Computers If you're providing free tech support and a PC gets fried by a power surge...

**Bearcat** · 03:07 PM

...who's responsible for the cost of parts and replacement?

I was working on someone's PC Friday night, and for those who live in KC, you know there were storms in the area. I even stopped working on it for a couple hours as the second wave of storms passed through, but later that night it got hit with a power surge and now won't power on at all. I believe it needs a new motherboard, which will be $70-90 if it's bought online.

It's the first time such a thing has happened in my years of providing free tech support, so if it was your PC, would you assume that I'm paying to get it fixed? I talked to them earlier today and said I'm okay with putting the new one in and making sure it works (if they were using it and had a power surge, I'd end up doing it anyway), but it seemed to be assumed that I was also paying for the motherboard, and I'm not sure how I feel about that part.

Before saying of course you're paying for it, dumbass! consider...

-- Over the years, I've provided this person tech support several times that's almost always without a cost (and if there's a cost, it's "buy me dinner next time we're out", so like $15). By Geek Squad prices, I'd say it's well over $1000 over the years, and even if they found a reputable local shop, it would be well over $500 (and I mention Geek Squad because that's probably where it would be taken).

-- If I pay for the motherboard and spend the time to replace it, it's guaranteed that I'll never offer support again, free or at a price, or with an "act of God" clause. If that means finding someone else to do it for free, then maybe that's okay, but if you only know one IT person now...

-- I basically had about 5-8 hours over the weekend to fix several software problems, and most of that time was on Friday night. I doubt we would get together for at least another month, so is "there were thunderstorms in the area" a good enough excuse not to get anything done? IMO, not really.

-- I offered to help with the replacement, meaning finding one online and doing the work to replace it.

I'm torn on this one... I feel bad, but sh*t happens. I've had electronics die after power outages and power surges, even when they were on surge protectors, and I don't have a UPS laying around. If I was getting paid, I'd probably not take their money (or use that money to pay for the hardware)... but, since I already offered the free service of physically replacing it on top of the free service of fixing their software problems, should I also have to pay $70-90?

Edit: I failed to mention the PC was in my possession, at my place... so, it's not like I just sat down at their place and it happened while I was sitting there.

**Ming the Merciless** · 08-22-2010, 01:46 PM

U sure it isnt just the power supply?

Stewie · 08-22-2010, 01:47 PM

Wait. You provide free tech support and when something happens that's out of your control your customer thinks you should pay? You need a better class of customer.

MTG#10 · 08-22-2010, 01:50 PM

If it was the result of an act of God you shouldn't be responsible for replacing the mobo or installing it.

Just Passin' By · 08-22-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

If I was getting paid, I'd probably not take their money (or use that money to pay for the hardware)... but, since I already offered the free service of physically replacing it on top of the free service of fixing their software problems, should I also have to pay $70-90?

No

jspchief · 08-22-2010, 01:51 PM

If he asks you to pay, agree to then hand him the bill for your services rendered up until this point.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-22-2010, 01:51 PM

WTF is there to feel torn about?

You did nothing to cause said power surge. It would have happened whether you were there or not.

I'd quit providing free services to what sounds like unappreciative friends, first and foremost.

**007** · 08-22-2010, 01:53 PM

If I am repairing somebody elses computer and that happens on my watch, I would feel that it is my responsibility to repair it. The computer was entrusted to me.

Of course, I wouldn't have had the thing plugged in during a thunderstorm either.

**Bearcat** · 08-22-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

U sure it isnt just the power supply?

Yes, I swapped out power supplies, and don't see any blown capacitors... I'll probably get a second opinion or do some more work on it, but I'm pretty sure it's the motherboard.

**Bearcat** · 08-22-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

WTF is there to feel torn about?

You did nothing to cause said power surge. It would have happened whether you were there or not.

I'd quit providing free services to what sounds like unappreciative friends, first and foremost.

They dropped off the PC, so the chances are pretty slim that it would have happened anyway.... I didn't just happen to be at their place when it got fried.

TrickyNicky · 08-22-2010, 02:02 PM

So you had it plugged into a surge protector and it still fried?

**Bearcat** · 08-22-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

If I am repairing somebody elses computer and that happens on my watch, I would feel that it is my responsibility to repair it. The computer was entrusted to me.

Of course, I wouldn't have had the thing plugged in during a thunderstorm either.

So, if you gave your computer to someone, knowing they weren't going to have the chance to fix what you consider serious problems for another month or two, you would be okay with them saying "sorry, I didn't get anything done because there were thunderstorms in the area"?

IMO, there's just not enough risk there, and like I said, I had even quit working on it for a couple hours because of a wave of thunderstorms in the area, and more popped up later.

**Bugeater** · 08-22-2010, 02:12 PM

Hell no you shouldn't be stuck paying for it, you're already losing money by doing the shit for free.

Demonpenz · 08-22-2010, 02:21 PM

I don't do shit for anyone anymore. Problem solved

**007** · 08-22-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

So, if you gave your computer to someone, knowing they weren't going to have the chance to fix what you consider serious problems for another month or two, you would be okay with them saying "sorry, I didn't get anything done because there were thunderstorms in the area"?

IMO, there's just not enough risk there, and like I said, I had even quit working on it for a couple hours because of a wave of thunderstorms in the area, and more popped up later.

Thats just it though. I won't work on another persons computer if there are storms in the area. No surge protector is infallible and I would rather play it safe than end up creating a bigger problem than I started with. But that is just me. Plus, if you are doing it for free then they have no reason to bitch that you took an extra day or two to do the work. If they bitched about that to me I would never work on their shit again

View Poll Results: Who pays?
The person providing the tech support should pay for all of it.	12	18.75%
They should compromise... the PC owner pays for the hardware, the IT guy does the work to replace it.	29	45.31%
The person providing the tech support can't be responsible for that sort of stuff; the PC owner is on their own.	23	35.94%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll

08-22-2010, 01:42 PM
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $2734931	If you're providing free tech support and a PC gets fried by a power surge... ...who's responsible for the cost of parts and replacement? I was working on someone's PC Friday night, and for those who live in KC, you know there were storms in the area. I even stopped working on it for a couple hours as the second wave of storms passed through, but later that night it got hit with a power surge and now won't power on at all. I believe it needs a new motherboard, which will be $70-90 if it's bought online. It's the first time such a thing has happened in my years of providing free tech support, so if it was your PC, would you assume that I'm paying to get it fixed? I talked to them earlier today and said I'm okay with putting the new one in and making sure it works (if they were using it and had a power surge, I'd end up doing it anyway), but it seemed to be assumed that I was also paying for the motherboard, and I'm not sure how I feel about that part. Before saying of course you're paying for it, dumbass! consider... -- Over the years, I've provided this person tech support several times that's almost always without a cost (and if there's a cost, it's "buy me dinner next time we're out", so like $15). By Geek Squad prices, I'd say it's well over $1000 over the years, and even if they found a reputable local shop, it would be well over $500 (and I mention Geek Squad because that's probably where it would be taken). -- If I pay for the motherboard and spend the time to replace it, it's guaranteed that I'll never offer support again, free or at a price, or with an "act of God" clause. If that means finding someone else to do it for free, then maybe that's okay, but if you only know one IT person now... -- I basically had about 5-8 hours over the weekend to fix several software problems, and most of that time was on Friday night. I doubt we would get together for at least another month, so is "there were thunderstorms in the area" a good enough excuse not to get anything done? IMO, not really. -- I offered to help with the replacement, meaning finding one online and doing the work to replace it. I'm torn on this one... I feel bad, but sht happens. I've had electronics die after power outages and power surges, even when they were on surge protectors, and I don't have a UPS laying around. If I was getting paid, I'd probably not take their money (or use that money to pay for the hardware)... but, since I already offered the free service of physically replacing it on top of the free service of fixing their software problems, should I also have to pay $70-90? Edit: I failed to mention the PC was in my possession, at my place... so, it's not like I just sat down at their place and it happened while I was sitting there. Last edited by Bearcat; 08-22-2010 at 03:07 PM..*
Posts: 55,401

08-22-2010, 01:46 PM	#2
Ming the Merciless Emporer of Mongo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Milky Way Casino cash: $2877556	U sure it isnt just the power supply?
Posts: 44,484

08-22-2010, 01:47 PM	#3
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1829901	Wait. You provide free tech support and when something happens that's out of your control your customer thinks you should pay? You need a better class of customer.
Posts: 13,619

08-22-2010, 01:50 PM	#4
MTG#10 Mammoth penis Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield Casino cash: $7474386	If it was the result of an act of God you shouldn't be responsible for replacing the mobo or installing it.
Posts: 11,430

08-22-2010, 01:51 PM	#6
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	If he asks you to pay, agree to then hand him the bill for your services rendered up until this point. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
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08-22-2010, 01:51 PM	#7
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $4861115	WTF is there to feel torn about? You did nothing to cause said power surge. It would have happened whether you were there or not. I'd quit providing free services to what sounds like unappreciative friends, first and foremost.
Posts: 60,265

08-22-2010, 01:53 PM	#8
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	If I am repairing somebody elses computer and that happens on my watch, I would feel that it is my responsibility to repair it. The computer was entrusted to me. Of course, I wouldn't have had the thing plugged in during a thunderstorm either. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554

08-22-2010, 02:02 PM	#11
TrickyNicky My Black Friend, Alan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Manhattan Casino cash: $10007047	So you had it plugged into a surge protector and it still fried? __________________ *Adopt-a-Chief: David Mims #70* Dammit Mimsy!!!
Posts: 3,648

08-22-2010, 02:12 PM	#13
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6242680	Hell no you shouldn't be stuck paying for it, you're already losing money by doing the shit for free.
Posts: 70,443

08-22-2010, 02:21 PM	#14
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3082136	I don't do shit for anyone anymore. Problem solved __________________
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