Password Recovery / How it works

How password recovery works

Two steps you can explain to a client or family member: a fixed assessment, then one clear recovery quote. We only charge the recovery fee if we restore access.

Jump to prices Start assessment All password recovery

Pricing

$149 to assess. You get one recovery quote with an attempt-time cap. Pay that recovery fee only if we unlock it. If we cannot restore access after the agreed attempt, you do not pay the success fee.

Step 1

Assessment — $149

We review what’s locked, whether we can try it, and give you a firm recovery quote. Non-refundable.
Step 2

Recovery — only if we succeed

Quick from $299 (up to 2h), File from $499 (up to 24h), or Complex from $799 (up to 72h). You pay this fee only if we restore access.

Step 1

Assessment

$149

We identify the file or account, feasibility, and a firm recovery quote. Non-refundable.

Step 2 — Recovery success fee (files + attempt-time cap; final quote after assessment)

Quick unlock

From $299

1 primary unlock, or up to 3 similar quick unlocks

Up to 2 hours of attempt time

Reset-style or fast unlocks when applicable (e.g. local Windows admin, VBA). Covers 1 primary unlock, or up to 3 similar quick unlocks in the same engagement when assessment confirms they fit. Includes up to 2 hours of attempt time.

File recovery

From $499

1–3 files (same engagement)

Up to 24 hours of attempt time

Typical documents and apps: Office, PDF, archives, Outlook/Access, QuickBooks/FileMaker, password managers. Starting price covers 1–3 files in the same engagement when assessment confirms they fit the same difficulty class. Includes up to 24 hours of attempt time.

Complex recovery

From $799

1 primary asset (more quoted separately)

Up to 72 hours of attempt time

Harder passwords or tougher job types (e.g. strong masters, server-account style). Starting price is for 1 primary asset; additional hard assets are quoted separately. Includes up to 72 hours of attempt time.

Quick and File starting prices assume 1 file/unlock, or up to 3 in the same engagement when assessment confirms they are similar (same difficulty class). Complex starts at 1 primary asset. More files, mixed difficulty, or separate passwords may raise the firm quote after assessment.

“Up to X hours of attempt time” is a cap for that tier. We stop early if we recover access, and we may stop sooner if the attempt is not productive. Hour caps are wall-clock attempt time, not a guarantee of continuous GPU use every minute.

Quick / File: from price covers 1–3 similar assets when assessment agrees.
Complex: from price is 1 primary asset.
Attempt caps: Quick 2h · File 24h · Complex 72h.
Recovery fee is due only if we restore access.
Attorneys and estates: we can invoice the firm or estate after assessment (Net 15/30 on approved matters).

Refunds & fees

Assessment is non-refundable — it covers review, feasibility, and authority screening. Recovery fees are charged only when recovery succeeds. If we decline for authority or scope reasons after assessment, you keep only the assessment charge.

Assessment fee: non-refundable.
Recovery fee: charged only if we deliver usable access as defined in your quote.
Quick / File starting prices cover 1–3 similar assets when quoted that way; Complex starts at 1 primary asset.
Included attempt time is “up to” the tier cap (2h / 24h / 72h); unused time is not refunded as cash.
No recovery after the agreed attempt: you owe assessment only; no success fee.
Partial success (e.g. some files of several): success fees only for recovered items within the quoted engagement.

Step 1 — Assessment

You tell us what is locked and who you are in relation to it. We identify the asset type, feasibility, and a firm recovery quote. Assessment is $149 and non-refundable — it pays for review, feasibility, and authority screening, not a guaranteed unlock.

Step 2 — Recovery quote

If the job looks feasible and your paperwork looks complete for our engagement, we give one quote. Starting ranges: Quick unlock from $299 (1–3 similar unlocks, up to 2 hours), File recovery from $499 (1–3 files, up to 24 hours), Complex recovery from $799 (1 primary asset, up to 72 hours).

Success fee vs no recovery

The recovery success fee is charged only if we deliver usable access as defined in your quote (password, reset, or unlocked copy). If we cannot recover after the agreed attempt, you owe the assessment — not a success fee.

Chain of custody (how files move)

Tracked USB mail-in both ways is preferred for sensitive material. Expiring, password-protected cloud links are accepted. Email attachments are the weakest option. We log receipt and return, record a file hash when practical, work from copies when we can, and wipe working copies after the job on a stated schedule.

Also worth knowing

Proof of ownership or authority is required before recovery work — see Intake.
Unauthorized or incomplete requests are refused.
Attorneys and estates: you do not need to know the password — PC access and family patterns help. We can invoice the firm or estate after assessment on approved matters (Net 15/30).

Questions about this page

Is the assessment credited toward recovery?

Assessment is a separate, non-refundable fee for review and quoting. Recovery is billed only if we succeed, at the quoted amount.

When do I pay?

Assessment before or at intake review. Recovery success fee when we deliver access.

Ready to proceed?

Assessment is $149 (non-refundable). We confirm scope and authority before any recovery work.

Go to assessment request