Reviews of Biz Tech Helpers (Computer Repair)

Regina Jakacki

Unless you are very IT savvy but just don't have the time to take care of your own computer needs, and unless you are available to help problem solve and and can persist in articulating what needs to done despite being yelled at and belittled, this is not the place for you. I have a 4 year old laptop that I had never used since having Office installed on it at Staples. When I recently tried to use it, I could not get it to work and took it to the Biz-tech office, thinking that this would be a quick fix. Over the next 2 1/2 weeks, I received intermittent phone calls and e-mails about additional problems and expenses on top of the "extended diagnosis" fee. I was told that the computer should be ready for pick-up on a Tuesday, but the tech called me at 6 PM that night and left a voicemail saying that my laptop had an "illegal" copy of Office installed it, and that it could not be activated. When I called back and said "There is another problem?", the tech started yelling at me saying, "I am trying to help you" and "You just don't get it". He kept repeating that the installed Office was "illegal", but could not offer a solution. I told him that I would call the owner in the morning and at that point, they could keep the computer. I called the next day and spoke to the office manager who also started yelling at me, saying that she had taken classes on how to deal with "difficult customers" like me, that the tech had been working very hard on trying to solve the problem and that if I would just listen to what they were saying, I would understand what the problem was. I tried to get clarification on exactly that, but she could only repeat what the tech had said, i.e. that I had an illegal copy of Office installed on my laptop, and added that my only option was to try to get some free programs on the internet from Google. When I was finally able to get a word in, I asked why the problem could not be due to an error in the spelling of my name/e-mail by Staples on the Office registration. There was a dead silence followed by "What does Staples have to do with this?" [The receipt from Staples and the key code for the installed Office were in the laptop case, which both the owner and the tech were aware of]. Since the owner was out of town, I picked up the non-functional laptop after almost 3 weeks, paid the ridiculous $432 bill and took the laptop to Staples, where the staff was extremely courteous and helpful in resolving the problem. Although Shri, the owner, had been very courteous and helpful when available, he has never tried to contact me, despite my sending him an e-mail, asking to discuss. I would not recommend that anyone risk this kind of bullying when paying for a service. When I told the office manager, that I could not possibly leave a favorable review after the treatment I had received, she laughed and said "Here we go.....", whatever that means.