Legal problems!!!!

[BitMorbido]

Hello!!!!

Four weeks ago, I had a costumer who asked to repair her pc. It was an old machine with a lot of virus and spyware, two antivirus and a lot of stuff which was not necessary. I thought that the best option was format the hard drive and install everything again. I explained her that everything will be erase and I asked for important information to save before to do the process. She and her husband said that they didn't have something important in the computer. Ok, I did my job. When the computer was ready they began to look for everything, and they asked for a database with 300 costumer. Obviosly, I said that I was not informed about that; I asked before to save important information but they didn't say something related to that database. Then, I knew that they were thinking about involve me in legal problems, probably looking for money but they didn't find enough information. I was clear from the beginning about the implication of format a hard drive, so my question is, what can I do to avoid be in problems for costumers like them???
Could I be in legal problems for this situation?

[Andrey R]

Wow... This is something I'm also at risk for happening to me. I'm putting off creating a Service Release form because I want my business to be paperless. For that I need to get a PC Tablet...

There are sample forums online that you can take and make your own. It should also state something like...

CLIENT agrees to release and hold harmless (Business Name) from all liability for damage or loss as well as any incidental or consequential material or financial damage or loss that may result from the actions of (Business Name) its agents or service representatives.

You of course can make a separate form (or add to same one a section) for formatting where the customer signs off on formatting and that there isn't anything they need or that its backed up...

I'm no lawyer, but of course you do need a Service Release form to protect yourself. I don't think they have "enough" to make a case. It's a bit odd that they don't have backups of their databases...

[templater1]

O_o it happens...
I would advice to discuss the questions like this in written form (for instance in e-mails) or also in skype or icq. And then if clients start resentment to show the logs

[WilliamsWebSolutions]

A service release is a really good idea to have anyway. I haven't implemented one but that is usually because I back up the user's data before I wipe. I also ask very specific questions of what to back up to make sure they don't have some odd ball program that I am not aware of to back up.