Don't Expect Me To Work On Your PC Without Payment!

[rynoman03]

I worked on this gal's pc from work the first of Nov or end of Oct. It was uber infested with Virus's. It was emailing me spam and others spam from facebook contacts and what have you. As soon as I got the pc in my possession the spamming quit. Go figure right.

Tried to save this thing but it was too far gone.
So I backed up what I could that wasn't totally corrupt or infested. Did a DoD wipe standard 3 passes on her hard drive to rid of any Virus's. Re-Installed the OS (VISTA x86). Put NetNanny, all needed programs (libre office, codec's, ect.), updated the pc, installed printer drivers, camera drivers, installed Anti-Virus, installed anti-spyware and provided documentations on how to use it and use the NetNanny, changed password on her personal email, replaced mp3's and migrated them to iTunes, ect.

Only charged her $120.00 when BestBuy wouldn't have done near as much and charged 3 times as much.

Spent over 4-8 hours between re-installing OS and trying to save the original OS from said virus's and then installing and updating and so forth. Get the pc to her in 3-4 days due to I working on it when i could. Put it in her car and she says well I'll pay you on the 15th of December when I get my Tribal Per Cap check from the Casino.

I wasn't at work on the 15th. I just called her because she works nights too and she's like well i used it to buy Christmas presents and pay bills. I had like 6 of them. I'm like well i got bills too! She tells me she'll have 2 child support checks coming soon and she'll call me when she gets the money. I so wanted to just blow the fvck up! I've waited over almost 2 months for this money lady! Next time it'll be a upfront price and you don't get the pc until you pay me or you'll pay me before i work on it. She did this too me last year too but then paid me straight up the ever since. Ugh! I hate getting taken advantage of. When I owe people money it bugs the sh1t out of me! I got the OS free from a friend and didn't even charge her for it. It was a legal legit copy too! I go above and beyond and I still get screwed! !?!?!

PAY ME !

/soap box!

[MrPoopyButthole]

I use to make people sign a paper saying if they didn't pay in 30 days, it was mine.

Damage is done, all you can do is hope she does, she'll probably do the same thing over again...and just smile and take it and then don't give it back until she pays

[rynoman03]

I dunno if I wanna work on it again lol. I mean she's always paid you just never know when. It's just frustrating. I was counting on that money now!

[NegativeOne13]

I'm with Dave on this. I personally tell them when I take it, I require payment before I deliver it. You no pay, you no get computer back.

[Ballin00gtp]

yeah im in the same boat, payment before PC is returned... standard business practice.. doesn't matter if i know the person or not..

[Bio248]

oh yes you will work on my computer for free.

[J GTP]

It really sucks when this happens. You want to be able to trust people, but it seems more often than not, they will try to take advantage of you. I've run into this particular situation with a friend of mine. I dont want to lose a friend over a few dollars, but at the same time, they can't be a very good friend if you agreed on a payment and then they give you the runaround.

I had someone I didn't know try to screw me over a while back. I fixed his laptop and delivered it to him when I was finished. Fortunately I had someone tell me long ago, to get payment first. When I got there, he reached out to take the laptop I had in the bag over my shoulder, but I told him he could have it after he paid me. Then he says he doesn't have the money but he'll pay me next week. So I just shrugged my shoulders and said "Ok, I'll give you your computer back next week, +10% fee for making me drive out here today." Then suddenly the money appeared from his back pocket. It was like magic.........

It definitely opened my eyes to how dishonest some people are. If people are short on cash, that's too bad, but it's not my problem. I'm up-front with my fee and the time I expect to put into a job. So it should never be a surprise when I tell someone what they owe.

Out of curiosity, Drunkie, did you create the paper that you had people sign or get it from somewhere? I've been thinking I really need something like that.

[Odi]

shouldhave left a backdoor trojan. just sayin.

[NegativeOne13]

It really sucks when this happens. You want to be able to trust people, but it seems more often than not, they will try to take advantage of you. I've run into this particular situation with a friend of mine. I dont want to lose a friend over a few dollars, but at the same time, they can't be a very good friend if you agreed on a payment and then they give you the runaround.

I had someone I didn't know try to screw me over a while back. I fixed his laptop and delivered it to him when I was finished. Fortunately I had someone tell me long ago, to get payment first. When I got there, he reached out to take the laptop I had in the bag over my shoulder, but I told him he could have it after he paid me. Then he says he doesn't have the money but he'll pay me next week. So I just shrugged my shoulders and said "Ok, I'll give you your computer back next week, +10% fee for making me drive out here today." Then suddenly the money appeared from his back pocket. It was like magic.........

It definitely opened my eyes to how dishonest some people are. If people are short on cash, that's too bad, but it's not my problem. I'm up-front with my fee and the time I expect to put into a job. So it should never be a surprise when I tell someone what they owe.

Out of curiosity, Drunkie, did you create the paper that you had people sign or get it from somewhere? I've been thinking I really need something like that.

You can just make up a document that states who you are, what your intent is, then leave some blanks. Blanks for services provided, customer's name, charge for service (could be to be determined), date of which picked up. Also stating that the customer will get a signed receipt upon paid services. Have them sign it and you sign it. Give them a copy and you keep a copy. So you both of proof if they do not pay after 30 days, they signed a binding contract.

[J GTP]

Cool, thanks for the info.

[CrazyGuy03]

tell her she needs to give it back to you for updates or make something up that a stupid woman will believe.

[OldFart]

I used to do this sort of work several years ago and made some nice cash on the side. Sometimes. I even considered turning it into a small business. But eventually the headaches became too much and I stopped doing it all together. Just not worth it. For me anyway. As others have suggested, in the future - get paid before the computer is returned. That eliminates a good deal of your headaches. And a signed statement that after 30 days, the equipment is yours. I learned quickly that you need to treat it as a business or you WILL get screwed over. Your situation sucks, especially since it is a coworker, but if you want to continue doing this, consider it a lesson learned at the Hard Knocks School of Business. All the best!

[Logan541]

I been on both ends of this I insist payment must be made before I return your PC and cash not check if you pay by check I wait until check clears. I have actually had someone who gave me a sob story and offered to pay me with an homemade apple pie. I took it at the time because she lost her job and was a friend of a friend, bad news is people started calling like crazy wanting me to work on there stuff for pies, cakes, whatever no good deed goes unpunished I guess. Also paid someone to work on my house once he came, and after every job I paid him, then I was going to NY and he was going to work on my house while I was gone I paid him in advance since he had two kids and no money for food (so he claimed) I came back from NY and nothing was done in fact the house was worse because he brought his kids and wife there to play and they did not even flush the toilet or empty the garbage (it was there garbage). He had even called me in NY to tell me house was almost done. It would be finished when I got back. He left me with a $7000 plumbing issue leak I did not have before and his excuse was "Hey man I took another side job and needed your money to finish it soon as they pay me I'll fix your place. I mean ya knew I was not licensed and just working on the side." Worse part is I was dating his mother in law at the time (She did take my side but then told me later He always does this since I was dating you I thought he would do the right thing, Duh) I held his tools hostage and told him "when you finish the job you get them back" He finished and I told him I never want him near me again or I would not be held responsible for his safety. A year later he was in line at home depot buying spray paint he turned saw me and ran out the cashier said; "your change" He yelled back "Keep it" Turning out paint was $6.95 he gave her a $50.00. That felt good funny part is I did not realize who he was until I saw him hop in his truck and burn rubber. "Priceless"

[wulfpack06]

shouldhave left a backdoor trojan. just sayin.

i like this answer though in my version we arent talking about computers

[firstdue]

I work on computers in my spare time. Most people are great and never have an issue with payment....some even pay more thinking my rates are too low. Then there are those that don't even ask....just asume your doing it for free. I just can't fathom letting someone do a couple hours of work for me and not at least offering something. do people think....or don't they? I've had people bring in systems that were completely unusable.....and i returned to them a system that runs like new.....with no offer of anything. I guess thats partly my fault for not making it clear up front that i don't work for free. Needless to say when that person returns for more work....i am too busy.

I love the backdoor trojan idea....LMAO.

[tcman49]

I work on all my relatives computers, they are dumb as rocks, I do it for free, I guess that makes me dumb as rocks too!

[TLSheff]

I work on immediate family for free... they raised me, so I feel like its owed. Non-immediate I do for little to nothing. Other people, I get paid... but I do make sure its paid in full before I give it back. I actually still have a laptop from like 4-5 years ago, its old and crap but it works well (needed a new hard-drive, she couldn't come up with $150 total for it, new drive and os installed). Legally after like 2 years it was mine, but the laptop I have is better so it just sits there.
A friend sold a buddy a full mobo/cpu/ram combo because he upgraded, gave it to him under the promise that he would pay him in 2 weeks with his first paycheck. After several excuses and a couple months of waiting with not 1 cent paid he went to the house, and took the whole tower. Dis-assembled the tower at his shop, and gave him back the tower minus the mobo/cpu/ram combo and sold it to someone else. The friendship was over, but he said he couldn't be friends with someone he couldn't trust anymore. So ya, sux but sometimes you have to put your foot down.

[KwazrollinZ28GTP]

when i repair ****, i make them sign a paper and if it isnt payed within 5 days its scrapped or its mine.

[matt5112]

I fix friends comps all the time for free.

Even gave a buddy a 6950 on good will.

I think he gave me $100 down on that though.

[Futures Passed]

I've had the same problem with web design clients, too. On top of that, because my friend (who runs the company) didn't order checks right away, I don't get paid for anything I've been doing since October until January 3, so I couldn't get the gifts I wanted to get a lot of my friends and family.