Sky News have been out discovering some of the people who are giving our business a bad name. It’s shocking what some of the ‘big boys’ get up to…
Big Names Exposed In Laptop Investigation
…but even more shocking what some of the backstreet outfits are playing at…
Exposed: Repair Shops Hack Your Laptops
So, I thought I’d give some tips on what to look for when getting your computer repaired so that you can play it safe:
1) Phone numbers
Nothing says “dodgy” more than a mobile number in the back of the newspaper. Could be anyone, anywhere. Mind you, 0800 numbers look impressive but they are very cheap and easy to arrange. Look for a proper telephone number with a proper, geographical dialling code.
2) Address
Does the company’s website have an address somewhere? It is a legal requirement to make your name and address known if you are a trader of any kind. After all, if they offer to take your computer away for repair, where are they taking it?
3) Insurance
Do they look like the kind of company that has public liability and professional indemnity insurance? If not, what happens if something goes wrong?
4) Qualifications / Trade bodies
Do they have something like Microsoft Certification or a Comp TIA qualification? “25 years experience” of playing games on a PC doesn’t really mean a lot!
5) Trading Standards
A very good indicator that a company does everything right and by the book is Trading Standards Approval. You can call your local Trading Standards Office and they will recommend a trusted company.
6) Ltd, VAT registration
Another good indicator that a company takes itself seriously is if they go through the ‘hassle’ of registering as a company or for VAT. If they are a registered company, you can find out where the directors live, so they should behave! If you are a business customer, can you claim back your VAT, or are you throwing 15% down the drain?
So, who are you going to call?
Well, to make things easier, I’ll tell you the only company in East Kent that can answer YES to ALL the above…
For safe, reliable Computer Repair in Kent, call HDG!
A Microsoft Certified Professional with many years of large corporate experience and training, he now focuses on helping small businesses make the most of their IT.
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