DSA suppliers - anyone had problems?

ariarnia

hmmm... I was just thinking that.

My LEA bought my equipment and had it delivered. I had no say in what it was (aside from the needs assessment obviously) or from whom. I just about had a say in when it was delivered.

sweetstudent

Mine was supplied by Enabling Computers and i never had a single problem with them, they arrived when they should, carried up all the boxes into my room (shared house) and set the whole system up and demonstrated all the software - read/write gold. They even made an appointment to train me on Dragon Naturally speaking.

Taiko

I think Enabling are now out of business, although I may be mistaking them with another supplier.

bitsandpieces

I've always found it odd that LEAs use specialist (expensive) suppliers for bog standard equipment like laptops and keyboards, when these are funded by the DSA. Of course, for some specialist set-ups you need specialist companies who are able to provide a good service (though some of the common DSA suppliers aren't great imo). But for other things - it's just plug-and-play, assuming the user is confident to do so themselves (and, if they're not, there's an argument for getting a local firm to do it rather than having to arrange support and delivery from a distance). Buying standard office equipment at a premium price doesn't seem a good use of money.

You do have to get whoever's paying you your DSA (likely the LEA) to approve the supplier you use - before getting anything ordered. However, in some claims I've got in touch with a request along the lines of 'I can buy x from this specialist supplier (who will take 2 weeks to get it in stock) or get it for a lot less from Amazon who will post it today - can I use Amazon?' They never refused. I think the best I did was just over 1/3 of the price of using the recommended supplier

Humphrey10

bitsandpieces wrote: »

You do have to get whoever's paying you your DSA (likely the LEA) to approve the supplier you use - before getting anything ordered.

I assume this varies depending on the LEA, I didn't have to get the supplier for my laptop approved - I didn't even tell them what company I was going to use. At my assessment I just said I didn't want the laptop that they were going to recommend, I wanted to put some of my money towards it too so I could get a better one, they were fine with that. They paid the money into my bank account so I could get the laptop from wherever I wanted.

bitsandpieces

That's interesting. I suppose I should have said that you need to get LEA approval to use a different supplier (some do insist on a say in which - from the sound of it, some don't, though). Some may pay up if you use a non-recommended supplier without mentioning the fact to them, but I don't think I'd chance it with something like a laptop!

Humphrey10

Yes the LEA had said I could use a different supplier before I bought the laptop. It was the assessment people at the university that recommended I be allowed to upgrade the laptop though, I don't know if the LEA would have allowed it otherwise.

phazedout

Seriously, if you, can steer well clear. I have had untold issues with them - including them deciding to take the money for kit and then cancelling the order on my behalf, that's nice. No, they are seriously dubious and if you phone and say you want to complain they get quite shirty and they don't point you to their 'complaints process' and nor do they tell you there is a special number for complaints. I too have been concerned over the 'quality' of kit supplied including them swapping out items they don't have in stock but to be honest this doesn't bother me as much as their inability to deliver anything on time. So again, if you have the choice avoid like the plague if they are one of the suppliers who quote for your kit then just say "I've heard bad things about them" - I mean even my second needs assessor said she couldn't understand why they had been used she wont touch them with a barge poll but my kit was originally assessed by someone who isn't there anymore. And as for the staff well it just seems they couldn't care a less.

Taiko

There's a few suppliers mentioned on the thread, care to state which you are complaining about seeing as you've dragged this thread up?

phazedout

LOL wasn't Microlink in the title a clue ;-) - and as it is 'new student' time I thought it might be a timely warning, or not? Albeit yes an old thread but again that's because most students have had their DSA equipment ages ago... I also didn't see the point of posting a new thread 'just' to rant but more saying 'well they are still at it'