IT Support to Friends / Family

consumers_revenge

I work in IT and get questions everyday about home computers. Some I help more than others but Im only going to offer you my best advice. You follow what I say and have a go yourself.

Cant these people understand that 'google is your friend'. you will tell me and I will type it into google. If its happened to you, its probably happened to someone else.

Most of IT is not rocket science and not that difficult. Alot of the time the other persons just plain lazy. Best one I looked at early in my career was a pc not plugged in. They complained it wouldnt start (duh!). When I pointed out the unplugged lead they said 'I not technical like you' !!!!!! when the kettle doesnt boil dont you check its plugged in!!!!

If I build someone a PC or fix theirs ( and its very select ) once its done I image the PC to a disc with all the settings I want. AV and firewalls installed etc. I get them a hotmail account or something web based.

That way if it goes t1ts up and I cant fix it in 10 mins I whack in my recovery cd and connect them back to webmail. Job done.

roses

consumers_revenge wrote: »

Cant these people understand that 'google is your friend'. you will tell me and I will type it into google. If its happened to you, its probably happened to someone else.

The problem is that most of these people don't even know what google is! I find that the people who ask for my help with their computer, they barely know how to switch it on. I refuse to help people who don't help themselves as all your helpful advice goes in one ear and out the other. You really need to be tough and they will soon get the message. Otherwise you are always going to have this problem.

banwa

Foxtro Mike, I would do this job to stop your Dad from worrying any more and save him any embarassment but make it very clear that that is the last one and he is not to volunteer your services again.

Savvy_Sue

consumers_revenge wrote: »

Best one I looked at early in my career was a pc not plugged in. They complained it wouldnt start (duh!). When I pointed out the unplugged lead they said 'I not technical like you' !!!!!! when the kettle doesnt boil dont you check its plugged in!!!!

You'd hope so, I must admit that when anything goes wrong I do tend to get out the instruction book and work through any troubleshooting guides at the back, which do include the 'check it's plugged in' advice.

However we had a computer at work which stopped connecting to the internet. I spent several frustrating days periodically poking it, until I realised that someone had walked off with the wireless dongle through which it had previously connected to the internet.

And it was only once I'd spoken to our remote IT support that I checked to see if it was plugged in.

olibrofiz

Hairdressing for me. My dad used to volunteer my skills to all his mates down the pub 'xxxxx wife needs a perm, told them you'll do it'. This was before I qualified so they expected reduced rates.

I know my dad did this because he was proud of me, but I had to tell him to stop in the end, I was working 40+ hours at work and every week night from 7-11pm - every hair cut ended up being 'could you fit in my son/daughter/husband/aunty & 5 kids/mavis from next door and her triplets as well'.

fluffnutter

foxtrot_mike wrote: »

Im not sure if ife got the right area of the forum, but here goes.

I have been asked for many years now by friends and familly to provide IT support to them.

Its something I dont particualrly like doing, i do this in my paid day job but then im expected to do it out of hours too, and out of kindness i am the sort of person that is prepared to help others but sometimes it goes beyond the point when its demanded.

The lasted episode of this is my father was asked by a friend of his if I could help him setup a wireless printer, i was very busy last week so was not able to assist even though i was expected to call immediately.

A week later I get another abrupt converstation from my Dad saying that he had been tackled by the friend again, I can understand that my Dad is in the middle of all this but when things get rude, or by makeing ignorant comments that you can do it on the phone or go round and it will only take you 5 minutes after work.

When this happens feel i dont want to help, part of the problem perhaps is that I have a problem saying no, as I said im the sort of person that wants to help.

Im really not sure what to say any more.

Spare of thought for GPs who are endlessly asked to look at people's septic ingrown toenails at dinner parties

Dan_Thunder

As an IT worker myself this happens to me all the time. Whenever I go back home to visit the folks there's always "ONE little thing" that they'd like me to look into. Three hours later I can finally leave the house. I wouldn't mind so much but I'm often just down for the weekend and that's a large lump of my time down the swanny. The annoying thing is that I stick with it because I know they'll get charged £200 by whichever repair company they'd end up getting out!

Also people at work seem to think that being the IT Manager also means that they can call me during the working day to discuss problems with their home computers!

kittykarate

Dear Foxtrot-Mike,

Next time just tell them to Foxtrot-Oscar.

yours

Frustrated DBA who will not fix your computer.

AnnaLicious_2

I wouldn't do anyone's books for them in my free time. I've had hints from people, and I just tell them if it's general advice it's free, if it's hands on work I charge per hour. My general advice is usually enough to frighten them off when they realise I am NOT going to help them fiddle the tax man! Goodness!

My brother got this a lot when he was younger around IT help. It's dwindled as he's gotten older. He did start a sideline 'IT Consultant' company years and years ago. If people want help he points out it would effect his earning power and undermine his work if he did things for free. He has a schedule of charges. I suggest doing this. Give your Dad a sheet of costs. You can make a little on the side, and your Dad will be able to offer you out as 'my son will give you mates rates and won't mess you around'.

See how I didn't offer to explain the VAT rules and implications to the cash in hand work?

foxtrot_mike

Well the works been done after much undue pressure, im still very confused as to why its been this way. :mad:

The problem was genuine, the user infact had been using the instructions to connect to wireless using the wizard and instructions like i was, the problem was the button on the livebox :mad: needed to be pressed to allow new connections for which they didnt realise formed part of it, but they did watch me run a google search for the problem .

They were also quite generous and polite as well, cups of tea, beer to take home, and a thank you phone call the next day :beer: id help this person again to be honest, although it did take an hour and a half for which i could see my dad was very embarrased about.

The problem has been in the past and what has put me off is people asking me to come around just to reboot their computer, or wants help to burn photos to CDs without even a thank you, they were running a business off their PC, or setup a website for them (it will only take you 5 mins your good with computers) I was getting fed up with it as dad was also the one that maintained the shared drive, again with no payback apart from the gate being left open by the said house and strangers driving in and turning round in our tight parking space. :mad::mad::mad:

Then I get another person asking me to help them with how to work a GPS navigator, then on the next breath asking me to choose them an upgraded one with OS maps in because they cant work the basic one, they wouldnt ask me to choose a new washing machine or car for them would they?

It may be saving them money, but certainly not me.