Attorney or Officer?

[brianakell]

Got a company, in Denver, effectively refusing to return property even though their services have been paid for. Specifically a hard drive that failed. They were paid to diagnose, offered quote for extracting data, quote was turned down and have been requested to return the drive 3 times, and return shipping charges have been authorized. The data is on the drive is irreplaceable and priceless. The outfit is in Denver and before going in person tomorrow I would appreciate a perspective. Ideally getting someone else along, not sure exactly how or if I can have an officer come with me? Hence the or an attorney note. This situation is really odd with seeming like " use our service for extraction or don't get the drive back"

[Brian]

What has your interaction been like to date? Requested 3 times over the phone or...? Knowing some of these hard drive shops, chances are this is an IT shop first and a business second. They may just be badly unorganized. I can't imagine any legit data recovery shop lasting long with some weird hostage thing going on as regular business.

If it were me, I'd probably try the easy way one more time - call them 24 hours in advance and tell them you will be at their location the following day to pick up the drive. That way if they've misplaced it, they have the day to search for it and have it ready for you. Bring a witness, but keep it professional and not threatening - I wouldn't probably bother with a lawyer.

If needed, you could send a registered letter on an attorney's letterhead. If it's to that point though, you're likely to have other issues, and you'll need to consult whatever paperwork you signed when you dropped off the drive to see what you may have agreed to.

I still go back to it's really unlikely that they're actually refusing to return your drive maliciously. Bad sales guy maybe. Maybe they lost/broke your drive and are trying to figure out what to do. Most likely scenario is they just aren't on top of their own business because they are techies. Don't get angry, just be firm and tell them you'll be there the next day to pick it up and to please have it ready.

Good luck, and use a backup next time (says the guy who has been in the same boat several times).

[brianakell]

This was the backup external. Main comp failed then went to retrieve data from external drive, found out its main drive failed too. Backing in triplicate from now on!
quote was for 1800 after having paid 300 for diagnosis. That amount caused research to be done ( that should have been done first, what can I say was wife not me) and drive can be repaired/recovered by manufacturer for 500.
The 1800 quote was Thursday or Friday and return shipping authorized and acknowledged on Friday. No tracking, called again Monday, then yesterday. Guy on the phone is asking for feedback and "let me explain" not outright saying no just saying everything else!
none of my friends can I ask to take a day off to go down there, but I will be setting the phone up for video before I walk in. Data recovery is their main biz it looks like as well.

[cstone]

Let them know you are coming and expect the drive to be returned. If they balk, it is a civil matter and sending them a demand letter, registered return receipt, or having an attorney send them one, would be the next step. If they continue to balk, file a civil suit in the jurisdiction where the business is located.

Do not involve the police. Don't give the business a reason to call the police. Keep it civil.

[TFOGGER]

Send the Great Kazoo to tenderize a couple of kneecaps, if being nice doesn't work.

[BushMasterBoy]

Data storage on a cloud! Plus a backup in case the cloud evaporates. A business like that can be destroyed by a negative comment on the internet...

[BigBear]

Send the Great Kazoo to tenderize a couple of kneecaps, if being nice doesn't work.

I've done my fair share... there's more than just the kneecaps....

lol

[Great-Kazoo]

Send the Great Kazoo to tenderize a couple of kneecaps, if being nice doesn't work.

For $1800

[crashdown]

We sent a corrupt hard drive with 3 years of company financials to a local Denver company to restore after our local computer guy said it was above his pay-grade.
The company said the drive could not be restored, and we went and picked it up.
We later sent it out of state to another highly recommended data recovery company who pretty much came to the conclusion that the Denver company (and not our local guy) screwed it up so no data could ever be recovered. It was all geek speak to me, but really screwed over our financials for months..... Our auto back-up was also not backing up, but we had no idea.
Wonder if it is the same company??

[brianakell]

I am a bit nervous about that happening. File Retrieval.com was this outfit, on 16th street mall.

Fortunately, they did send the drive back. Sending it back to manufacturer is what I feel is likely safest. If data is lost, it will be a sad sad time here. With the computer shot, and the drive, we're risking 6 years of baby pictures. Now you really see why the mrs was so upset.

We sent a corrupt hard drive with 3 years of company financials to a local Denver company to restore after our local computer guy said it was above his pay-grade.
The company said the drive could not be restored, and we went and picked it up.
We later sent it out of state to another highly recommended data recovery company who pretty much came to the conclusion that the Denver company (and not our local guy) screwed it up so no data could ever be recovered. It was all geek speak to me, but really screwed over our financials for months..... Our auto back-up was also not backing up, but we had no idea.
Wonder if it is the same company??