I am having a nightmare experience with Tech Guys, and I
want to warn you what service to expect if you take your computer there for repair.
You will find them sitting comfortably in PC World stores, proudly promoted at the top of their website.
I found them via a list of recommended dealers passed on via Sony following the advice of our insurance company. For some reason, Tech Guys are number 1 on the Sony website’s recommended list of repairers. Our insurance company MORE TH>N told us this was the procedure to follow to replace the broken screen on my super little Sony Vaio PCG-TR2MP laptop. Tech Guys told us it would take 10 days to complete the repair.
Only I have now forgotten what it looks like. The Tech Guys have had it for two months and I have no idea when it will be repaired and returned. Neither do they care. They have lost emails, ordered the wrong part, lied about its completion date, failed to return phone calls and for some inexplicable reason, refuse to contact Sony to ask if the screen is in stock, to keep us fully informed. They refuse to tell me if I will get my laptop back back this year or next year.They have been paid £225.49 upfront for the repair. For a repair that has not been done, and who knows when it will be. I am a professional woman and need it for my work. They have offered no replacement during this lenghty process. No goodwill has ever been shown.
This is a company which promises the following service:
I would urge PC World to disassociate itself from this kind of disgraceful business, especially if it seriously wants to improve its low public esteem. I give the same advice to Sony too.
The latest update is that my husband, who has kindly been dealing with this on my behalf, spoke to Virginia this morning at Tech Guys who handles their complaints (I imagine they are vast). At first, she was not at all interested. Then after reminding her of the service her company was supposed to provide, she reluctantly agreed to contact Sony and find out if the screen was available for my laptop. Only for some reason, in this digital day and age, it is going to take her 48 hours to come back to us with an answer.
I am not holding my breath.
My advice to you is to steer well clear of the Tech Guys if you want good service, if you want to get your property back in good working order. Otherwise you could regret it and suffer the same nightmare experience.
I would urge Tech Guys to read about how Dell cares for its customers in this post, and also Microsoft. I still email the Microsoft adviser if I have a problem and he always helps me. Thank you Joe Cheng.
You have so much to learn Tech Guys. I wish I had never trusted you with my laptop. It was the worst decision I ever made. I hope the MD from Tech Guys reads this; he/she should be truly ashamed of this kind of service. I would be if I was in his/her shoes.
Does anyone have a solution as Tech Guys clearly do not?
Update 5 October: I have got a good forum running on this topic on PC Advisor, someone called The Brigadier The 12th Man who works for Tech Guys is going to look into it on Monday. No news from Virginia in customer services, she hasn’t called as promised.
[...] Owen Thomas wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptFor some reason, Tech Guys are number 1 on the Sony website’s recommended list of repairers. Our insurance company MORE TH>N told us this was the procedure to follow to replace the broken screen on my super little Sony Vaio PCG-TR2MP … [...]
World of Computers, in Milton not too far from you, are excellent, and they are dealers for Sony notebooks. I’ve been dealing with them for years now both personally and on behalf of clients and their expertise and service are top rate. I have no vested interest.
Give them a call (01223 724500) and see whether they can help. If so, get your machine back from techguys and give it to them.
Thanks Peter, that’s great advice. I will keep you updated.
What a useless shower TECHGUYS are. I cannot believe the lies and spin they pit on their website.
“We aim to offer a service to our customers from initial contact to completion that is second to none…we’re not happy unless your happy”.
Well, I told them I wasn’t happy and they couldn’t care less. Their sales team are rude and unhelpful, break promises, tell lies and NEVER RING YOU BACK. If you google COMPLAINTS TECHGUYS you will find lots of people with similar experiences.
They take your money upfront, are unable to do a simple repair in the quoted 10 days, and then tell you they will charge you £60 if you ask for your property back !!
At least Dick Turpin wore a mask !!!
Thanks for the advice Ellee, I’ll try not to swamp my lapdancer with any more beer.
Maalie, it’s easily done, and if it should happen, you know where not to go.
[...] Shepherdpics ~ The Blog wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI wish I had never trusted you with my laptop. It was the worst decision I ever made….Our insurance company MORE THN told us this was the procedure to follow to replace the broken screen on my super little Sony Vaio PCG-TR2MP laptop….Then they have the cheek to say that if I want my laptop back, I will be charged £6 0 for THEIR inconvenience….They refuse to give me laptop back unless I pay them £60…. [...]
This is scary news, Ellee. As I have bought my current computer from PC World, it means I would go to TechGuys if something goes wrong.
Ouch !
Good luck with this Ellee. I hope everyone links to this story and gives them the publicity they deserve.
“I would urge PC World to disassociate itself from this kind of disgraceful business”
The geeks I know would only use PC World when desperate - like if they run out of printer ink on a Sunday afternoon.
IMHO, PC World themselves are a pretty ropey bunch as well.
Tech Guys. Typical of the rubbish service one gets in this country.
(Top speaker, Geoff Burch is interviewed at http://viewpointbusiness.com - he talks a lot of sense)
Tx for the plug!
IMO avoid PC world altogther. A terrible company selling terrible and over-priced products.
What I would appreciate is some helpful advice. What would you do in my shoes?
See if these people can help
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Or call them 08454 04 05 06
I suppose I’d want my PC AND my money back by now. So a letter to the director of Techguys cc’d to your MP and to BBC Watchdog. This approach doesn’t always get the result I want, but I never get ignored either (I rarely CC the letter - that’s just a bluff).
You’re a top ten political blogger too and must surely have some clout - I’d lace my letter to the director with the fact that you’re an influential journalist and need your PC back pronto.
CC that letter to PC World too BTW - but definitely send that one.
Did you pay on credit card, Ellee ? If so does it offer protection for this sort of thing ?
Kevin, hi thanks for your great feedback. We will call the number you suggest, that’s very helpful.
The difficulty with Tech Guys is their one-way communication and lack of interest in clients. They want the money, then don’t bother with the repair, then want to charge me £60 to return my property. It should be illegal. How many other customers do they treat like this? I will keep you informed. Why is Sony having anything to do with a company like this and promoting them as a reputable business?
I purchased my Sony Laptop from PC World and told the salesman that was processing the sale that i would be interested in connecting our existing computer and the laptop to the internet via a wireless router. No problem we’re told we can do the router and have a tech guy do it for you for £120. I went back a few weeks later after giving it a go myself and not having much luck with my router i went to see the Tech Guys and said i’d rather pay the extra and have you guys do it for me, i was then asked what i wanted, again explaining the Desktop PC and my Laptop to be connected, i was sold the deal with a £10 discount as it had increased in price since i’d bought my Laptop. I went home happy, all i had to do was phone a number and they’d be round! Little did i know…..Phoned to arrange the Tech Guys to come round and was asked when booking how many PC’s, again i said Deskop and Laptop, i was then told That will be another £19.99 as the £120 covers 1 Computer - he asked if i’d like the sales team to ring me back to take my further £19.99! I very abruptly asked him why i wasn’t told this the TWO times i’d explained what i was wanting and not one person had told me it would be extra (one of these two being a Tech Guy!)He said I don’t know to which i said don’t bother, sorry he said. At this point i am fuming and said just leave it and put the phone down. I stormed back into PC World (mother in tow for support!) and went over to the Tech Guys and asked a very nice guy (i couldn’t possibly be rude to him as it wasn’t his fault) why i hadn’t been told any of this. He took me to one side and gave me some very useful info explaining that he wasn’t supposed to do this but told me exactly what was going to happen and how to do the laptop myself. My Tech Guy came round after re-booking him and after some sweet talking he connected my laptop for me with no further charge! For what he did if i’d of paid £19.99 i would’ve been extremely mad but thanks to the second Tech Guy i saw i already knew what to do. My experience was a nightmare to begin with but turned out right in the end. I hope it works out for you too.
Personally, I’d see a solicitor about it.
Also, it might be worth talking to your credit card company about getting the transaction credited, as they’ve failed to provide what you’ve paid for.
Tim, I will ask my husband about this. He finds it such an unpleasant experience calling Tech Guys, he will be relieved not to have to do so again.
Still no news from Virginia, btw, surprise surprise.
Claire, my husband told me a similar story involving a colleague at work. Tech Guys know how to make a quick buck and always try it on with us women because of our lack of technical knowledge.
Just found my name and posts at the top of Google for Tech Guys. I came across this sorry tale too, http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=292936&forumid=2
There are loads of complaints written about them, also horrendous problems regarding Currys and Tech Guys. I wish I had checked on their reputation in advance.