Terms of Service

Effective date: October 24, 2025

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern every service appointment, remote session, estimate, or consultation conducted by HomeByte IT (“HomeByte IT,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By scheduling or receiving service you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms.

1. Company Information

HomeByte IT™ is a sole proprietorship operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with its principal place of business in Mercer County, PA. All services are provided by independent contractor technicians acting on behalf of HomeByte IT.

2. Scope of Services

• Services include on-site, remote, and bench-based diagnosis, repair, installation, data migration, malware removal, optimization, and related computer support tasks for Windows-based systems unless otherwise noted.
• All work is performed on a best-effort basis. We do not warrant that any service will resolve every issue, permanently prevent malware, or restore lost data.
• We may decline or discontinue service if, in our professional judgment, continuing would be unsafe, unlawful, disrespectful, or outside our expertise.

3. Client Responsibilities

• You represent and warrant that you own the equipment and data submitted for service or have all necessary rights and permissions to authorize the work.
• Maintain current backups of all important files prior to service. HomeByte IT is not responsible for pre-existing issues or corruption discovered during diagnostics.
• Provide accurate and complete information about symptoms, error messages, and prior service attempts.
• Supply safe, reasonable working conditions on-site, including access to necessary power, internet, and workspace.
• You are at least 18 years old. If service is requested for a minor, a parent or legal guardian must authorize the work and be present whenever feasible.

4. Payment Terms

• Estimates are valid for 14 calendar days unless stated otherwise.
• Payment is due upon completion of service unless other arrangements are agreed to in writing in advance.
• Diagnostic assessments cost $20; the fee is non-refundable and credited toward approved repair work at our discretion.
• Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice may incur the minimum $50 mobile service charge.
• All card transactions are processed securely through Square Inc.; HomeByte IT does not store or have direct access to card data. Prices exclude applicable Pennsylvania sales tax, which will be collected when required.
• Unpaid balances more than 15 days past due accrue a late fee of $15 or 1.5% of the outstanding balance per month, whichever is greater.

5. Data & Backup Policy

• You are solely responsible for maintaining reliable backups of your data. We may offer backup or migration assistance, but responsibility for data integrity remains with you.
• We do not guarantee recovery of lost, deleted, encrypted, or corrupted data.
• We do not handle passwords verbally. Provide written or digital access credentials only as needed for the task and change them afterwards.
• Original storage media is returned to you after service unless specifically authorized for secure disposal.

If we transport equipment off-site, we will document the intake and notify you when work is complete. Equipment that is not collected or paid for within 60 days of notice may be treated as abandoned and disposed of in accordance with applicable law.

6. Limited Warranty & Liability

• We warrant our labor for 15 calendar days from the service date for the same reported issue. Hardware and software manufacturer warranties apply as provided by their respective vendors.
• Our aggregate liability arising out of any service is limited to the amount you paid for that specific service.
• Under no circumstances are we liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of business, loss of income, or loss of data.

7. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HomeByte IT, its owner, and its technicians from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your breach of these Terms, misuse of the services, or violation of applicable law. This obligation does not apply to the extent a claim results from our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8. Third-Party Services & Software

• We may install or recommend licensed software. By engaging us you confirm you hold valid licenses or grant us authority to act on your behalf.
• EmailJS and other secure vendors are used to process contact requests and scheduling information. Payment data is handled exclusively by Square.
• You agree to the separate terms of any third-party providers engaged during service.
• When you request a remote session, you authorize HomeByte IT to connect to and control your device through secure third-party software, such as AnyDesk, solely for diagnosis and repair. You may terminate the session at any time.
• We link to official vendor downloads and do not modify or redistribute remote-access tools. HomeByte IT is not affiliated with AnyDesk Software GmbH or other remote-access vendors and is not responsible for their services or availability.

9. Privacy & Data Handling

Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and safeguard personal information. By requesting service you acknowledge that personal data will be processed for scheduling, diagnostics, and billing.

10. Independent Contractor Relationship

HomeByte IT operates as an independent contractor. Nothing in these Terms creates an agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between HomeByte IT and any client.

11. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

• These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Any dispute arising from service valued at $12,000 or less shall be brought exclusively in the Magisterial District Court located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
• For disputes exceeding that amount, the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
• Both parties waive the right to a jury trial to the fullest extent permitted by law.

12. Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failure to perform resulting from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, illness, supply chain disruptions, power outages, or network failures.

13. Record Retention

We retain invoices, payment confirmations, and signed authorizations for at least seven (7) years to satisfy tax and regulatory obligations. Diagnostic notes or temporary logs are deleted once service is complete unless otherwise required by law.

14. Severability & Entire Agreement

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force. These Terms, together with any written estimate or work order, constitute the entire agreement between you and HomeByte IT. Changes must be made in writing and signed by both parties.

15. Updates to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. The “Effective date” above reflects the latest update. Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be directed to info@homebyteit.com. Please do not email passwords or sensitive personal information.