise agreed.
5. Costs
For current rates, research costs and any discounts: see the rates page.
Once the investigation is underway, the investigation fee is due. This also applies if the device is returned unrepaired.
Repairing DIY devices can take more time due to additional inspection. Do you want to build something yourself or have a kit assembled? Then please contact us.
Up to a pre-agreed amount, I proceed without further notice, unless otherwise agreed (see the rates page for the exact limit). For higher costs, I will contact you first. Necessary additional costs below that limit I carry out without further notice.
Repairs are limited to the problem as described in the form, unless otherwise agreed.
A cost estimate can only be made after an inspection. Parts will not be ordered until the device is on site.
If we decide not to proceed with further repairs, I will only charge for the costs incurred.
Sometimes (new) problems only arise after a repair, for example with modified or vintage devices. In such cases, repairs are carried out in consultation. I am not responsible for those new defects, unless due to gross negligence.
If there are problems with the delivery of parts, I will inform you in good time. You can then still decide to cancel the repair, with the costs already incurred remaining payable.
I use only original or high-quality components. Parts supplied by the customer are allowed, but without warranty.
If you want to keep any replaced parts, please let us know in advance.
As requested, I’m putting together a photo report. All work carried out and parts used are listed on the invoice.
Additional for data recovery
For data recovery rates, see the rates page. These rates include standard analysis, recovery attempts, and delivery of the available data.
When a replacement storage device is needed, it is included, unless it concerns a special or specialist type of device; this is always indicated in advance.
Data recovery is not covered by “no cure no pay”. The costs are based on the time required, expertise, equipment and risk factors. The outcome of data recovery can never be guaranteed; data is what it is.
6. Accessories
Leave only essential accessories behind. I am not responsible for loss of or damage to extras.
7. Sending and receiving
I only ship insured and registered. For heavier parcels, a pickup surcharge of € 11,49 (€ 9,50 excl. btw) applies.
For special instruments, I use a courier service. The cost is determined per shipment.
Additional information for data recovery:
The risk of shipping data carriers always lies with the customer, both when sending them in and when they are returned. The customer must send the carrier insured.
Human Error also ships returns insured, but this insurance covers only the physical carrier and never the value of the data.
When data is delivered digitally, this is done via a secure download method that is only accessible to the customer. This link is available temporarily. The customer is responsible for storing the received data securely.
8. Repairs to old devices
Old synthesizers are complex and unpredictable. An exact estimate can rarely be made in advance. Underlying defects may only become visible during the process.
If necessary, you will receive an additional quote. If you decide not to proceed with further repairs, I will only charge for the costs incurred.
9. Warranty
Does the problem come back within 90 days? Then we’ll review the situation together, and I’ll draw up a new quote. Problems that are unrelated to the original repair will be treated as a new fault and charged separately.
- 90-day warranty on replaced parts.
- The warranty applies from the invoice date.
- No warranty for moisture damage, overvoltage, lightning strikes, or damage caused by falls or transport.
The warranty is also void if you or someone else has worked on the device, even if that took place before the repair.
Replaced parts cannot be returned.
If something needs to be repaired later on, the warranty starts over for those parts.
Are you using firmware in your device? Unfortunately, I can’t offer any guarantee regarding bugs or errors in the software.
You are yourself responsible for a proper backup of any data (such as presets or sequences). I cannot guarantee that data will be preserved. Do you have any special requests regarding this? Please let me know. For securing data, I charge a minimum of € 30,25 (€ 25,00 excl. btw). Success can never be 100% guaranteed, but of course I will do my best.
Additionally for data recovery:
No guarantee is given on the completeness, usability, or future functioning of files, projects, or storage media recovered through data recovery.
Once data has been delivered, the assignment is considered completed.
The client is responsible for making secure copies after receipt.
10. Handling
Invoice amounts must be paid before or at the time of collection.
Payment can be made via iDEAL link, bank transfer, or debit card. Cash payments are not possible.
A surcharge of 1.6% applies to card payments.
Devices that have not been collected after 3 months may be sold or disposed of to cover outstanding costs. You will receive three reminders about this within 30 days.
From 30 days after the invoice date, a storage fee of € 1,80 (€ 1,49 excl. btw) per day applies.
If you have someone else collect your device, please notify us in advance. Identification may be requested.
Additional information for data recovery:
In data recovery, the storage device is assessed first and the chosen recovery procedure is then carried out. The possible outcome is explained as fully as possible.
If data is found, it is delivered in a structured way (for example, in folders by project, session or file type).
Human Error delivers the data exactly as it was obtained from the storage medium. Recovering corrupt projects or reconstructing sessions (such as DAW projects) is only done to the extent technically feasible. I do not perform any creative or musical reconstructions.
11. Emergency repairs
An emergency repair is possible if there is room for it, and only if it is strictly necessary.
12. Complaints
I do my best to deliver good work. Still not satisfied? Let me know. You can address complaints to:
Dutch law applies to all disputes.
13. Privacy
Personal data is used only for communication and administration and is not shared with third parties unless legally required.
This website does not use cookies itself. Third-party services may do so, such as:
- Meetergo (appointments)
- Cloudflare
- Akismet
Check their privacy policy for details.
Additionally, for data recovery:
Human Error treats all supplied data as strictly confidential. Where possible, I work with disk images to minimize the load on the original drive. Only data that is necessary for recovery is accessed, using spot checks when this is sufficient.
Data is stored exclusively on local systems and is never placed outside our own environment, unless this is necessary for digital delivery to the client. In that case, it is done through our own secure solution, not through public or external cloud storage.
After delivery, all temporarily stored data is deleted immediately. Human Error does not retain any backups after handover; it is the customer’s responsibility to store the received data securely.
14. Liability
Human Error Synth Repair is not liable for indirect damages, including but not limited to lost income, missed performances, or consequential damages.
Human Error Synth Repair is not liable for damage resulting from hidden defects in the device provided.
Human Error Synth Repair is not liable for any loss of settings or data.
Additional information for data recovery:
Data recovery is a specialized and risky process. Human Error cannot guarantee that data can be recovered in full or in part.
Human Error is not liable for:
- loss of data or further damage to damaged storage media;
- consequential damage, including lost income, missed deadlines or reputational damage;
- damage resulting from existing defects, prior modifications by third parties, or improper handling by the customer.
Maximum liability is always limited to the invoice amount for the data recovery service in question.
While an instrument is at Human Error Synth Repair, I make sure it is carefully stored and handled. However, Human Error Synth Repair is not liable for damage or loss caused by circumstances beyond my control, including but not limited to fire, theft, water damage, or transport damage.
The customer is responsible for taking out insurance that covers the instrument during transport, delivery, storage and collection. In all cases, the liability of Human Error Synth Repair is limited to the invoiced amount, or – if no invoice has yet been issued – to a maximum of €1000.
By handing over the instrument, the customer acknowledges the limitations of liability and the duty of care of Human Error Synth Repair as described above.
15. License and reuse
Text and original photography on this site are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license (CC BY-SA 4.0), unless otherwise stated.
You may share and adapt them, including commercially. Credit Human Error as the source with a link to the page, indicate what you have changed, and share your adaptation under the same license. For example: Photo: Human Error (human-error.nl), CC BY-SA 4.0.
The following are not covered by this license:
- the name Human Error and the logo; all rights reserved;
- third-party brand names, logos and imagery, such as those of the manufacturers for which I am a service point; these remain the property of their owners;
- designs, schematics, and firmware that I make on commission (see 4. Kitbouw).
You can read the full license at creativecommons.org.