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Paul K
28-03-2005, 17:47
From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4387525.stm)

Technical support for the neighbours
Dot.life - where technology meets life, every week
By Paul Rubens

I had a hunch that most people just didn't know how to set up their computers - let alone fix them. So as an experiment I put up a note in my local newsagent's window offering, for a sum, a helping hand. Surprise surprise, my phone has hardly stopped ringing.

Computer software is very, very complex. Stick a load of it together on a computer - itself a pretty complex beast - and you've got yourself a system which is more complex than anything else you are ever likely to own.

Compared to a computer system, your fridge, washing machine, central heating boiler and car are kids' stuff: simple bits of machinery with relatively few parts, a limited number of functions and little that can go wrong.

But computers are sold in vast numbers, loaded with software and put to work. Most people who use them haven't got a clue how they work - and why should they? - and since software like Microsoft's Windows make them easy to use, people have no concept of the amount of data processing that's going on every time they click their mouse.

But because computers are so complex, it's inevitable, and usually not very long, before they stop working as they should.

When a domestic appliance goes wrong, you can ring a repair man. When your car breaks down you can call the garage. But when your computer system goes wrong, who do you call?

The simple truth is that although computer systems are sold as consumer goods like fridges or washing machines, there's no computer equivalent of a qualified service engineer who you can get to come around and fix things.

A few months ago I came up with the theory that there must be a vast untapped market for PC repair men (or women) of this type to fix home and small business computers. Having pulled apart a few computers in my time, I decided to test this theory by sticking a small postcard in the local newsagent's window offering computer help.

The phone has hardly stopped ringing ever since and I've had calls from people of all ages, and all walks of life. A few examples:

* Sidney round the corner is about 80, and bought a laptop to swap e-mails with his daughter in South Africa before it stopped connecting to the Internet one day.
* Sarah, a novelist, found her computer kept crashing for no apparent reason.
* And Helen, a housewife, contacted me because adverts for porn sites kept popping up on her computer screen when her kids where doing their homework.

I've even done a deal with a local vet: he looks after the health of my puppy and I look after his PC.

Most of the problems I've been called to look at have been caused by viruses and spyware, some by strange software provided by well-known internet service providers conflicting with other programs, and only one by faulty hardware.

But all the people who called me had one thing in common: they were at their wits' end because they had bought computers after being seduced by advertising into thinking that they would be easy to use and fun, but had found them to be much more complicated than they had expected. And most importantly, none of them knew what to do or where to turn for help.

Expensive support

Perhaps more surprisingly, I also got several calls from small local businesses.

There seem to be plenty of retailers only too willing to flog PCs to companies, but no-one around to help when the e-mail stops working or an essential spreadsheet refuses to open.

These companies can't afford expensive support contracts with computer service organisations - and they haven't got the time to pack up the computer and take it to a shop, and then wait a week or so for it to be fixed.

They need someone to come round promptly to fix things so they can get on with their business, and they're prepared to pay a fair price for the service.

After looking in a few more newsagents' windows I've discovered that I am not such a pioneer after all. Quite a few already have postcards advertising computer help, mostly offered by computing students, freelance programmers, or other people loosely connected with the IT industry - all hoping to make a few quid on the side.

It seems incredible, but millions of families and thousands of businesses have no-one to turn to but a bunch of unqualified amateurs to fix the most complicated pieces of equipment that have probably ever existed. It's a scary thought.

And it's about time that vet starts repaying me for all the hours I've put in fixing his computer. So far the pooch hasn't been ill, but then he only has about 500 parts. But when he does get sick, at least I know I'll be taking him to a fully qualified canine service engineer to be mended, not a local amateur.
I really must start charging my neighbour for all the hundreds of hours spent fixing her system after her latest attempt at deleting system files :erm:

*By the way, anyone that enjoys the article enough to rep should point the reps in the direction of Chimaera who showed me the story on the BBC site ;)*

Earl of Bronze
29-03-2005, 00:32
I thought about doing the same thing, but as a kosher, vat registered buisness. Then decided that I was wasting my time. Think I'll pop round to my local newsagents and see if I can pop a card in the window.

paulyoung666
29-03-2005, 00:37
and if i gave it a go , i know where there is a massive reserve of knowledge just ready to be tapped into ;) :D :D :D

Raistlin
29-03-2005, 00:48
Perhaps "we" (the members of CF) should form a distributed company.....

We could have a team of country-wide IT support practitioners, made up of CF members and co-ordinated by a team of members. We have a section within the forum where we can brainstorm with eachother, a percentage of any profits made goes back into the Forum.

Basically we could have the biggest IT support network in the country, and (potentially) the biggest customer base.....

Anybody want in?

kronas
29-03-2005, 00:49
strangely enough i was going to do this type of thing a year ago, but never did because of the sheer hassle involved.

/me steps back and thinks about this.

paulyoung666
29-03-2005, 00:54
Perhaps "we" (the members of CF) should form a distributed company.....

We could have a team of country-wide IT support practitioners, made up of CF members and co-ordinated by a team of members. We have a section within the forum where we can brainstorm with eachother, a percentage of any profits made goes back into the Forum.

Basically we could have the biggest IT support network in the country, and (potentially) the biggest customer base.....

Anybody want in?



i'm in :tu: :D :D :D

Millay
29-03-2005, 00:58
Hey you can count me in, im already trading, and using the benefits of a highly trained cable forum subscriber base :)

Raistlin
29-03-2005, 01:06
Ok, so that's 2 then.

Looks like we've got my flat and "somewhere in time" covered.....
__________________

And portsmouth.....

We could do with a map with the locations marked on it :D
__________________

And so CFTech is born :D

paulyoung666
29-03-2005, 01:07
right just need to register the company now and off we go :erm: :D :D :D

kronas
29-03-2005, 01:09
im willing to help! :D

Millay
29-03-2005, 01:10
Ok, so that's 2 then.

Looks like we've got my flat and "somewhere in time" covered.....
__________________

And portsmouth.....

We could do with a map with the locations marked on it :D
__________________

And so CFTech is born :D

Id like to see a map with 'somewhere in time' on it te he :)

Raistlin
29-03-2005, 01:15
I suppose that everywhere is "somewhere in time"..... Theoretically speaking of course :D

Halcyon
29-03-2005, 01:18
Although money is always useful, I enjoy helping people out with PC problems. Its always interesting and is something I enjoy doing. Sometimes you even learn more stuff you yourself didnt know.
Its a fascinating world, computers.

Maggy
29-03-2005, 02:18
From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4387525.stm)

I really must start charging my neighbour for all the hundreds of hours spent fixing her system after her latest attempt at deleting system files :erm:

*By the way, anyone that enjoys the article enough to rep should point the reps in the direction of Chimaera who showed me the story on the BBC site ;)*

Well I'm more than willing to give you a reference....the number of times you have come to my rescue. :tu:

Monster Jedi
29-03-2005, 04:37
I need some more dosh to build me a brand new lightsabre so count me in muker:D

Nidge
29-03-2005, 05:56
:tu: :tu: Me to sounds like a good idea :tu: :tu: :tu:

jrhnewark
29-03-2005, 08:26
Nice idea - I'm fed up of helping my truly ungrateful neighbours for nothing. :(

Earl of Bronze
29-03-2005, 09:12
Well, I think I'll call round to my local ''local shop'' today and pop a notice in the window.

You just never know what might bite. Plus the experience will be good. :)

Earl of Bronze
31-03-2005, 23:58
Well, just for a laugh I poped a note in the window of my local newsagents. So will now sit back and see if anyone rings whao needs my services. ;)

greencreeper
01-04-2005, 00:12
I'm going to be the boring fart here and point out that you do need insurance, unless you can cover the £250,00 0 libel action after you deleted that important spreadsheet resulting in the business losing contracts and customers.

I actually avoid working on other people's PCs - recipe for trouble. Imagine if you found details of the next drugs shipment, or child pornography :disturbd: I wouldn't want to be involved - my life is complicated enough, thanks. Nope - I'll stick to remote support. I can cut the customer off when it all goes wrong :D

Earl of Bronze
01-04-2005, 00:28
I'm going to be the boring fart here and point out that you do need insurance, unless you can cover the £250,00 0 libel action after you deleted that important spreadsheet resulting in the business losing contracts and customers.

I actually avoid working on other people's PCs - recipe for trouble. Imagine if you found details of the next drugs shipment, or child pornography :disturbd:

No way I will be going near a local buisness network, plus I will be making it clear that if the customer has important file stored on the computer, then its their responsibility to back them up. On the other hand, if I get there and they havent a clue how to do that, and I do it for them, well, time is money.

At the momnet I'm offering basic desktop support, and upgrades (software firewalls, av programs, spyware programs, email support) plus advice on use and preventative maintenance (namely use of afore mentioned software, clearing the internet cache, disk defrag etc). The kind of simple that you and I take for granted, but most *average* home users never learn about.

greencreeper
01-04-2005, 00:46
Might be an idea to write a few batch files for the users, EOB. Put shortcuts on the desktop. I wrote one for my mum, who has habit of trashing the normal template in Word :rolleyes: It just copies the normal template from backup to the correct location, thus restoring styles and so on. Simple and useful. You could write similar batch files for cleaning up the PC - temp folders and so on.

Earl of Bronze
01-04-2005, 00:56
Might be an idea to write a few batch files for the users, EOB. Put shortcuts on the desktop. I wrote one for my mum, who has habit of trashing the normal template in Word :rolleyes: It just copies the normal template from backup to the correct location, thus restoring styles and so on. Simple and useful. You could write similar batch files for cleaning up the PC - temp folders and so on.

Already got all the stuff I'm gonna install in a folder on my computer. So far it contains AVG (free) anti-virus, Sygate Firewall (free), Adaware, Spybot and CWShredder (all free). If the customer is also interested I will also set up remote admin on their computers using the Remote Desktop Connection, and VNC. I'll have to have a trawl around to see if there are any more useful apps listed on the forum (seen them somewhere :dozey: ), and burn of a copy of Hiren's 6 bootable cdrom.

I'm sure there are lots of other useful little apps floating around that I've forgotten about. But it will all come back to me when I sit down infront of someone elses puter.

I hope. :erm: :dozey:

Graham M
01-04-2005, 01:25
I made a thread on the legalities of doing this sort of stuff without declaring it to the tax man, or will you be? Any thoughts?

Earl of Bronze
01-04-2005, 01:43
I made a thread on the legalities of doing this sort of stuff without declaring it to the tax man, or will you be? Any thoughts?

A friend of mine used to own his own computer repair business, and apparently you have a three month grace period after setting up as a Sole Trader. If it takes off, I'll put the paperwork through with the Inland Revenue, and will only be too happy ;) to pay tax and national insurance etc. I'm meeting a mate in Belfast tomorrow afternoon, so will make a point of calling into the Inland revenue office and getting the relivent booklets to read.

At the moment I'm really just testing the water to see if there is a need for this sort of home tech support. If it falls flat on its face, I'll put it down to my luck continuing to reside in the crapper. If it takes of, then I'll see if I can make a living out of it.

Either way I have little/nothing to loose at the moment.

Matthew
01-04-2005, 02:19
Sounds a good idea. Count me in.

greencreeper
01-04-2005, 02:39
Spyware Blaster - works with Spybot. Also http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml I find useful. Spampal possibly, if they're drowning in spam.

There are serious legal implications in using remote access - be careful!

Robert Atkins
01-04-2005, 02:46
What's the going rate? 10 quid an hour or what?

Rob

Earl of Bronze
01-04-2005, 03:14
There are serious legal implications in using remote access - be careful!

Oh for sure, but as I said, I'd only set up password protected remote access with the concent of the customer. Add in the need of the customers ip address to allow said access, then playing silly buggers with remote access is just asking for trouble.

Saying that, if customers do go with the idea of remote access support, then I will require them to set up a PayPal account to pay for anyand all remote support.
__________________

What's the going rate? 10 quid an hour or what?

Rob

TBH I dont really know myself. When I talked about this to my mate who used to own his own shop, he told me he used to charge £25 an hour. Seeing as I intend to do most, if not all support in the customers house, then I have less of an overhead. At the moment I'm inclinded toward a price of £15 per hour, not because I want to rip off anyone, but because it seems like a reasonable price.

greencreeper
01-04-2005, 03:17
You need explicit consent each time you connect as well. The EU Regulations on this area are a minefield. Companies usually use a modified VNC server that displays "Client connected" on the screen, or require the user to accept the connection.

I would expect remote support to be cheaper than onsite, since there are fewer overheads.

Earl of Bronze
01-04-2005, 03:30
You need explicit consent each time you connect as well. The EU Regulations on this area are a minefield. Companies usually use a modified VNC server that displays "Client connected" on the screen, or require the user to accept the connection.

I would expect remote support to be cheaper than onsite, since there are fewer overheads.

I intend to install Skype onto any and all customers computers, so in the event a customer needs assistance I can be contacted and invited to start the remote access session there and then. Hopefully that will allay any fear of abuse.

And to be honest, I have no sodding interest what other people do with their computers. If they have a stash of dl'ed movies and songs thats their lookout. Being a hacker/abuser of other peoples trust isnt my thing. I have better things to do with my time (like search the internet for my own porn). ;)

handyman
06-04-2005, 22:55
I actually avoid working on other people's PCs - recipe for trouble. Imagine if you found details of [snip child pornography :disturbd: I wouldn't want to

Been there done that , got the police involved and helped them with sorting it all out. Fortunatly it was'nt any explict material though if the computer he originally had was a better spec then I'm sure it would have been.

I would not normally 'root' through peoples hard drives but he asked me to convert the files and the quickest way ways to copy and paste at the time.

On a lighter note count me in, I did it before and got kinda serious but gave it up.
Pooping my add in the newsagents tommorow.

Who will be the 1st to get a call?

You could always knock up a couple of thousand leaflets and pop them round your local estate. I do this with washer repairs and get a few calls.

Steve H
06-04-2005, 22:57
Go for it ladies - and count me in - thinking about doing something likewise before uni restarts.

moffmeister
07-04-2005, 17:12
Perhaps "we" (the members of CF) should form a distributed company.....

We could have a team of country-wide IT support practitioners, made up of CF members and co-ordinated by a team of members. We have a section within the forum where we can brainstorm with eachother, a percentage of any profits made goes back into the Forum.

Basically we could have the biggest IT support network in the country, and (potentially) the biggest customer base.....

Anybody want in?

I'm up for that!

Nugget
07-04-2005, 17:19
On a lighter note count me in, I did it before and got kinda serious but gave it up.
Pooping my add in the newsagents tommorow.

Sorry, I promised not to do this anymore, but I hope you realise that that the newsagent will take a really dim view of that - just hope that none of your potential customers are in the shop at the time :D :p:

Millay
07-04-2005, 17:51
IIntersting note about price, I charge more than £15 an hour (feel free to ask how much via PM). I actually charge less thean the national average, but I think its worth remebering if you do start to get busy and do this as your full time job, overheads do start to rise, you will find you need the following insurance:

Public Liability -
Professional Indemnity
Business car insurance.

I am only just able to afford to get this and I have been trading for a year, but the busier you get the more you realise you need it... It only takes one irate customer.

My top tip, is get a memory key and attach it to your car keys. put on there copies of

Fifrox portable
AVG - or similar - plus latest updates
MS Anti Spyware
Any other files you may think are handy.

By keeping it on your car keys you always have it with you, the amount of times ive been called to an emergency whilst away from my usual bits and bobs having a memory key can really get you out of a hole... Also the amount of people who are still on dial up means you want to keep the software uptodate, AV software dailyy, so instead of having to write a new CD everyday just keep it on the key.

I have only visited one person whom i couldnt use a key with and thats out of 100's of customers.

Stuart
07-04-2005, 18:10
Perhaps "we" (the members of CF) should form a distributed company.....

We could have a team of country-wide IT support practitioners, made up of CF members and co-ordinated by a team of members. We have a section within the forum where we can brainstorm with eachother, a percentage of any profits made goes back into the Forum.

Basically we could have the biggest IT support network in the country, and (potentially) the biggest customer base.....

Anybody want in?


Sounds cool.. Count me in..

Steve H
07-04-2005, 18:45
So how would this be worked, if indeed people want to take the idea forword...

I assume we'd be setting up a company (under whatever name chosen) and all people who'd be in on it would be covered under that company - (IE, with regards to liability insurance, indeminty insurance, etc, etc..)

A percentage of everyones jobs goes straight back into the company accounts, .. say 80% of the cash you recieve from a job you keep, 20% goes to the company...

What sort of cash would we need to get this off the road, if we're serious we should do it properley and get leaflets printed up ;)

Raist, since you suggested this - get everyones asses onto MSN or IRC and let's take this forword or something ;)

iadom
07-04-2005, 18:51
"Compared to a computer system, your fridge, washing machine, central heating boiler and car are kids' stuff: simple bits of machinery with relatively few parts, a limited number of functions and little that can go wrong." :rofl:

Someone who has obviously not seen inside a modern, fridge, washer, boiler or most definately a car.

And most "kids" are more PC savvy than us oldies.

How many of you would allow a 'kid' to repair your car, washer, fridge , boiler etc? Whats the worst that could happen with a duff PC compared to any of these items.

Millay
07-04-2005, 21:37
Been thinking about this,

I think trying to form a company pay money in etc could cause more problems than it sells.

If there was a seriouse look at doing this perhaps a knowledge pool and co-operative take would work.

By making a donation to CF, you could have a system whereby members regisater with CF, that means you get put on aa list showing area.etc.. members are then encouraged to put a logo and link to the website, We could then encoruage people to use this forum for self help etc.. also they cna comment on users work etc...

I dunno needs expanding on, but unfortunatly im better at talking about my ideas than putting them on paper..
__________________

oh btw, has any one asked the CF team if they would be interested in putting there name to it :D

im thinking of a kind of www.checkatrade.com idea but with more user feedback from customers, and more networking between users.

gary_580
07-04-2005, 22:12
A good idea but what benefit is there in being national?

Millay
07-04-2005, 22:16
my idea is not actually being national, but network as a cor-ordinated group also some may be better able to undertake some things than others etc.. Customers can use the national 'identity' to check someonut before they use them. Also having a group as a national player might help get better discounts with suppliers etc..

Raistlin
08-04-2005, 00:16
Millay's idea of a co-operative is probably better (and easier to manage) than my original idea.

I've given this a lot of thought lately, and also done a bit of research, and I think doing things any other way would be seriously difficult to organise/control.

handyman
19-07-2005, 14:09
*bumpty*

Has anyone had any responce from this at all yet?

I did put one up in the local shop and dropped round some leaflets but had no responce. Will be looking at starting it up again now i've moved.

Raistlin
19-07-2005, 14:33
TBH, I think it died on its ar*e.

Don't think it would be controllable in any way, and would be a beast of a task to sort it all out.

I never got round to putting any personal cards up, work (and other things) got in the way :(