South Africans repair their devices rather than replace them, and the numbers explain why: a new handset costs a serious share of a monthly salary. That makes the repair trade busy, competitive and full of customers who know roughly what a screen should cost.
The Consumer Protection Act asks more of a repairer here than most people realise. You may not charge without an authorised estimate, you may not bill for stripping a device just to quote it, and you carry a three-month warranty on parts and labour. A notebook cannot prove any of that when a customer disputes it.
Sattotal turns those obligations into the normal way you work. The quote goes out by email and the approval is recorded with its date, the diagnosis is tracked separately from the chargeable repair, and the handover is a signed PDF stating the s.57 warranty. VAT at 15% and the rand are configured from the start.
Configured for South Africa
15% VAT, amounts in rand (R) and your SARS VAT registration number on quotes, invoices and receipts, with no manual setup.
Estimates the way the CPA requires
Section 15 forbids charging without an authorised estimate and forbids exceeding it without fresh approval. Both are built into the quote flow.
Three-month repair warranty
Section 57 covers every new or reconditioned part you fit and the labour to fit it. Your handover documents say so, dated from installation.
Proof of what came in
Photos, declared fault and device condition recorded at the counter, so a later dispute is settled by the record and not by memory.
Parts, suppliers and warranties
Know what is on the shelf, what is on order and which repairs are still inside their warranty period.
Cloud-based, works on a phone
Nothing to install and no server in the shop. A power cut does not take your job cards with it.
Plans and pricing
Join the public beta and use Sattotal free until 31 December 2026 (beta through September + October, November and December free). No credit card, no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Does it use South African VAT, or UK VAT?
South African. The interface is in British English, but the country is what drives the numbers: choose South Africa and you get 15% VAT and rand (R), not 20% and pounds, with your SARS VAT registration number on every document.
What does the Consumer Protection Act require of a repair shop?
Three things that shape the daily workflow. You cannot charge without an estimate the customer authorised, or without a recorded refusal of one (s.15(2)). You cannot charge for the diagnostic work needed to prepare that estimate unless you disclosed and agreed that price first (s.15(3)). And every new or reconditioned part you fit, plus the labour, carries a three-month warranty (s.57).
What if the same fault comes back after the repair?
Section 56(3) is stricter than most people expect: if within three months of a repair the fault has not been fixed, or a new one appears, the customer is entitled to a replacement or a refund rather than a second repair. It is worth having the original job card and photos to hand.
Can I hold a device until the customer pays?
Yes. A repairer has a lien over the device for the work and parts put into it and can hold it until paid. What you cannot do is sell it: the lien is a defensive right, so recovering the money means going to court. Sattotal keeps a record of every collection notice you send.
Does it cover cellphones and computers?
Both, plus tablets, laptops, consoles and anything else that comes across the counter, each with its IMEI or serial number, make and model.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. You can start for free, with per-technician pricing once your team grows.