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Thread ID: 136577	2014-03-18 01:34:00	Technically vulnerable being ripped off!	stuffed (1469)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1370543	2014-03-18 01:34:00	There are some computer technicians out there ripping off the "technology vulnerable". These mainly older people struggle with technology and they turn to the "professionals" for help. Invariably their machines are fragile and they return time and time again to have their "problems" rectified. "You have a virus/faulty HDD/MB etc etc". Wonder how many have had suggested that they could buy a second hand iPad for $300 - $400 and that they would set it up for them? Bet not because that would be a lost revenue stream!	stuffed (1469)
1370544	2014-03-18 02:17:00	It undoubtedly happens but you'd hope people who took advantage of their customers like that don't last long. It's not as simple as that though, people like myself who routinely fix their own PC's might look at a bill from a tech and think "ripoff" but if you get a breakdown from an honest tech of their time spent and costs involved and remember that they make a living doing this you might see it's not really unreasonable. On top of that software faults are the worst, they can be incredibly difficult and time consuming to track down and no amount of scanning or diagnostic tools is 100% certain to find them. Often times with a badly infected or corrupted machine I suspect it's more cost effective just to wipe it and start over but people don't want that. Often there is a reluctance to reinstall software and a lack of backups of important data to deal with. As a non tech (well actually a different kind of tech :)) who often finds himself "volunteered" to help other people with PC problems I can sympathize with those who do it for a living. A friend of mine has a talent for screwing up her PC and managed to kill one machine I set up for her in less than a week from a fresh install. She clicked one of those "your PC has xxxx infections" fake virus warning links on a website. By the time I got it going again I wished I'd just started over. She also seems to collect toolbars and addons on her browsers. Getting better slowly with instruction at least.	dugimodo (138)
1370545	2014-03-18 02:34:00	I have a rule when dealing with other machines that I have been asked to look it. You do it my way and I decide what happens with it or you go to someone else and pay for it.	DeSade (984)
1370546	2014-03-18 04:38:00	There are some computer technicians out there ripping off the "technology vulnerable". These mainly older people struggle with technology and they turn to the "professionals" for help. Invariably their machines are fragile and they return time and time again to have their "problems" rectified. "You have a virus/faulty HDD/MB etc etc". ! Really? Like who? I never did that. For instance had one elderly guy come in and say he needed a new PC. Why I ask? Other shop said too old... What his actual problem was, he had dial up, an old Win 98 PC and the modem driver was stuffed. Fixed driver, added antivirus etc, gave advice on that, did not do anything else. Charged $20.	pctek (84)
1370547	2014-03-18 04:43:00	I have a rule when dealing with other machines that I have been asked to look it. You do it my way and I decide what happens with it or you go to someone else and pay for it. :lol:	Agent_24 (57)
1370548	2014-03-18 06:48:00	[QUOTE=dugimodo;1192408.....She clicked one of those "your PC has xxxx infections" fake virus warning links on a website.....[/QUOTE] If only we could declare war on those "helpful" download sites that throw in a couple of "check your PC" apps when the person simply wants one download. These days it seems they all have to add in chips, sauce, bread and butter along with virus checkers, tool bars and registry cleaners. The ordinary or elderly user isn't alert enough to see that they have just clicked into a load of extra rubbish. And usually they don't know where to go to uninstall the offending extras if/when they finally realise what extras they've accepted.	coldot (6847)
1370549	2014-03-18 06:52:00	Adblock, Noscript and browser\hosts file immunization with Spybot seems to get rid of most of them.	Agent_24 (57)
1370550	2014-03-18 08:07:00	Wonder how many have had suggested that they could buy a second hand iPad for $300 - $400 and that they would set it up for them? Bet not because that would be a lost revenue stream! What a load of bull. :groan: Why would any reasonable tech suggest buying a ipad, when the user more than likely doesn't want one in the first place. What say for example the repair cost was UNDER $100 ?? Your suggestion is costing them money not saving. What if the user doesn't have wireless or as I've been to a couple this week only DIALUP ? ANYONE who knows what they are doing wouldn't charge $300-$400 even for a complete reinstall and saving data. Some places are rip offs, some are not. In the weekend when at a customers place (she got my name recommended from several of her friends) I heard a not so surprising comment relating to a "repair businesses" in wgtn. These clowns are rip offs, heard many complaints about how they charge and had to fix stuffups they have made, some are so basic they should be shot. Example, one person I went to they "fixed" a broken on switch with a piece of sellotape, which failed the next time it was pressed :horrified, then had the cheek to charge her for a full hour. Invariably their machines are fragile and they return time and time again to have their "problems" rectified. ANY respectable tech wouldn't leave a computer in that state. There has been the odd time people dont want something done when its recommended, if that's the case I MAKE SURE I document it on the invoice, ( and point it out and they sign it) that way they cant come back saying it wasn't done.	wainuitech (129)
1370551	2014-03-18 08:11:00	I heard a not so surprising comment relating to a "repair businesses" in wgtn. These clowns are rip offs, heard many complaints about how they charge and had to fix stuffups they have made, some are so basic they should be shot. Example, one person I went to they "fixed" a broken on switch with a piece of sellotape, which failed the next time it was pressed :horrified, then had the cheek to charge her for a full hour. Whaaaat? :lol:	Agent_24 (57)
1370552	2014-03-18 08:20:00	yeah agent -- I had to try not to laugh, THEN they insisted she was to rough and advised it would cost another service call to come and fix it. I wont repeat what she said she told them :xmouth: You can guess though, she called me after asking her neighbor who to get to fix it, I had an old case that had the same switch, charged her $30 for time, switch & complete switch holder & fitting, had to come back to workshop as well ( was fun trying to dismantle half the damn case to remove the front panel) AND got a HUGE bit of cake and coffee when I took it back to her. Since then shes recommend me to several of her friends. You generally only rip people off once, word gets around, many who do that aren't around for long.	wainuitech (129)
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