A guide to ensuring you get good service from an IT technician
When you contact a repair firm, agree a deadline for them to get the problem fi xed. On adverts and websites, good suppliers will have a physical address that should be well displayed. If your computer is taken away, find out where it is going. Compare repairers’ costs, such as call- out fees, before deciding. Always analyse what is really offered, beware vague promises, insist on written evidence of the diagnosis and how it will be fi xed. Check the work is guaranteed and for how long. Ensure you fully understand what a repair will involve and why. Beware unmentioned extras being added and get a detailed written list of what you are paying for. It is easy for an engineer to tinker with software and claim the problem is resolved. However, connecting to the internet can be a computer problem, a problem with the line, or both. Test the product thoroughly before the engineer leaves, only then pay the full amount of the bill. Keep your anti-virus protection up to date and also carry out other maintenance such as removing old programmes. If a smooth-running computer is vital, consider extending the warranty when you buy it, but look at the terms carefully as they may not include software glitches. Be sceptical about services, if they sound too good to be true they probably are. Back up your data as a repair may cost more than buying a new machine.
If you have a problem write to Maisha Frost, Sunday Express, 10 Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6EN, or email maisha.frost@express.co.uk. Only send copies of your documents, not originals, and include your phone number.