[uchetrip]

Warning, very long post for something very minor. If you don't want to read then don't

Right so, this morning I got sent out to a ladies house to have a look at her equipment (bu dum tsssh), specifically her laptop. See, she'd bought a new charger off us, the last one having failed. 3 times she's been in complaining that the new charger doesn't work. 3 times it was tested fine and we ran the laptop infront of her, shower her the system charging. The last time we had it in was Friday and we ran it all day, it charged fully and works perfectly.

Anyway, she rang up this morning screaming an shouting. Apparently it'd worked fine for a few hours on Saturday, then it died that evening and she was furious. She spoke to the director who, after a long conversation, agreed that I would go out and test the charger on site (she was only about 5 miles away so no major headache) on the understanding that if we found no fault, she would be charged.

I got there and asked her to show me where she was using the laptop and to demonstrate the fault. She took me up to her bedroom (giggidy) and went to the laptop, very agressively pressed the power button and exclaimed "SEE! I f***ing told you! This charger is ****! It doesn't work!"

I had a quick look at the laptop, the charger was connected firmly but the charging light wasn't on. I traced the cable back to the charger itself and the light on that was off too. Tracing back to the plug I found it in a multiplug that stretched under her bed, across the room and behind a chest of drawers with a TV on top. Behind that was another multiplug and the plug was unplugged. I plugged it in and suddenly the laptop sprang into life.

"What did you do!?" she said in a surprised tone

"I plugged it back in." I said in my least patronising tone.

"What? It wasn't unplugged!" she said

"It was I'm affraid, it would appear that was your problem. The battery was getting charged partially when you brought it to us to be tested, then when you got home you were plugging it into a dead socket and it was discharging and turning off."

"Well I didn't unplug it!" she said rather angrilly

"I never said you did." I said

"Well, erm, thanks... I'll talk to the kids, one of them must have done it!" she said

Now we've just got the fun of trying to get the call-out charge out of her. She and her burly tatoo'd neanderthal husband ejected me from the house before I could issue them their invoice. They seemed rather annoyed that I had the nerve to ask to be paid.

I think next time I get sent out I'll request payment before I do anything and refund them if it is our fault [rofl]

But seriously, this "problem" had been going of for nearly a week, at no point did they think to check the plugs were all in or try it in another part of the house?

[jhkjurter]

Might be an idea to get the customer to sign something before starting the job in future.

[Glanteeignile]

I learnt that you always charge before going to a customers house the hard way and lost myself about 300 out of pocket.

Any private work I do, as I run a network for a company, is always cash up front if its a on site thing.. If they dont like it they can call PC world.

[Buyemae]

Post them the invoice. Then when they come in with the POS later (and there will be a later), you can hold it until their outstanding account is cleared. Even though the 'right of lein' may not apply in Britain any more, it was only legal for the actual repair at that time - but I bet they don't know that.

[Stengapsept]

I get a couple of idiots like that every week. And yeah, they expect not to pay as well.

[Eagevawax]

You gotta love dumb people

[boxcigsnick]

You gotta love dumb people

I'll talk to the kids, one of them must have done it!" You really don't. These people are breeding.

'Bout time they brought in a license and some kind of exam or test which must be passed before morons are allowed to produce children.

[9enackivegliva]

(Longish post)

...

But seriously, this "problem" had been going of for nearly a week, at no point did they think to check the plugs were all in or try it in another part of the house?

The Magic Radiance oozing from computer equipment damages the standbyers IQ by at least 50 points even if the aforesaid equipment isn't turned on.

[Eeaquzyh]

I'm pretty sure charging beforehand would not be legal. Certainly as a customer I would not accept being charged upfront for a warranty repair.

[55TRATTERENRY]

Man, how many items have to be unplugged before they realize that the power stripe isn't even plugged in!

[Forexampleee]

Whats with the 'tattooed' comment?

[Buyemae]

I'm pretty sure charging beforehand would not be legal. Certainly as a customer I would not accept being charged upfront for a warranty repair.

It isn't that unusual for appliance service industries to have an up front 'inspection' fee that has to be paid before they'll start the repair process - it's to protect them from people who decide, after a couple of hours work, that the repair isn't worth it, or don't bother to pick the item up - it's deducted from the final bill, so you don't actually end up paying extra.

[uchetrip]

Whats with the 'tattooed' comment?

Just that he had so many tattoos, including some on his face, that made me tempted to say "Hey mate, you missed a spot" whilst pointing at a a blank piece of skin. The man had a fore-head that could keep the rain off his shoes.

[Eeaquzyh]

It isn't that unusual for appliance service industries to have an up front 'inspection' fee that has to be paid before they'll start the repair process - it's to protect them from people who decide, after a couple of hours work, that the repair isn't worth it, or don't bother to pick the item up - it's deducted from the final bill, so you don't actually end up paying extra.

That's not the same thing as warranty repair though is it.

[uchetrip]

That's not the same thing as warranty repair though is it.

Can't say I'd feel great asking for money before I'd done anything anyway to be honest. Passed it onto the boss now, it's up to him to force the issue if he feels it's worth it.

[CializCialiscsqw]

Whats with the 'tattooed' comment?

Cos we all know tattooed men are all thugs and thickos. Thus Hexus was helping to inform us of the level of intelligence her spouse had.

[/wonder if he had a dog too. Might explain a lot.]

[Eagevawax]

Whats with the 'tattooed' comment?

It brings the worst out of man !
just joking , i know you are a tattoo guy ; -)

[Qauunet]

I always enjoy your thread Hexus. ROFL

[taesrom]

Embarrassing.

[Forexampleee]

It brings the worst out of man !
just joking , i know you are a tattoo guy ; -)

So it seems?[rolleyes]