Bristol Braille Technology CIC’s Warranty Policy

Document history:

• Updated 14th of August 2026.
• Updated 16th of January 2020.
• First edition 23rd of August 2018.

Products covered

This warranty policy covers the Canute 360, the Canute Console, the Canute Scientific, and Premium versions of all the above machines.

Peripherals purchased with a Canute may be covered if they materially effect the operation of the device and were manufactured by Bristol Braille. Otherwise peripherals will be under warranty with the original manufacturer.

The section on ‘right to repair, upgrade and modify’ only applies to Canute Scientific, though it can be extended to Canute 360 or Canute Console customers ad hoc after consultation. It cannot extend to peripherals.

Machines/peripherals are under warranty if they are delivered by Bristol Braille Technology or a Bristol Braille Technology authorised reseller, are in new condition on arrival and are in the original Bristol Braille Technology packaging.

Customers covered

This warranty is extended only to the original end-use purchaser or the person receiving the product as a gift from that purchaser, and shall not be extended to any other person or transferee.

What’s covered

Assuming the machine is exclusively used under normal conditions, as described in the manual, then the warranty covers defects in manufacturing, materials and workmanship which are evident on receipt or become apparent during the period covered.

What’s not covered

This limited warranty does not cover:

• Defects resulting from improper or unreasonable use or maintenance.
• Failure to follow operating instructions.
• Failure to follow maintenance guidelines.
• Accident.
• Improper installation.
• Improper connection with any peripheral devices.
• Disaster, lightning or acts of God.
• Spillage or an excess of moisture.
• Misuse of, abuse of the equipment.
• Modifications to the equipment, excepting those covered under the ‘right to repair, upgrade and modify’.
• Ingress by organic matter, including food.
• Ingress by chemicals not specified for maintenance and cleaning.
• Ingress by insects or other animals.
• External electrical fault, power surges, or connections to improper voltage supply.
• Damages caused by inadequate packing or shipping procedures by the customer or third party.
• Loss of, damage to or corruption of stored data.
• Damages caused by use with non-Bristol Braille Technology products.
• Products purchased from unauthorised dealers.
• Products that require modification or adaptation to enable operation in any country other than the country for which it was designed, manufactured, approved and authorised.

What we will do

During the limited warranty period, we will, at our sole option, repair or replace using new replacement parts any defective parts within a reasonable period of time and free of charge.

What we will not do

Pay shipping, insurance or transportation charges from you to us, or any import fees, duties and taxes.

What you must do to obtain Limited Warranty Service

Return product, with proof of purchase from Bristol Braille Technology CIC or an authorised Bristol Braille Technology reseller, using the following procedures:

1. Contact Bristol Braille Technology or authorised reseller for specific return and shipping instructions.
2. Label and ship the product, freight prepaid, to the address provided by Bristol Braille Technology or the authorised reseller.

What period does the warranty cover

For machines purchased after January 2024 the default warranty period is two years. For machines purchased before 2024 the default period was one year.

Extending warranty periods

Bristol Braille Technology recognizes the important role assistive technology has in the everyday lives of its users and believes that proper maintenance is key to achieving optimal functionality and reliability of its products.

An extended warranty contract may be purchased during the first 30 days after purchase, within the period of the original warranty. Bristol Braille Technology may, at its discretion, waive this requirement for purchase to occur within the first 30 days, so long as the machine is in materially good condition.

Service under extended warranties

Extended warranties include a single instance of servicing, cleaning and calibration at the beginning of the extended warranty period. Customers wishing to take this up are responsible for freight charges to and from customer’s location to Bristol Braille’s facility. Extended warranties otherwise operate under the same terms as the original warranty.

This service does not cover machines damaged in transit, or machines that were despatched with insufficient packing. Original packaging is mandatory. In the event that you no longer possess the original packaging you must consult with the manufacturer or approved reseller before proceeding.

If Bristol Braille Technology is unable to repair the equipment due to unavoidable causes, such as a manufacturer’s inability to provide component parts, the unused portion of the purchase price of the extended warranty will be refunded to you.

Maximum lengths of extended warranties

Extended warranties for the Canute 360 and the Canute Console can be purchased, taking the warranty up to a maximum of four years from the date of the original receipt of the machine. An exception to this is provided for those purchasing a hardware upgrade from an existing Canute 360 or Canute Console to a Canute Scientific, which resets the warranty period to year zero for the resultant machine.

Extended warranties for the Canute Scientific can be purchased, up to a maximum of twelve years from the date of the original receipt of the machine. Customers with broken Canute Scientifics can purchase a rebuild, using many of the same components in a renewed Canute Scientific machine, which resets the warranty period to year zero for the resultant machine.

Right to repair, upgrade or modify

Canute Scientific customers have the right, as laid out in the product documentation, to attempt to repair, upgrade or modify their machine. This right can be extended, at Bristol Braille Technology’s discretion, to Canute 360 or Canute Console customers.

If you wish to exercise this right under warranty you should first alert Bristol Braille Technology, who will send you a form to confirm:

1. That you have read the required instructions.
2. That you have the necessary equipment and skills to perform the intended operations.
3. That you will respect Bristol Braille Technology’s intellectual property.

Bristol Braille staff will be glad to walk you through the process, though we cannot guarantee that every operation is suitable for the layman, nor that every operation is accessible to blind customers. The right to attempt to repair, upgrade or modify, under guidance, does not imply that it must necessarily be possible for any specific customer to do so. Many operations may require uncommon skill, knowledge or tools.

The right to repair, upgrade of modify does not apply in any form to any changes made to power supplies, internal power connexions, internal or external batteries, mains connexions, or to any operation that can only be performed when the unit is not unplugged or not isolated from static.

Bristol Braille Technology reserves the right to ensure the safety of its customers by requesting evidence of competence in advance of operations being performed, such as photographs of the appropriate equipment and operating environment. If this is not forthcoming when requested, or if the customer proceeds without first informing Bristol Braille Technology, or undertakes different operations than those they originally described, or if the customer has been advised against repairs, upgrades or modifications, then any operations performed will void the warranty.

Other conditions

• The provisions of this limited warranty are in lieu of any other warranty, whether expressed or implied, written or oral, including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
• Bristol Braille Technology’s maximum liability shall not exceed the actual purchase price paid by you for the product.
• In no event shall Bristol Braille Technology be liable for loss of, damage to or corruption of stored data, or for special, incidental, consequential, or indirect damages howsoever caused including without limitation the replacement of equipment and property, nor any costs of recovering, programming or reproducing any program or data stored in or used with your Bristol Braille Technology product.
• This limited warranty is void if the label bearing the serial number has been removed or defaced.
• On-site service calls are not included.
• Before you ship your product for warranty service it is your responsibility to keep a separate backup copy of the contents as the contents will likely be deleted during the course of repair.
• Recovery and reinstallation of software programs and user data are not covered under this warranty.

Other legal rights

Bristol Braille Technology operates under English Law. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you also may have other rights that vary from state to state or country to country. Some places do not allow limitations on implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.