Home computer repair services

Hi!

My home laptop died on me this morning for half an hour. Don't know the reason, except when I switched on this morning as usual (having worked completely fine last night), screen was blank, none of the operating lights came on except orange light for battery. Tried the switch-on switch-off button several times, but no sign of life!

Anyway, panicked and called out a computer service expert I used last year as I had no one else to turn to. He said he'd be with me in half hour.

Five mins after calling him, I fiddled around with the computer once again, and held down the switch-on/off button for longer and noticed the screen did switch off. I then switched it back on and bingo it booted up and was fine.

During this time I called up the computer guy quickly to let him know all is fine and not to bother coming. His mobile was switched off and no possibility to go into v/mail. I then sent him an SMS and left msg on his home answer machine as well.

Anyway, he turned up and said he only received my SMS upon arriving at my place. I told him I tried to reach him several times, left several msgs and stop him from coming. It was his fault he had switched off his mobile!

After all that he's still going to charge me Euro:30 plus MwSt for coming out. Is this amount reasonable for call out charge? I think its extortionate as he only travelled about 12km from his place to mine. Oh, by the way his cost for repair is €60/hour - is this average or too high? Last year it was €40/hour.

Any tips on what to expect as reasonable repair costs plus call-out charges would be highly appreciated :-)

Let's not debate if 60 euro an hour for fixing a consumer device that's like sticking Lego together is reasonable, but it seems pretty normal.

As to your guy's call out charge it sounds like he's taking the piss a bit so I'd offer to split the difference. After all if he'd had his phone on he'd be off earning money on another job but he did come out to help you.

Tks for your reply HellesAngel. Not quite sure what you mean by your last sentence "if he'd had his phone on, he'd be earning money on another job", but nevemind.

I have sent him an email to say that its only fair I pay half since his phone was switched off during the entire time I originally called him and by the time he got to me. He did say that his phone reverts to his 2nd mobile in the car, but that didn't happen at all and I told him so. Anyway, let's see if he settles or not ...

A call out charge is usually approximately 65€ plus travel costs. This will often include the first hours work.

What amazes me is that people object to paying for something... Lets face it.. Many companies pay for you to sit about all day pissing about on TT...

To be honest, that he did not recieve your call is not his fault. You ordered services in an emergency and he supplied them. If he's nice he'll come to some arrangement. If not pay up.

I'd say the fault of not receiving the call lies more with the technician than the person calling. Although I agree with the bit about possibly splitting the cost, because even if he had received the call the techie guy was likely already in his car and out the door.

I can't get past calling someone out to repair a laptop and then complaining about the call out charge.

Then again, my laptop is portable.

FF