Purchase, Buy-Back & Payment Terms

Effective Date: 25 September 2026
Last Updated: 25 September 2026

These Purchase, Buy-Back & Payment Terms (“Terms”) explain how Eco Tech Recycle handles equipment offered to us for purchase, buy-back or value recovery, including provisional and final valuations, inspection, ownership checks, offer acceptance, ownership transfer, payment and rejected offers.
Eco Tech Recycle is a trading name of Tech Cell Limited.
These Terms should be read together with our:
Collection, Device Acceptance & Valuation Policy;
Data Erasure & Data Security Policy;
Recycling & WEEE Policy;
Activation Lock & Device Preparation Guide;
Business & School Collection Terms;
Device Grading, Functional Condition & Resale Classification Policy;
Delivery, Shipping & Collection Policy;
Privacy Policy;
Complaints Policy; and
any quotation, valuation, collection confirmation, purchase offer, invoice or other written agreement issued for the transaction.
Where a specific written purchase offer or agreement contains lawful terms that differ from these general Terms, the specific written terms will take priority for that transaction.
Key Points at a Glance
Sending or handing equipment to Eco Tech Recycle does not automatically mean we have purchased it.
Payment is only due where a purchase or buy-back arrangement has been agreed.
Pre-inspection valuations are normally provisional.
Final value may change after inspection, testing, grading and relevant checks.
Activation Lock, MDM, finance, ownership, IMEI or other restrictions may reduce value or prevent purchase.
Customers must have legal authority to sell or transfer equipment.
A final offer should normally be accepted or rejected within 5 working days unless another period is stated.
Where payment is due, our normal target is within 7 working days after all required purchase conditions have been completed.
Rejected devices may need to be returned at the customer’s cost unless otherwise agreed or Eco Tech Recycle made a material error.
Equipment provided solely for recycling, repair, assessment or donation does not automatically qualify for payment.

1. Scope
These Terms apply where an individual, business, school, charity, organisation or trade customer offers devices or other equipment to Eco Tech Recycle for possible:
purchase;
buy-back;
value recovery;
batch purchase;
trade purchase; or
another arrangement under which Eco Tech Recycle may acquire ownership in return for payment.
These Terms do not mean that every item received by Eco Tech Recycle will be purchased.
Equipment provided solely for:
recycling;
repair;
refurbishment and return;
assessment;
donation;
parts recovery;
data erasure; or
another non-purchase service
is not automatically subject to payment unless a purchase arrangement is separately agreed.

2. No Automatic Right to Payment
Providing, sending, dropping off or allowing Eco Tech Recycle to collect equipment does not by itself create a right to payment.
Payment applies only where Eco Tech Recycle agrees to purchase equipment and the applicable purchase conditions are satisfied.
These may include:
Eco Tech Recycle making a purchase offer;
the customer accepting the applicable offer;
completion of reasonable inspection and checks;
confirmation of ownership or authority;
resolution of material security or account restrictions;
agreement to transfer ownership;
provision of any reasonably required documentation; and
provision of correct payment details.
A collection confirmation is not automatically a purchase confirmation.

3. Provisional Valuations
Unless expressly stated otherwise, a valuation given before physical inspection is provisional.
A provisional valuation may be based on information including:
make and model;
specification;
quantity;
age;
photographs;
customer-described condition;
assumed functionality;
storage and memory;
accessories;
current market information; and
other information available at the time.
A provisional valuation is based on the reasonable assumption that the information supplied is materially accurate.
It may be revised or withdrawn following physical inspection or if material information changes.

4. Inspection and Testing
After receiving equipment, Eco Tech Recycle may carry out reasonable checks necessary to establish condition and value.
Depending on the equipment, these may include:
model verification;
specification checks;
serial-number or IMEI checks;
power testing;
display testing;
battery assessment;
charging assessment;
keyboard or input testing;
storage checks;
memory checks;
camera or audio checks;
connectivity checks;
cosmetic grading;
activation-lock checks;
MDM checks;
ownership or finance checks where appropriate;
data-erasure feasibility assessment; and
repairability assessment.
Not every function can necessarily be tested on every device.
The level of testing may depend on condition, safety, access, device type and the proposed route.

5. Final Valuation
A final valuation may be issued after Eco Tech Recycle has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect, test and grade the equipment.
Final value may take account of:
make and model;
specification;
age;
functionality;
cosmetic condition;
screen or display condition;
battery condition;
storage capacity;
RAM;
missing components;
missing accessories;
liquid damage;
physical damage;
previous repair;
activation-lock status;
MDM status;
BIOS or firmware restrictions;
serial-number or IMEI concerns;
finance or ownership restrictions;
data-security requirements;
data-erasure feasibility;
repair requirements;
parts value;
current market demand; and
reasonable costs associated with processing the equipment.
The final offer may therefore be higher than, equal to or lower than a provisional valuation, or Eco Tech Recycle may decide not to make a purchase offer.

6. Material Differences From the Description
A provisional valuation may be reduced or withdrawn where equipment is materially different from the information supplied before collection or delivery.
Examples include:
a different model;
lower specification;
materially different quantity;
undisclosed damage;
undisclosed faults;
missing storage;
missing RAM;
missing battery;
significant screen damage;
liquid damage;
activation lock;
MDM;
finance restrictions;
blacklisted IMEI;
ownership concerns; or
materially different condition.
Where practical, Eco Tech Recycle will explain the material reason for a revised final offer.

7. Final Offer and Acceptance Period
Where Eco Tech Recycle makes a final purchase offer, the customer may accept or reject it.
The offer will remain valid for the period stated with the offer.
If no period is stated, the final offer will normally remain open for 5 working days from the date it is communicated.
If the customer does not respond within the applicable period, Eco Tech Recycle may:
extend the offer;
withdraw the offer;
issue an updated offer; or
request instructions regarding return or another agreed route.
A final offer may also be reconsidered before acceptance where a material error, previously undiscovered restriction, ownership concern or other significant issue becomes apparent.

8. Acceptance of a Purchase Offer
Acceptance should normally be provided in writing or through another agreed recorded process.
This may include:
email;
approved online form;
signed document;
business purchase order or confirmation;
recorded electronic approval; or
another agreed method.
The person accepting an offer on behalf of an organisation must have appropriate authority to do so.

9. Ownership and Authority
A customer offering equipment for purchase confirms that, to the best of their knowledge and authority:
they own the equipment or have authority from the legal owner to sell it;
they have authority to transfer legal title;
the equipment is not knowingly stolen;
it is not lost property;
it is not subject to an undisclosed ownership dispute;
any finance, lease, rental, insurance or third-party interest has been disclosed; and
information provided about ownership is materially accurate.
Eco Tech Recycle may request reasonable evidence of ownership or authority.
For organisations, this may include:
asset-release confirmation;
written authority;
invoice or purchase records;
authorised staff confirmation; or
other appropriate documentation.
UK law contains important rules governing title where goods are sold by someone who is not their owner. These Terms therefore do not override the rights of a lawful owner or other rights that cannot legally be displaced. Legislation.gov.uk

10. Ownership Transfer
For equipment being purchased by Eco Tech Recycle, ownership will normally transfer only after:
a final purchase offer has been made;
the customer has accepted that offer;
the customer has confirmed authority to sell;
required material checks have been completed; and
the agreed purchase transaction has been completed, including payment or an agreed payment arrangement.
Until ownership transfers, Eco Tech Recycle may hold equipment for inspection, assessment and agreed processing but will not treat the equipment as purchased stock.
A different ownership-transfer point may apply where expressly agreed in writing.
Equipment provided under a separate recycling, donation or other transfer arrangement may be subject to different ownership provisions contained in the applicable policy or agreement.

11. Risk Before Ownership Transfer
Eco Tech Recycle will take reasonable care of equipment while it is in our possession.
However, used equipment may contain pre-existing, intermittent or hidden faults.
Inspection or testing may reveal faults that were not apparent before handover.
Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Specific transport-risk provisions may also apply under our Delivery, Shipping & Collection Policy.
12. Activation Locks and Security Restrictions
Eco Tech Recycle may reduce a valuation, decline to purchase, hold pending customer action or return equipment affected by restrictions such as:
Apple Activation Lock;
Find My;
Google FRP;
Samsung Account restrictions;
MDM;
Apple Business Manager;
Apple School Manager;
Microsoft Intune;
Windows Autopilot;
Jamf;
BIOS or firmware passwords; or
another material security or management restriction.
Eco Tech Recycle does not unlawfully bypass these restrictions.
Customers should remove applicable restrictions themselves where they have authority to do so.

13. Finance, Lease and Ownership Restrictions
Eco Tech Recycle may decline to purchase equipment where there is a material unresolved concern involving:
outstanding finance;
lease arrangements;
rental agreements;
third-party ownership;
insurance claims;
reported loss;
reported theft;
disputed ownership; or
another restriction affecting lawful transfer.
A high provisional valuation does not override an unresolved ownership issue.

14. IMEI and Device Status
For relevant mobile devices, Eco Tech Recycle may consider information associated with the device’s IMEI or other identifiers.
A device may be declined or revalued where there is a material concern that it is:
blacklisted;
reported lost;
reported stolen;
subject to an unresolved network or finance restriction; or
otherwise unsuitable for lawful resale.
The availability and reliability of third-party status information may vary.

15. Data and Data Erasure
Customers should back up information they need before handing over equipment.
Unless data recovery or preservation has been specifically agreed, customers should assume that data may become permanently unavailable during processing.
Where applicable, eligible devices may be processed using licensed Certus data-erasure software.
A factory reset alone is not represented by Eco Tech Recycle as certified secure data erasure.
A formal data-erasure report is only available where applicable, successfully completed, appropriately recorded and included within the agreed service.
Equipment will not knowingly enter an end-user reuse route while a known material data-security risk remains unresolved.
Further information is provided in our Data Erasure & Data Security Policy.

16. Payment Timing
Where payment is due, Eco Tech Recycle will normally aim to make payment within 7 working days after all applicable purchase requirements have been completed.
These may include:
final inspection;
final valuation;
written acceptance;
ownership or authority confirmation;
completion of relevant checks;
receipt of required invoice or documentation where applicable;
completion of ownership transfer; and
receipt of correct payment details.
This 7-working-day period is our normal operational target unless a different payment period is agreed in writing.
Payment may take longer where there is a genuine unresolved issue concerning ownership, documentation, fraud, payment details or another material matter.

17. Payment Method
Payment will normally be made by bank transfer or another method agreed with the customer.
Depending on the transaction, Eco Tech Recycle may require:
legal or trading name;
account-holder name;
appropriate bank details;
invoice;
VAT information where applicable;
written offer acceptance;
purchase reference;
ownership confirmation; or
authorised organisation contact details.
Customers should only provide payment information through the method requested for the transaction.
We will not ask customers to provide online banking passwords, PINs or authentication codes.

18. Business Invoices and VAT
Where a business, school, charity or other organisation is required to provide an invoice, it is responsible for ensuring that the invoice contains appropriate and accurate information.
Where VAT applies, the parties should provide the information and documentation required by applicable tax rules.
VAT treatment may depend on the seller, transaction and applicable tax arrangements.
Nothing in these Terms should be interpreted as confirming that VAT applies to every purchase transaction.

19. Payment Delays
Payment may reasonably be delayed while a material issue is being resolved, including:
incorrect bank information;
missing invoice or documentation;
unclear authority to sell;
unresolved ownership concerns;
suspected fraud;
disputed equipment identity;
finance or lease concerns; or
a material discrepancy requiring customer clarification.
Eco Tech Recycle should not unreasonably withhold an undisputed payment once applicable purchase conditions have been completed.
For qualifying commercial transactions, UK late-payment legislation may provide statutory remedies where a payment becomes legally overdue. GOV.UK explains that agreed payment terms govern when payment falls due and statutory late-payment rules may apply to qualifying business-to-business transactions. GOV.UK

20. No Payment or Reduced Payment
Eco Tech Recycle may decline to make a purchase offer or may make a lower final offer where equipment is:
materially misdescribed;
locked;
MDM managed;
a lower specification than stated;
materially more damaged than described;
incomplete;
liquid damaged;
unsafe;
untestable;
uneconomical to repair;
subject to unresolved data-security problems;
subject to finance or ownership concerns;
blacklisted where relevant;
outside the agreed purchase scope; or
otherwise unsuitable for purchase.
Where an offer is revised, the customer may accept or reject the revised offer.

21. Rejected Final Offers
If the customer rejects a final offer, Eco Tech Recycle will not treat the equipment as purchased merely because it is in our possession.
The parties must then agree an appropriate next step.
Depending on the original service and circumstances, this may include:
return to the customer;
customer collection;
courier return;
reassessment under another agreed route;
recycling where the customer separately authorises it; or
another agreed arrangement.
Eco Tech Recycle will not automatically recycle or dispose of equipment merely because a purchase offer has been rejected.

22. Return Costs Following a Rejected Offer
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the customer will normally be responsible for reasonable return transport or collection costs after rejecting a final offer where:
the equipment was materially different from its description;
the final offer was reasonably revised following inspection; or
return costs were clearly communicated as part of the transaction.
Where the return is required primarily because Eco Tech Recycle made a material error, Eco Tech Recycle may arrange or cover reasonable return costs as appropriate.
The applicable arrangement will depend on the circumstances and any specific terms agreed for the transaction.

23. Holding Period for Rejected Equipment
Where a final offer is rejected and equipment remains at Eco Tech Recycle’s premises, we will normally hold it for 10 working days after requesting return or collection instructions, unless another period is agreed.
The customer should provide reasonable return or collection instructions during this period.
If equipment remains uncollected after that period, Eco Tech Recycle may contact the customer again and may apply reasonable storage or handling arrangements where these have been communicated and are lawful.
Eco Tech Recycle will not automatically assume ownership merely because equipment has remained uncollected for 10 working days.
Any subsequent disposal, sale, recycling or other action involving uncollected goods will only be taken in accordance with applicable law and any relevant contractual rights.

24. Mixed Batches
Where a customer supplies a mixed batch, Eco Tech Recycle may make:
individual device offers;
category-based offers; or
a single batch offer,
depending on the agreed valuation method.
A batch may contain:
working equipment;
faulty equipment;
damaged equipment;
incomplete equipment;
locked equipment;
no-power equipment;
repairable equipment;
parts-recovery equipment; and
recycling-only material.
Where a batch offer is used, the overall amount may reflect both positive-value items and reasonable costs associated with lower-value or non-reusable items.
Item-by-item valuation is only included where agreed.

25. Market Changes and Pricing Errors
Device values can change over time.
Before a final offer is accepted, Eco Tech Recycle may correct an obvious pricing, calculation or identification error or revise an expired offer.
We will not deliberately use a pricing error as a means of changing an otherwise agreed valid purchase after acceptance.
Where a genuine material error is identified, we will aim to explain it and agree an appropriate resolution.

26. Fraud Prevention and Suspicious Equipment
Eco Tech Recycle may pause a transaction or payment where there are reasonable concerns about:
theft;
fraud;
identity;
ownership;
finance;
authority;
falsified documents;
suspicious device identifiers; or
other unlawful activity.
Where legally required or reasonably appropriate, information may be provided to relevant authorities.
Any personal data processed for fraud prevention will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection law.

27. Cancellation Before Purchase Completion
Before a final purchase is completed, either party may decide not to proceed, subject to any specific written agreement and any costs already lawfully incurred or agreed.
If the transaction does not proceed, return, collection or other arrangements for equipment in Eco Tech Recycle’s possession must be agreed.
Cancellation does not automatically transfer ownership to Eco Tech Recycle.

28. Complaints and Valuation Disputes
If a customer disagrees with a:
final valuation;
revised offer;
payment;
rejected item;
return arrangement; or
purchase decision,
they should contact:
Email: info@ecotechrecycle.co.uk
Subject: Complaint – Purchase / Buy-Back
Where possible, please provide:
customer or organisation name;
transaction or collection reference;
device details;
serial number or IMEI where relevant;
original valuation;
final offer;
reason for the dispute; and
relevant photographs or documents.
Complaints will be handled in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

29. Liability and Statutory Rights
Eco Tech Recycle will take reasonable care when handling equipment in its possession.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts liability for:
death or personal injury caused by negligence;
fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted; or
any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
Nothing in these Terms removes rights that an individual consumer may have under applicable law.

30. Changes to These Terms
Eco Tech Recycle may update these Terms to reflect changes in:
business processes;
payment processes;
valuation methods;
device markets;
security requirements;
applicable law;
regulatory guidance; or
operational requirements.
The version applying to a confirmed transaction will normally be the version in force when that transaction was agreed, together with any specific written purchase offer or agreement.
Later changes will not normally alter a completed or confirmed transaction retrospectively unless the parties agree or applicable law requires or permits the change.

31. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, subject to any mandatory legal rights that apply.
Where the seller is an individual consumer, nothing in these Terms removes any mandatory right to bring proceedings in another court where applicable law provides that right.
For business-to-business transactions, unless otherwise agreed in writing, the courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction.

32. Contact Us
Eco Tech Recycle
A trading name of Tech Cell Limited
Company No. 14338989
Email: info@ecotechrecycle.co.uk
Telephone: +44 7777 239555
Website: www.ecotechrecycle.co.uk
Contact Address:
Suite 2, First Floor
16 Industrial House
Grand Arcade
London
N12 0EH
United Kingdom