advancetec - terrible and agreesive support

Dan_Saxton

Hi, thought i would share my experiences recently with a company in Rochdale called Advance Technologies (or Advancetec) - just in case someone decides to buy from them - PLEASE DON'T !

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My computer failed within the 12 month warranty period.

The motherboard, CPU and RAM were returned and the motherboard was deemed faulty after AdvanceTec tested it.

I called after 18 days to enquire after it's repair or replacement and was told that they had returned it to the manufacturer and I had to wait 30 days.

Lee, the support staff (who refused to give me his surname) was very aggressive when I suggested that 18 days was too long and my contract of sale was with AdvanceTec and not the manufacturer. He would not give me a refund and said “that's just how it is”. He wasn't prepared to chase the manufacturer or offer any reassurance that my problem was being dealt with in a timely manner.

He did state that after 6 months they did not have to do anything other than send it back to the manufacturer.

I posted the above on this website shortly after speaking with AdvanceTec. About 30 mins to an hour after posting I received a telephone call from Keehin Lomax, the area manager who said that if I removed the review they would send me a new board (after testing) the same day, if I didn't remove the post, I would have to wait 30 days !!

I need my computer for work and therefore agreed to remove the post, which I did.

A new motherboard (fitted with my original CPU and RAM) arrived the following day and I immediately installed it into my computer.

The problem still existed !! I called Keehin Lomax on a Sunday who said he would need to speak to Lee on Monday.

I called Keehin on Monday to be told that Lee hadn't made it in that day, but was expected in on Tuesday.

I called Keehin on Tuesday at 11am (support opens at 10am) to be told that Lee was expected in at 10am, but hadn't arrived - he would hopefully be in later !

I called later, but Lee still hadn't arrived, we agreed that I should send the motherboard, CPU and RAM back again for further testing.

I called Keehin on Wednesday where I was informed that he had finally spoken to Lee who said he fully tested the board before it left AdvanceTec and was working fully. He went on to say that the CPU had bent pins which I must have done since receiving the components back.

The CPU (which, by the way, doesn’t have pins) was installed (and tested) by AdvanceTec before I received the components back – I just plugged my power and graphics card in and it still had the same problem.

He offered no solution other than to accuse me of causing the problem while believing Lee (the support guy) who couldn’t even tell his own company the truth about when he was coming to work !!

He suggested my course of action should be via Trading Standards.

POSSIBLY THE WORSE COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH - I RECOMMEND STAYING WELL CLEAR IF YOU CAN.

I'm off to get legal advice.

Dan_Saxton

seems they forgot to check that before answering the phone.

UPDATE: i contacted consumer watch who told me to write to advancetec by recorded delivery requesting they resolve the problem in 14 days.

If they don't do anything i should then contact trading standards.

just waiting a reply - i keep you posted.