Knowing where your device will go.
A useful starting point is the name of the business responsible for the work and the address of the lab. Some providers receive devices and arrange work elsewhere. Understanding that arrangement helps clarify who provides the quote and who can access the files.
For this service, the operator is iCube Development (Calgary) Ltd. Recovery takes place with our staff at #610 - 11012 Macleod Trail SE in Calgary. We do not outsource recovery or pay referral commissions.
Understanding the approach to your device.
A description of the symptoms gives the lab a starting point. Board faults, encrypted enclosures, failing SSDs and missing camera footage involve different work, so the proposed approach should relate to what happened to your device.
It is reasonable to ask how the original will be protected and how the returned files will be checked. A relevant case or published tool can help illustrate the method, while your assessment establishes what may be possible for your device.
Feeling clear about the cost.
A written quote can help you decide without pressure. Useful details include evaluation fees, donor parts, return media, timing and any exception to a no-recovery policy. If only some priority files may be recoverable, that is worth discussing before you approve the work.
Our standard single-device evaluation is free within 72 hours. Arrays, opened devices and priority evaluations are quoted before starting. Recovery work and any later additions require approval. We do not publish a success percentage; the assessment needs to address your device.
Considering another assessment.
An unsuccessful attempt can leave you unsure whether it is worth trying again. Earlier findings and any removed parts help another lab understand the current condition and whether a different approach may be useful.
A second assessment can clarify the remaining options, though it cannot guarantee a different result. Understanding the assessment fee and proposed next steps lets you decide whether to proceed.
Planning for privacy and reporting.
Knowing who can access recovered copies, where they are kept and when they are deleted can help you feel comfortable with the arrangement. Our staff handle the files under confidentiality, and our working copy is deleted seven days after completion unless longer retention is requested in writing.
If a device relates to an insurance claim or legal matter, an early conversation helps match handling and reporting to that situation. The report should explain both the collected material and the limits of collection. For example, a message absent from an iPhone backup is not proof that it never existed on the phone.