[Nfbf-l] Remote computer service, be cautious

[Denise]

Great advice Camille. Thanks 

> On Aug 11, 2017, at 7:10 PM, Camille Tate via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> For Bill and all others: 
> 
> I think everyone needs to be cautious when you have pop-ups on your computer
> screen or receive unsolicited phone calls from companies that purport to be
> from Microsoft. 
> 
> All of us should start with the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, (800)
> 936-5900. Whether or not the work done is correct, some technical issues on
> the newer Microsoft and Windows programs are included when you purchase
> Microsoft or Windows products. 
> 
> Sometimes the person tells you they are in the Windows Technical Department.
> You will never be contacted, unsolicited, by anyone from Microsoft or
> Windows, unless you have an ongoing issue they are working on. 
> 
> I implore all of us to be extremely careful with pop-ups on our screens.
> Especially if it tells you to call a specific phone number or company. Too
> many of us have been scammed by this sort of contact. 
> 
> Camille 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman via
> Nfbf-l
> Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 4:01 PM
> To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Bill Outman <woutman at earthlink.net>
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Remote computer service, be cautious
> 
> Good afternoon, list.  
> 
> 
> 
> I wanted to inform you of an experience I went through within the last week
> with my laptop computer.  I had been having some problems with computer
> crashes in the last few weeks and had problems with sluggish response of
> programs for some time.  While doing a Google search on something totally
> unrelated, I got a notice on my screen about possible malware, that
> continued use of the computer risked a number ov vulnerabilities, and to
> call Microsoft 
> 
> Technical Support at a certain toll free number.  
> 
> 
> 
> When I called that number, it turned out to be an independent firm claiming
> to have Microsoft and Apple certified techs called Itech Services, also
> billed as Agile, but this wasn't immediately clear when they came on the
> line, only later after they aggressively sold me into a technical support
> agreement with everything done in a large up front payment along with the
> repairs and firewall installation.  
> 
> 
> 
> I went ahead with this, and the repairs seemed to go well though they left
> my email disabled the first time and had to address that the next day,
> Sunday.  They were not fully attentive to my accessibility issues, but we
> got through it.  
> 
> 
> 
> The business tactics detracted from what appears to be good technical skill,
> not being fully upfront, aggressive sales, not fully documenting the work so
> I could double check it and at first being resistant to that idea, and
> vagueness about their location, saying they were headquartered in Virginia
> but not saying where, and not giving a straight answer on the consumer
> protection laws they operate under.  
> 
> 
> 
> My mom had been defrauded by a company like this and was insistent this was
> fraudulent.  I canceld my service with them yesterday and went to my bank to
> put in a claim on them.  They called today and agreed to a full refund after
> a lengthy discussion about the concerns I had detailed in the cancellation
> email.  
> 
> 
> 
> It may be that this firm is actually legitimate, but their fast and loose,
> sloppy and potentially illegal business strategy negated whatever value they
> may have given me.  
> 
> 
> 
> It's too bad we have to worry about things like this, as remoted computer
> repair and technical support is actullay a justifiable market niche.  
> 
> 
> 
> Bill Outman 
> 
> 
> 
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