Help wanted - "Stafford PC Experts"

[wmrcomputers]

We could always book a job and have all the regulars off Stafford Forum waiting at the house to get it back from them.

As others have said, data recovery is a delicate operation... sometimes it is extremely simple (if the hard drive is OK but windows is failing to boot), or it requires special software (for example the hard drive mechanics are OK but for some reason the partition has dropped) in which either case I operate on a no fix no fee basis and only charge a £25 fixed fee. On the other hand, if the mechanics have failed it requires specialist equipment which costs several hundreds of pounds - but in that case I would have just returned your hard drive without charge and gave you a reputable company's details incase your data was worth that much.

As gdavies says, I really hope these rogues are somehow caught. GD and myself (plus others on here in various trades) work extremely hard at obtaining a good reputation, and people like this can make people so paranoid that none of us get trusted.

Good luck to everyone who is attempting to find out what they can.

 

[tek-monkey]

I have a HD sat on my desk at the min that I can't recover, after 48 hours I'd got back less than 800 pictures and my PC was out of action for the whole period as well.

 

[wmrcomputers]

the mechanics tek?

 

[tek-monkey]

Clicks like a bugger, my PC hangs every time it clicks and stays that way for 5 minutes or so. To be fair the laptop was turned on and thrown across the room, so hardly a surprise!

 

[wmrcomputers]

ooh... nice! My mate did that once just because no car insurance would accept Visa Electron cards. lol

 

[tek-monkey]

Amazing aint it, some people are mad!

 

[db]

welcome to the forum cjg, hope you find the buggers.. i'm dying to know what the real story is behind this so hopefully all o' y'all with your sleuthing hats on will come up with the goods

Data recovery experts charge thousands, don't expect it ffor a 25 quid charge.

As others have said, data recovery is a delicate operation... sometimes it is extremely simple (if the hard drive is OK but windows is failing to boot), or it requires special software (for example the hard drive mechanics are OK but for some reason the partition has dropped)...

i don't think cjg is after data recovery tbh.. when he says:

Does any one know of a computer repair company called Stafford PC experts tel.01785 318155. according to the yellow pages they operate from newport rd stafford post code ST16 1DB. They collected my hard drive on Monday last 16th May having given a price and promised to return it on the next wednesday 18th...

...i think he means they collected his PC.. almost every day i get people tell me "my hard drive won't turn on," and they mean their PC! i've found a lot of users think the "black box" (i.e. the PC) is called the hard drive, and so refer to it as such..

i might be wrong, but just the general tone of the OP leads me to believe that he means his whole PC (minus monitor & peripherals, natch) was collected!

 

[wmrcomputers]

Know what you're saying DB and I find that a lot too. He does however mention it's some photo's he is most bothered about and that is what they were claiming the high cost was for - I think.

 

[db]

Know what you're saying DB and I find that a lot too. He does however mention it's some photo's he is most bothered about and that is what they were claiming the high cost was for - I think.

ah right.. come on, you can't expect to actually read things before responding! god

 

[cjg]

thanks for all the replies regarding stafford pc experts, i will be visiting the police tomorrow.

 

[Gramaisc]

thanks for all the replies regarding stafford pc experts, i will be visiting the police tomorrow.

Thanks for getting back - and good luck. All too often people come here for advice, but the final outcome is not reported..

 

[Withnail]

All too often people come here for advice, but the final outcome is not reported..

Except when the outcome is predictable, as reported by basil ...

 

[djwellis]

Sorry.

No Limited or non-limited companies operate on that postcode.

The phone number when I do a check is not a BT line, which means that it is either a Virgin line or a VoIP line.

Was hoping to get more for you than that, but alas

 

[Gramaisc]

My man on the ground also seems to drawing blanks...

 

[cjg]

update on stafford pc experts, since I last posted on here I have continued the fight, it appears that the bill for the ad in yellow pages is paid for by a company called computers direct from 8 ivor rd birmingham b11 4nt. but no contact details. On Monday evening my wife spoke to stafford pc experts and eventually they agreed to bring the computer back yesterday. at about 320 pm a van appeared at my house with the details of yet another company on the side namely click computers 0800169 3099 but no address or e mail. anyway the guy took my cash and i wouldn't let him in the house and away he went with a few incoherent grunts. I am now awaiting a trusted person to visit who will check out my compter and hopefully all is well.
I have to say thankyou to all who responded to my plea.
It may be that these 3 companies have provided a good service to others I don't know,but based on my experience with them I would not be recommending them to any body other than trading standards.
once again thanks for your help.

 

[tek-monkey]

So one placed the ad, another took the computer, and another returned it? All a bit suss!

 

[Admin]

Thanks for keeping us updated cjg. Glad you got your PC back in the end!

There are a few chaps on here who I'm sure will be happy to help with any computer woes you have, and they are lovely blokes with a great reputation and many friends round here. Have a little read through some of the threads and you'll soon get to know who they are.

 

[My Name is URL]

Hi CJG,

If WMR / G Davies can't help then I know these guys up on the Tech Park are a great bunch....

Data Wreck

They offer a no recovery, no fee policy. Plus I can guarantee that they have an office in Stafford so at least you can go and see them if need be.

 

[db]

update on stafford pc experts, since I last posted on here I have continued the fight, it appears that the bill for the ad in yellow pages is paid for by a company called computers direct from 8 ivor rd birmingham b11 4nt. but no contact details. On Monday evening my wife spoke to stafford pc experts and eventually they agreed to bring the computer back yesterday. at about 320 pm a van appeared at my house with the details of yet another company on the side namely click computers 0800169 3099 but no address or e mail. anyway the guy took my cash and i wouldn't let him in the house and away he went with a few incoherent grunts. I am now awaiting a trusted person to visit who will check out my compter and hopefully all is well.
I have to say thankyou to all who responded to my plea.
It may be that these 3 companies have provided a good service to others I don't know,but based on my experience with them I would not be recommending them to any body other than trading standards.
once again thanks for your help.

fire off an email to watchdog innit! i'd love to see these guys get rinsed by that annoying bloke & his ambiguously-gay mate who piss about on a motorbike & do a "beadle's about" style sting operation on "rogue traders" lol

 

[Mr X]

Here we go again.. spot the difference!