Not all computer repair companies are created equal! Whilst there are some true professionals who will get the job done right first time without overcharging you, there are also lots of cowboy operators who overcharge for work they didn’t do and inexperienced technicians who can make the problem worse than before they started!
Whether you use your computer for personal reasons, for your work, or even as a family computer where the kids do their homework, it can be a nightmare when it stops running. It’s often priority to get it fixed, and a lot of people make the vital error of quickly hiring the first repair company they speak to. Don’t make this mistake!
Always ask these five questions before deciding which computer repair company to hire. Spend a few minutes now and you’ll save lots of time, money and frustrations in the future!
Pro Tip!
Ask them if they are a TrustedTech Recommended Company, or better still search our website to find a vetted and verified business in your local area.
Only the top computer repair professionals make the grade, so when you see the TrustedTech seal of approval you’ll know you are dealing with an experienced, reliable and trustworthy local business.
1: Do You Offer a Guarantee?
There is nothing worse than getting your computer fixed to find that a few days later it starts playing up again. Whether the same issue has occurred, or it’s a new problem that has arisen as a result of the repair that was completed, you’ll need to get in touch with the repair company to come and sort it out quickly. However, this won’t happen if you haven’t got a guarantee.
Ask the repair company whether they offer a solid guarantee. You want at least a 30-day performance promise, and you want to know exactly what is covered before they start the work so you know where you stand.
2. How Do You Charge?
You would think charges would be one of the first things a customer would ask a company, but a lot of people forget to ask this at the beginning & get left with an unexpectedly big invoice to pay at the end of the job.
Firstly ask them what the set hourly fee is for their work and then ask them for an honest opinion on how many billable hours it might take. They should have a good idea of how long the job might take based on other similar jobs they’ve completed, but understand it is impossible for them to be 100% accurate as each job, computer and circumstance are slightly different.
Then you need to know a clear idea of any extra fees such as hardware costs, call-out fees or additional charges. Also be aware a lot of companies have a minimum charge (e.g. 2 hours minimum).
Get all of this clear up front so you don’t get a shock when the bill arrives!
3. Can I See a Review or Talk to a Previous Customer?
Before you even contact a computer repair company, you should be looking for reviews and recommendations from friends, social media and websites like TrustedTech.com.au.
This feedback from previous customers (both satisfied and unsatisfied) can tell you a lot about their customer service and how they handle a problem when does occur. One bad review shouldn’t affect your opinion, but a number of bad reviews or comments about the company not honoring their warranty, price gouging, or not providing an after-sales service should set the alarm bells ringing.
4. How Much Experience Do You Have?
You don’t want an inexperienced engineer to complete the job on your computer, so you need to know more about the technician’s past experience. Ask them how long they have been doing the job, and what qualifications they have. Microsoft and Apple have their own certificates which technicians can get which can reassure you they have the right skills to take on the job.
Some companies employ junior technicians with little or no qualifications and no experience to do some of the routine work. Ask the company about the technician who will actually be doing the repair or upgrade to your computer.
5. Have You Got Insurance?
If something happens to your computer while it is with the technician, you want to make sure that they are covered. Otherwise, if a fire or a robbery did occur at the company, and they don’t have valid insurance, you will lose out on the cost of your computer.
Doing a bit of background research and calling a few computer repair companies and asking them these questions might sound like an arduous process, but it should actually save you time and money in the long-run. Follow these steps you’ll have your computer fixed and working properly again very soon!
