Frequently asked questions

We provide free device pickup and home visits across Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea, Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle. If you're just outside our main area, get in touch we may still be able to help. See our service area page for full coverage details.

Forge42 is founded and run by Andy Goody, a technology professional with 26 years of real-world experience spanning enterprise IT, infrastructure, networking, systems administration and customer support. When you contact Forge42, you speak directly to Andy not a helpdesk queue or a call centre.

You can book by calling 07376 847298, sending a WhatsApp message, or using the contact form. We aim to get back to you as quickly as we can during business hours. Appointments are available Monday to Friday 9:30am – 4:30pm.

No. You will be given a clear estimate before any work begins. If parts are needed, we tell you the cost before ordering them. If a job runs longer than expected, we let you know before continuing. You will never receive an unexpected invoice from Forge42.

Most local repair shops focus on break-fix only, with limited knowledge of networking, infrastructure or business IT. Forge42 brings enterprise-level experience to every job understanding how devices, networks, systems and users work together. You deal directly with the owner, receive honest advice without upselling, and get long-term solutions rather than temporary patches. Visit our about page for the full comparison.

Home visits are priced at £45 per hour. Most standard jobs are completed within one to two hours. A free initial phone consultation is always available before booking so we can give you a realistic estimate. See our pricing page for full details.

Yes, always. We'll talk through the problem, give you an honest assessment of what's likely involved, and provide a realistic price estimate before you commit to anything. There's no obligation and no hard sell.

We accept cash, bank transfer and card payments. Payment is taken on completion of the work. For business customers on a monthly retainer, invoicing is available.

Almost certainly, yes. Slow laptops are one of the most common jobs we carry out. The most effective solution is usually an SSD upgrade (£79 + parts), which can make an ageing laptop feel like new. We'll also check for malware, optimise startup, and clean up software clutter. A health check (£49) gives you a full picture before any work begins.

In many cases, yes. Data recovery starts from £75 and depends on the nature and extent of the damage. The sooner you contact us after a failure, the better the chances of a successful recovery. Don't use the device — power it off and get in touch immediately.

Not yet — phone and tablet screen repairs are coming soon. We're finalising training and equipment to bring this in-house properly rather than rush it. Get in touch and we'll let you know as soon as it launches. In the meantime we're happy to help with laptop and PC repairs, networking and home IT.

We can support many smart home devices from cameras, smart plugs, smart bulbs, switches and automation. We also support other home systems, Wi-Fi mesh networks and general IoT setup. Whether you want a single smart device or a fully automated home, we can design, install and configure it for you.

Yes. Wi-Fi optimisation is one of our most popular home services. We'll assess your current setup, identify weak spots, and recommend the most effective solution — whether that's repositioning your router, upgrading to a mesh system, or adding access points. We configure everything so it just works.

Yes — our Small Business IT Support package: From £99/month for up to 3 users and 3 supported Windows PCs/laptops, with 3 hours of remote-first support included each month, plus an initial Forge42 Health Check. If you'd rather not commit to a monthly package, ad-hoc support is also available. Larger businesses get an individually assessed proposal. See full pricing or get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Yes — our Microsoft 365 setup service: From £195 for a new environment for around 1–3 users — tenant and licence setup, and connecting your business email/domain. Microsoft's own subscription cost isn't included. Larger rollouts, existing-system migrations or more complex configuration are individually assessed and quoted. Get in touch to discuss what you need.