Choose The Right Technician
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Over the last year there has been a marked increase in number of new pc repair businesses and technicians doing repair work. We've been called out to fix problems, many of them have caused by inexperienced techs, and we have heard horror stories from consumers that gave up and just reloaded their operating systems. A lot of these "technicians" feel that because they have been using a computer for years, this makes them qualified to repair them as well. This however is NOT the case. Many of these people start out with good intentions but quickly get in over their heads. Rather than tell the customer, they don't know how to fix the problem, they muttle through and often make the problem worse or resort to just reloading the operating system often destroying your data in the process. This is not to say that the operating system never needs to be reloaded, but it is rare. At User Friendly PC, we make every effort to protect your data
So how do you determine who is qualified and who is not? There are several indicators that are easy to check to see who you should trust with your pc and your data. Here are 12 points you should consider when choosing a technician.
A lot of people use craigslist to advertise their services but there are some things that raise a lot of red flags. Do they provide a phone number in their ad? Or do they just want you to reply via email. Are they claiming to have the best prices in town advertising really cheap prices? One such tech was called because of a warning message that a hard drive was failing. His answer was to reload the operating system, (an incorrect diagnoses), however that not only deleted all of the customers data but finished off the drive so that the data could no longer be easily and inexpensively recovered.
A lot of business owners run their business out of their homes with on-site repair. This helps cut the cost of overhead in many ways. This does not mean that the tech is not qualified as many are. If they need to take your computer back and they do not have a commercially located shop, don't be afraid to ask for the address their computer is going to and verify it by checking the address on their business license or drivers license. After all, they are taking your computer.
Do they have a business license. The State Of Nevada requires both a business license and a tax id, even if you are only selling a service. Washoe County requires that a ficticious business name be filed. Most cities require that a business license be filed. These are all things that are fairly easy to check out. Corporations will usually be filed under the business name and Sole Prorieties will be filed under the owners name.
Do they have a static email address? i.e. (name@companyname.organization code [top-level domain name]) Or do they use a dynamic address such as yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc. These later email addresses are generally referred to as throw-away addresses. This might indicate a fly-by-night business.
Do they have a website? Someone that has taken the time to put together a good website is usually in this for the long haul and NOT just a fly-by-night business.
How well put together is their website? Is it just a one page introduction or do they have valid information to share? Is the site organized or just thrown together? Is the site well contructed or is it full of errors? Web page validation can be performed here-> http://validator.w3.org. These are all indicators of the kind of work that can be expected by a technician.
Are they certified? Do they possess at least an A+ or similiar certification? Don't be afraid to ask how a tech is qualified.
How much experience do they have? What kind of experience do they have? Where have they worked in the past? These are all important questions.
How much do they charge? Are their prices realistic or are they cut-rate? Remember the old saying, "You Get What You Pay For". Don't be afraid to call around and get a good feel for the pricing in the area. Chances are tech that charges $50.00 or less probably doesn't have all that much experience. A lot of these techs don't have the tools or knowledge to properly handle problems without "reloading the operating system". Again, there is no guarantee that this won't happen anyway but it is less likely with an experienced technician. Remember, the most important thing is YOUR DATA. It the operating system does have to be replaced, the tech should have the tools necessary to back up your data before wiping the drive.
Check the Better Business Bureau and Rip Off Report. If the tech is from a chain store such as Best Buy, know that some stores may have the Better Business Bureau place their reports under an umbrella with the main office thus changing the way the information is reported. See the report by Fox 12 in Oregon here under The Geek Squad Gets Caught.
Does the tech have a written warranty that they can hand you. Don't take their word for it, get it in writing. Also, upon completion of the work, get a written receipt. There is no proof they did the work without the receipt.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most technicians will try and help you even if it means losing a service call. It may mean gaining a loyal customer in the future. Make sure you feel comfortable with the technician and their abilities. Watch out for the technician that tries to upsell you to a new computer in the first few minutes. This is a sure sign that they are not there to fix your computer but to sell you a new one.
Does the tech ask you questions? It's more difficult to troubleshoot and fix a problem without having any idea of what happened prior to the problem or knowing exactly what the problem is. The tech should be asking all sorts of questions to help in a speedy repair.
Beware of technicians that after only a few minutes try and sell you another computer. Especially if they want your computer as part of the deal. If you think you might need an new computer, consider your needs before making that decision. See Should I Buy A New Computer?.
Don't be afraid to ask for an inventory of the parts in your system if the technician needs to take your computer to the shop. If any parts are to be replaced, let the technician know to return to you, the original parts. As a matter of practice, User Friendly PC always returns the original parts.
Beware of technicians installing pirated software. Always ask for the original CD or license keys. Without it, there is no guarantee of support from the author of the product. In some cases, the software may be disabled upon updating or accessing the internet. User Friendly PC will NEVER install pirated software. In the case of a lost CD, we can order a new one or sell you the product but without the original CD or license key, we will not install it.
Beware of diagnosis scams. We recently found that one particular chain stores technical department policy is to charge a $59.00 diagnostic fee. Then charge an additional fee to repair the problem no matter how small the problem or how quick the fix may be. The bottom line is that you end up spending more at the chain store or a scam artist than you would with a professional technician. Most reputable technicians can give you some idea of the cost of the repair or at least notify you once they've checked the computer over. At User Friendly PC, we charge by the hour and we do not separate the diagnostic and repair fees.
Avoid online diagnostic and repair companies and utilities. Especially popup windows that appear in your browser. See Online Dangers. Online companies and rogue technicians repair your computer after receiving credit card or telephone information to charge. Often, these repairs result in further damage or infection to the system. Rebooting your system will terminate the network connection leaving you isolated from the technician. Further, allowing an unknown person access to your computer also leaves your data at risk of being accessed or copied for criminal gains. With a local technician, you are not charged and have not given any financial information prior to the repair.
