HOW TO TELL THE PROS FROM THE CRANKS
DO YOUR RESEARCH: Lisa Barber from Which? advises you “ask locally who people recommend and check reviews from a range of sources online”. There are enough businesses with reviews to help you make a sound judgement. Google and Facebook are the most prevalent, but it’s also worth checking sites such as Which? Trusted Traders. Vendors who sell the product you need fixing but don’t offer repair services themselves may know someone who does.
ASK QUESTIONS: Talk to the repairer about their process to get an idea of timescale and pricing. Ask about guarantees or warranties, and ascertain if these include labour fees. It’s useful to know if they will carry the repair out on-site or if it will be subbed out to a third party. If the device contains data, ask how this will be handled during the repair and check the business has adequate liability insurance. If you feel any doubt, get a second opinion.
BE REALISTIC: Trusting your repairer is critical, so listen to what they’re saying. For the reasons we’ve talked about, it may not be possible to restore a device back to showroom condition, and the best that you may get is a semi-functional machine that stays alive long enough for you to extract the data from it. Ask enough questions so that your expectations match reality.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS: First impressions count. If it’s a bricks-and-mortar establishment, does the shop floor look like an explosion in a recycling centre or is a well-oiled process in place? For online services, are you happy with email only or would you prefer a phone number? However you communicate your needs to the technician, ensure you’re satisfied they’ve listened and understood what you want.