Terms of Service & Warranty Policy

1Payment, Ownership & Vehicle Release

• Payment is due immediately upon completion of work, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
• Vehicles will not be released until full payment has cleared.
• Ownership of all parts supplied remains with Gearbox Gurus Ltd until payment is received in full.
• Gearbox Gurus Ltd retains a legal lien over the vehicle and its contents until all outstanding balances are settled.
• Late payments may incur interest at 5% above the Bank of England base rate.

2Booking Fees

• A non-refundable booking fee of £50 + VAT is required to secure all appointments.
• Booking fees are non-refundable under any circumstances including but not limited to cancellations, no-shows, or changes of mind.
• If diagnostic work proceeds, the £50 + VAT booking fee will be deducted from the diagnostic fee.
• If full repair work is authorised and proceeds, the £50 + VAT booking fee will be deducted from the total invoice.
• Standard diagnostic fees are £150 + VAT, reducing to £100 + VAT after booking fee deduction.
• If the customer cancels, fails to attend, or declines to proceed with any work after diagnosis, the booking fee is retained in full.

3Finance Arrangements

• Finance is provided through Payment Assist and is subject to credit approval.
• If you intend to use finance, you must disclose this before the job is booked in.
• Finance must be arranged and approved before any work commences.
• Work will not begin until finance has been authorised and confirmed.
• Finance applies only to the original quoted work. Any additional work discovered during diagnosis or repair must be paid for directly and cannot be financed.
• Additional fees may apply to finance arrangements.
• Failure to disclose finance intentions or obtain approval before work commences will result in immediate cash payment being required.

4Vehicle Collection & Delivery Protocol

• Payment is required in full BEFORE vehicle is released or delivered.
• For vehicles being delivered: payment must be received before vehicle leaves our premises.
• Remote payment including but not limited to card or bank transfer constitutes acceptance of vehicle and work completed sight unseen.
• Customers who choose delivery service accept vehicle condition as-is upon delivery.
• Any concerns must be raised within 1 hour of delivery or all dispute rights are void.
• By accepting delivery of vehicle, customer confirms full satisfaction and waives all dispute and chargeback rights.
• Customers who make remote payment and arrange delivery explicitly waive physical inspection rights and accept work as completed to satisfactory standard.
• Once vehicle is delivered and accepted, no chargebacks or payment disputes will be entertained.

5Estimates, Pricing & Authorisation

• Estimates are approximate only and may change if additional faults or complications arise.
• Additional work becomes chargeable once authorised including but not limited to verbally, by SMS, WhatsApp or email.
• Once authorisation has been given for any work, it cannot be reversed or cancelled regardless of time elapsed.
• Customer remains liable for all authorised work including but not limited to parts ordered, labour commenced, and diagnostic work completed.
• OEM and special-order parts including but not limited to mechatronic units, ECUs, torque converters, clutch packs are non-returnable and must be paid for upfront.
• Supplier or manufacturer price increases will be reflected in the final invoice.
• Strip-down or diagnostic work may reveal unrelated or pre-existing faults requiring further cost.

6Third-Party Specialists

• Gearbox Gurus Ltd reserves the right to use third-party specialists including but not limited to auto electricians, auto locksmiths, third parties with online software access as and when required. Customer authorises all necessary vehicle movement for this purpose and accepts that Gearbox Gurus Ltd remains responsible for quality of work performed.

7Contract Formation

• Leaving a vehicle with Gearbox Gurus Ltd constitutes full acceptance of these Terms of Service & Warranty Policy.
• Payment of any invoice issued by Gearbox Gurus Ltd constitutes full acceptance of these Terms of Service & Warranty Policy.
• No verbal assurances override these terms unless confirmed in writing.
• The customer authorises Gearbox Gurus Ltd to move, road test and operate the vehicle as required for including but not limited to diagnosis, repair and verification.

8Customer Responsibilities

• Customers must provide accurate and complete information regarding including but not limited to vehicle history, symptoms and prior repairs.
• All keys, key cards and security codes required for diagnostics must be supplied.
• Gearbox Gurus Ltd is not liable for delays caused by including but not limited to missing keys, security access or inaccurate information.

9Diagnostics & Strip-Down Charges

• All diagnostic fees are non-refundable.
• Strip-down charges apply whether or not the customer proceeds with repairs.
• Intermittent faults that do not present during testing cannot be guaranteed or warrantied.
• Some faults require extended or repeated road testing, which is chargeable as part of diagnosis and verification.

10Mechanical & Hydraulic Warranty

Unless otherwise specified in writing: 1 year or minimum 12,000 miles (whichever occurs first).

11Right to Repair & Warranty Claims Process

• Under Consumer Rights Act 2015, Gearbox Gurus Ltd has the right to inspect and remedy any alleged defects before refunds or payment disputes are valid.
• Customers MUST contact us immediately if any issues arise and provide opportunity to inspect vehicle.
• Customers MUST allow us reasonable opportunity to repair or remedy any faults.
• Initiating chargebacks, payment disputes, or legal action without first allowing us to inspect and attempt repair constitutes breach of statutory process and will be defended accordingly.
• Any chargeback raised without prior notification and opportunity to remedy will be challenged as premature and invalid under Consumer Rights Act 2015.
• Refusal to allow inspection or repair attempt voids all warranty and dispute rights.

12ECU / TCU Absolute Exclusion

• Gearbox Gurus Ltd does not warranty or repair internal ECU, TCU or mechatronic electronics.
• Any ECU / TCU failure occurring before, during or after mechanical work is excluded from warranty, unless explicitly agreed in writing.

13Customer-Supplied, Second-Hand & Electrical Parts

• Any parts supplied by the customer including but not limited to new, used, second-hand, refurbished or reconditioned carry NO parts warranty.
• The only warranty provided is limited strictly to workmanship at the point of installation.
• Under no circumstances will Gearbox Gurus Ltd be liable for: part failure or incompatibility, manufacturing or latent defects, electrical or software malfunction, consequential gearbox damage, or repeat labour, diagnostics or refitting costs.
• Where Gearbox Gurus Ltd supplies second-hand or reconditioned electrical components, no parts warranty applies — labour workmanship only at installation.

14Surrounding Components

• Repairs may expose age-related or pre-existing weaknesses.
• Surrounding components are not covered.
• Warranty applies only to components rebuilt or replaced by Gearbox Gurus Ltd.

15Previous Work & Third-Party Interference

• No liability is accepted for faults caused by including but not limited to previous garages, tuners or modifications.
• Warranty may be refused if third-party work compromises diagnosis or integrity.

16Road Testing, Mileage & Fuel

• Road testing is essential and may increase mileage.
• Testing may include including but not limited to motorway driving, hot/cold cycles and extended distances.
• Fuel used during testing is not reimbursable.

17Speeding, Parking & Traffic Offences

• Gearbox Gurus Ltd is not responsible for fines incurred by third-party transporters.
• Fines during testing are only payable if caused by proven negligence.

18ULEZ, LEZ, CAZ & Congestion Zones

• Customers must disclose non-compliance in writing.
• Failure to disclose makes all charges and penalties the customer's responsibility.

19Vehicle Storage

• Vehicles not collected within 24 hours of completion may incur storage at £25 + VAT per day.
• Delays caused by warranty or finance companies remain the customer's responsibility.

20Warranty Inspection & Transport

• Warranty inspections are free only if related to our work.
• If unrelated, a £250 + VAT re-inspection fee applies.
• New faults are charged at standard diagnostic rates.
• Transport is covered only if a verified warranty fault occurs within 1 month.
• Refusal to pay inspection fees results in no inspection.
• Independent inspections or reports obtained by the customer do not constitute proof of fault or breach of warranty.
• Gearbox Gurus Ltd reserves the right to obtain its own independent inspection at a facility of its choosing to verify any claims.
• In the event of conflicting independent reports, both parties MUST agree to appoint a mutually acceptable third-party expert or independent arbitrator to make the final determination.
• The third-party expert must be from a recognised body including but not limited to AA, RAC, IMI-registered facility, or court-appointed expert.
• Both parties are bound by the third-party expert's findings and determination shall be final.
• Costs of the third-party inspection shall be borne by the party whose inspection is found to be incorrect.

21Pre-Existing Damage

• Vehicles may be photographed or filmed on arrival.
• No liability is accepted for including but not limited to seized, corroded or pre-damaged components failing during repair.

22Unsafe Vehicles

• Gearbox Gurus Ltd reserves the right to refuse work on unsafe or structurally compromised vehicles.

23Reconditioned Parts & Core Returns

• Certain parts require return of a serviceable core.
• Additional charges apply for damaged or incomplete cores.

24Adaptation & Relearning

• Temporary drivability changes during relearning are normal and not faults.

25Third-Party Collection & Outstanding Bills

• When collecting vehicles from third-party garages, main dealers, or other locations, customer must ensure all outstanding bills are paid in full before collection is arranged.
• If the customer's vehicle is held by a third party due to unpaid bills, causing delays to our collection or work schedule, additional charges will apply.
• Additional charges for delays caused by unpaid third-party bills may be up to double the original quoted amount.
• Customer is responsible for all costs including but not limited to multiple collection attempts, storage fees at third-party premises, and schedule disruption charges.

26Third-Party Transport

• No liability is accepted for damage caused by third-party recovery or transport providers.

27Consequential Loss

Gearbox Gurus Ltd is not liable for including but not limited to:

• Loss of earnings
• Hire vehicles
• Travel or accommodation
• Third-party recovery or storage
• Supplier or warranty delays
• Time loss or inconvenience

28Chargebacks & Payment Reversals

• Any chargeback raised after work has commenced or completed constitutes a breach of contract.
• Gearbox Gurus Ltd may recover all funds, fees and costs and suspend warranty obligations.

29Photographic, Video & Audio Recording

• Photos, videos and audio recordings may be taken before, during and after repair.
• Media may be used for including but not limited to records, disputes, chargebacks and legal proceedings.
• By using our services, you consent to this recording and storage in accordance with UK data protection law.

30Parts Availability, Delays & Completion Times

• No liability is accepted for delays caused by including but not limited to supplier lead times, backorders or logistics.
• Estimated completion times are approximate only and subject to parts availability.
• Some specialist parts may have extended lead times beyond our control.
• Gearbox Gurus Ltd is not liable for delays caused by including but not limited to third-party specialists, facility availability, or parts sourcing timescales.

31Abandoned Vehicles

• Uncollected or unpaid vehicles may be disposed of lawfully under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 after reasonable notice.

32Call Recording & Verbal Authorisation

• All inbound and outbound calls are recorded.
• Verbal approvals and authorisations are binding and enforceable unless amended in writing.
• Recordings may be used in including but not limited to disputes, chargebacks or legal proceedings.

33Acceptance of Terms

• By leaving a vehicle with Gearbox Gurus Ltd and/or paying any invoice, the customer confirms full acceptance of these Terms of Service & Warranty Policy.
• These terms do not affect statutory consumer rights under UK law.