Photocopier repairs nearly always happen on site, because a floor standing copier is too big and heavy to carry to a workshop. Most faults are familiar ones: paper jams, streaks and lines on copies, an error code that stops the machine, a scanner that will not send, or a fuser that grinds and smells hot. What you really need to know is what the call-out costs, how soon someone can come and whether the machine is worth fixing. Send one request and we pass it to independent copier technicians near you, who quote you directly.
The faults technicians see most
- Paper jams: often worn pickup rollers, damp or curled paper, the wrong paper weight, or a torn scrap left inside from an earlier jam.
- Streaks, lines and grey backgrounds: usually a worn drum, a dirty charge wire or a scratched scanner glass.
- Smudged or wrinkled pages and toner that rubs off: a sign the fuser is worn.
- Error codes: some clear after a restart, others point to a failed part or a sensor.
- Scanner and feeder faults: worn document feeder rollers, or network settings that changed.
A photo of a bad copy and the exact error code help the technician bring the right part the first time.
What a repair costs you
Out of contract, you usually pay a call-out fee, then labour and parts. Ask for a quote before work starts, and ask whether the call-out is still charged if the machine cannot be fixed. Parts such as fusers, transfer belts and feed rollers can cost a fair amount on a big machine, so ask whether the price is for a genuine or a compatible part (see photocopier parts). If the copier is on a service contract, call-outs, labour and most parts are normally covered, but paper, damage and power surges often are not.
Repair or replace
Check the meter reading (the total page count in the menu), the age of the machine and whether parts and toner are still available for the model. A copier that is old, slow and breaking down every month may cost more in repairs and lost time than a newer machine. A good refurbished copier or a rental can be cheaper over a year than repeated repairs. Ask the technician for an honest view: they see what wears out next.
Response times and load-shedding damage
How soon a technician comes depends on where you are and how busy they are. On a contract, the response time should be written down, for example the same or next business day: ask. Technicians are usually trained on specific makes, so give the make, model and serial number when you ask for a quote. Surges when the power comes back after load-shedding can damage power supplies and boards; a surge protector on the copier's plug point is a cheap way to lower the risk.
What to put in your request
- Make, model and serial number
- The error code or a photo of a bad copy
- Meter reading and rough age of the machine
- On a service contract or not
- Your address and when the copier is free
Photocopier Repairs for offices, schools and home offices
- Home offices: a small multifunction copier that jams or streaks, checked on site before replacing
- Small businesses and shops: one office copier repaired out of contract after a jam or error code
- Corporate and head offices: copiers on several floors fixed under contract with written response times
- Schools, colleges and universities: a busy A3 copier repaired fast before exam papers have to be printed
- Medical practices, clinics and hospitals: a practice copier that scans to patient files repaired and its settings restored
- Law firms, accountants and agents: an attorney's A3 copier with a noisy fuser fixed before a court deadline
- Government and municipalities: municipal copiers repaired across offices under a framework contract
- Factories, mines and warehouses: a dusty depot copier cleaned and fixed after rollers and fans clogged
- Churches, NGOs and community groups: an older donated copier assessed to see if a repair is worth paying for
Frequently asked questions
Do you repair copiers yourselves?
Why does my copier keep jamming?
Will I pay the call-out if the machine cannot be fixed?
Can any technician fix any copier?
Photocopier Repairs by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg