More about bulling IT man

Sorry to post something negative, but I feel in need of comfort. This is the IT man I wrote of, on a previous thread but the thread failed [a technical issue]. I've had repairs and second hand computers off him since 2019,  gradually realizing he didn't know as much as he claimed - several times I saw him looking up Microsoft 'how to' for things I discovered to be easily resolved.

I'd asked him to get me a new PC and laptop after he said windows 11 could be updated on my computers but would not be stable. I paid him £500 as he asked. The laptop developed a fault just over a year later. He blamed me for not shutting it down properly, yet this was the advice he gave. I paid £60 for this ten minute visit. During this, he boasted he buys cheap parts he gets, '4 for the price of one HP,' which last 4 years whilst the HP last six, which he considered insignificant. Thus he benefits not the customer, getting more callouts - £60 for an hour then £30 per half hour. 

A week later, the laptop would not load a windows 11 update. I'd tried and failed to detach the battery, following a Utube video explaining how to cure the update issue. He offered to come out - another £60. I said, surely it should be under guarantee, being just over a year old. Then he said it was reconditioned and this was on the receipt. I'd never asked for a receipt (foolishly) as I trusted him. He never supplied receipts. I asked if the PC was new, and he said it was. So, why one new and one reconditioned - it made no sense.

I offered to deduct £60 of the paid price (£250) for work he did initially, transferring Microsoft Office and Scrivener, if I returned the laptop to his shop. It will certainly develop faults due to cheap parts and be a headache - especially the advice he gave about using a knife to detach the battery! I suspect the battery is a tight fit because it's not a HP part. But he wants £165 for wiping data and cleaning if I return it. This is ridiculous - paying him so he can re-sell it.

Parents
  • He does sound like he is ripping you off, probably relying on people being too scared of computers to question him. If you can get online, there are often videos about how to fix things which is probably all he is doing. 

    You can also buy stuff directly online yourself which will probably be more reliable and you'll have proper receipts and guarantees, not some delboy selling you reconditioned and not telling you about it.

Reply
  • He does sound like he is ripping you off, probably relying on people being too scared of computers to question him. If you can get online, there are often videos about how to fix things which is probably all he is doing. 

    You can also buy stuff directly online yourself which will probably be more reliable and you'll have proper receipts and guarantees, not some delboy selling you reconditioned and not telling you about it.

Children
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