On this page13 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Secure Data Recovery vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Secure Data Recovery legitimacy and licensing
- Secure Data Recovery cost
- What No Data, No Recovery Fee really covers
- How the process works
- Secure Data Recovery complaints
- Before you send a drive anywhere
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Secure Data Recovery Services suits people with a failed or damaged drive whose data is worth a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, since it doesn't publish prices and quotes each case after a free standard diagnostic. It is a legitimate Los Angeles data recovery lab, in business since 2007 and BBB accredited with an A+ since 2011. Read the No Data, No Recovery Fee promise closely: its terms say diagnostic fees on faster service, donor parts, expedited or emergency fees and return shipping can still be charged if nothing is recovered, and payments are not refundable.
- Company
- Secure Data Recovery Services, 3330 Cahuenga Blvd W #305, Los Angeles, CA; founded January 4, 20074
- Price
- Not published; quoted per case after diagnostics. The company says lab recovery generally runs $100 to $300 per hour of work and its quotes won't rise for the outlined work2
- Service levels
- Standard: 5 to 9 business days with diagnostics within 72 hours; Expedited: 2 to 4 days with diagnostics within 24 hours; Emergency: 24/71
- Guarantee
- No Data, No Recovery Fee covers recovery work only; diagnostic fees, donor parts, expedited or emergency fees, return shipping and handling are separate3
- Refunds
- Terms state no refunds on payments made3
- Claimed success rate
- 96% (company figure, not independently verified)1
- Certifications claimed
- SOC 2 Type II, ISO 9001:2015, Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom, GSA contractor, Apple Authorized Service Provider1
- Support
- 800-388-1266, 24/71
Pros
- No recovery labor charge if the files you need aren't recovered
- Free diagnostics on standard service
- Emergency service 24/7 and expedited 2 to 4 day option
- A+ BBB rating, accredited since 2011, with 19 complaints in 3 years
- Strong reviews: 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot across 1,384 reviews
Cons
- No published prices, so you can't compare costs before shipping
- Some fees apply even when nothing is recovered
- Terms say payments are not refundable
- Only 5 business days to report missing files before the company deletes its copy
- Device and data can be disposed of after 90 days without contact
Best for: People and businesses with a physically failed hard drive, SSD or phone whose data is worth more than a lab recovery bill.
Skip it if: The files are simply deleted from a working drive, or you need a firm price before sending the device.
Secure Data Recovery vs. competitors
| Company | Published prices | No data, no fee promise | Standard turnaround | BBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Data Recovery | No, quote per case | Yes, recovery labor only | 5 to 9 business days | A+, accredited since 2011 |
| Ontrack | No, quote after evaluation | Not stated in U.S. terms | 7 to 14 business days on average | A+, accredited since 2019 |
| SalvageData | Ranges: $300 to $1,000 minor, $1,100 to $1,900 major damage | No charge for worked hours if data can't be recovered | 5 to 7 business days | Accredited, A+ per its site |
Secure Data Recovery pricing at a glance
How Secure Data Recovery charges, from its site and terms, October 20263
| Charge | When it applies | Published amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostics | Free with standard service; terms say diagnostic fees can be charged separately | Not published |
| Recovery work | Only if the files you listed are recovered | Quoted per case; company cites $100 to $300 per hour industry rates |
| Expedited or emergency service | Charged even if no data is recovered | Not published |
| Donor parts | Charged even if no data is recovered | Not published |
| Return shipping and handling | Charged even if no data is recovered | Not published |
| Late payment | Invoices more than 30 days overdue | 1.00% per month |
Final invoices are due within 10 business days, and payments over $3,000 must be by cashier's check, ACH or wire. Get a written quote that lists every fee before you approve work.
Secure Data Recovery, step by step
Stop using the drive
If a drive clicks, isn't detected or was dropped or wet, power it down. Each attempt can make recovery harder.
Open a case and ship or drop off
Start a case by phone or online, then ship the device or drop it at one of the company's service locations.
Get the diagnostic and quote
Standard service promises diagnostics within 72 hours, expedited within 24 hours. You get a quote and decide whether to approve.
Check the file list
After recovery you get a list of recovered files. You have 5 business days to report missing or corrupted files in writing, and the company keeps its copy for only 5 business days.
Pay and collect your device
Pay within 10 business days and claim your media within 30 days. After 90 days without contact, the terms let the company dispose of your media and data.
Secure Data Recovery legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Secure Data Recovery Services was founded on January 4, 2007 and is headquartered in Los Angeles. Its BBB profile shows an A+ rating, accreditation since May 26, 2011, 19 complaints in the last three years and 923 customer reviews. Trustpilot rates it 4.8 out of 5 across 1,384 reviews.
The 96% success rate and certifications such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 9001 are the company’s own claims; we didn’t see the audit reports. Don’t confuse it with Secure Data Rescue, an unrelated Georgia company that NBC Bay Area reported on in 2018 over a payment dispute.
Secure Data Recovery cost
Secure Data Recovery doesn’t publish prices. It quotes each case after diagnosing the device and says professional recovery generally runs $100 to $300 per hour of work, with quotes that won’t increase for the outlined work. Its own estimates of average lab hours range from 2.7 hours for a phone with a software problem to 9.4 hours for a physically damaged phone.
Faster service costs more. Standard service takes 5 to 9 business days, expedited 2 to 4 days, and emergency service runs around the clock. Ask for the quote in writing with every fee listed, including shipping and any donor parts.
What No Data, No Recovery Fee really covers
The guarantee covers the recovery labor only. Under the terms of service, diagnostic fees, donor parts, expedited or emergency fees, return shipping and handling are separate charges that can apply even if no data comes back. The guarantee also applies to the specific working files you listed, and the company says it will first try to fix any problem within the original agreement.
The terms also say no refunds will be issued on payments, so settle questions before you pay.
How the process works
You open a case, then ship the device or drop it at a service location. Engineers diagnose it, send a quote and wait for your approval. When recovery is done you get a list of files. Check it right away: you have 5 business days to report missing or corrupted files in writing, and the company deletes its copy after 5 business days. Pay within 10 business days and collect your media within 30 days.
What customers say about Secure Data Recovery
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Responsive, professional staff with clear updates
- Fast turnaround on urgent cases
- Successful recovery of photos and business files others couldn't get back
Common complaints
- Quotes higher than expected
- Partial recoveries where some files were missing or corrupted
- Confusion about turnaround times, device return and what was recovered
Secure Data Recovery complaints
Complaints are a small share of reviews but follow a pattern: quotes that felt high for the work, recoveries where some files were missing or corrupted, and confusion over turnaround and returning the device. The company replies to about 80% of negative Trustpilot reviews.
To avoid problems, list the exact folders and files you need when you approve the quote, ask which fees apply if recovery fails, check the file list the day you get it, and keep every email.
Before you send a drive anywhere
If the drive still works and you only deleted files, try free recovery software first. If it clicks, smells burned, was dropped or got wet, stop powering it on and get quotes from two labs. Companies that work for you may need to keep a copy of your files during recovery, so ask how and when they delete it.
Alternatives to Secure Data Recovery
- Ontrack A long-running lab to get a second quote from, with a free evaluation in most cases. Read review
- DriveSavers Another established lab worth quoting for a physically damaged drive. Read review
- SalvageData Publishes price ranges and an Eco tier of 10 to 15 business days if you can wait and want a ballpark before shipping.
- Free software such as PhotoRec For deleted files on a drive that still works normally, free recovery software may be enough; stop if the drive clicks or isn't detected.
Secure Data Recovery reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Secure Data Recovery, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Secure Data Recovery charge?
It doesn't publish prices and quotes each case after diagnostics. The company says professional recovery typically costs $100 to $300 per hour of work, and faster service levels cost more.
Is the diagnostic really free?
Diagnostics are free with standard service, according to the company. Its terms list diagnostic fees as separate from the No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee, so confirm in writing whether your service level carries a diagnostic charge.
What does No Data, No Recovery Fee mean?
You don't pay for recovery labor if the working files you listed can't be recovered. Diagnostic fees, donor parts, expedited or emergency fees and return shipping can still apply.
How long does Secure Data Recovery take?
Standard service takes 5 to 9 business days with diagnostics within 72 hours. Expedited takes 2 to 4 days, and emergency service works 24/7.
Is Secure Data Recovery BBB accredited?
Yes. The Los Angeles headquarters profile shows an A+ rating, accreditation since May 26, 2011 and 19 complaints in the last three years.
Can I get a refund?
The terms of service say no refunds will be issued on payments made. Review the file list and raise any problems within 5 business days, before you pay.
What happens to my data after recovery?
The company keeps a copy for 5 business days so you can report missing files, then deletes it. If you don't stay in contact for 90 days, the terms allow it to dispose of your media and data.
Is Secure Data Recovery the same as Secure Data Rescue?
No. Secure Data Rescue is a separate Georgia company that was the subject of a 2018 NBC Bay Area report about a billing dispute. Secure Data Recovery Services is based in Los Angeles.
Does Secure Data Recovery work on phones and SSDs?
Yes. Its pricing page gives average lab hours for hard drives, SSDs, phones and removable media. Ask for a quote for anything else, such as a RAID array or server.
Is it cheaper to use data recovery software?
For deleted files on a healthy drive, software is usually far cheaper and some tools are free. For a drive with physical damage, software can make things worse, and a lab is the safer choice.
Sources (7)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Secure Data Recovery: Home page (services, service levels, certifications) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Secure Data Recovery: How much does data recovery cost (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Secure Data Recovery: Terms of service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Secure Data Recovery Services, Los Angeles (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Secure Data Recovery reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SalvageData: Data recovery services (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NBC Bay Area: Man's hard drive trouble leads to extortion claim (Secure Data Rescue, 2018) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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