Custom Computing ripoff charged too much to remove viruses, claimed to have to reinstall windows xp. charged $15 + $15 for connecting to internet & 1st month service Kinston North Carolina
I took my computer to custom computer Inc. to have viruses removed . He(Johnny Smith) said right off the top(after I said that I was new to computers)he would charge $125.00; I thought nothing at the time. Smith said he charged $45.00 per hour & would remove all the unnessary programs and the viruses from my computer.
The next day I told a friend; he said boy is he ripping you a new one. Then I called best buy and was quoted $40.00. Called CDS networks & services was quoted $65.00. Called networks east and was quoted$45.00.
Then I called portbridge the internet provider(they are great). I talked with brandon at 1-888-276-4376 he said portbridge did not charge a signup fee or the 1st month up front. Portbridge is going to give me 4months free service for what I went through with smith.
Smith said he had to reinstall windows xp. When I told him what I found out about the price his competition charged he went off like a mad man. Would not take a check said I would probably stop payment.
When my wife told him that he should not take advantage of a handicapped man like that, he went off on her I told him I had it all on tape. He replyed so what, I have a camera. I then said well I guess we can go to court he replyed he knew every one down there they were not going to do anything to him. Portbridge said they had numerous complaints on smith. I had to get a policeman to go in the store and get my paperwork & disk.
Joe
kinston, North Carolina
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
Cary,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Joe..What exactly is your complaint?
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, June 03, 2005
Joe,
I am not sure what your complaint is..is it that you were charged too much? The second sentence says you were quoted $125 (flat fee I'm guessing)and the third sentence says you were quoted $45 per hour. Which is it? It also appears these prices were quoted to you BEFORE any work was done, so what's the problem? Were you forced to have the work done by Custom Computing? I doubt it.
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You didn't shop around BEFORE disassembling your computer, putting it in the car, driving down the road, etc?
Best Buy doesn't do ANYTHING for $40 except take it in for diagnostics (and that's JUST for diagnostics, anything else will cost you ALOT more).
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What does an ISP have to do with virus removal? And what do they have to do with Custom Computers? Just like before, you were free to shop around for any Internet provider you wanted.
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Reinstall of Windows XP is a good option if the PC is so infested with viruses that it will take longer to remove them than it would to reinstall.
I am not even going to comment on the price issue again. Merchants are free to accept (or not accept) nearly all forms of payment.
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So.. You are entitled to special treatment from merchants because you are Handicapped? If you have all this on tape, why even post anything here? Just go to court (for what I don't know)I don't see any illegal activity here. What paperwork and what disk? If it was a system restore disk, you could have done this all yourself and saved all us a lot of typing.
Final Note: Apparently your computer must be working because you were able to file this complaint.
Johnny
Kinston,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Joe Garris is a liar & we have Police & BBB reports to prove it!
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, May 13, 2005
Hello Ripoffreport Team,
I would like to respond to a false report on your site regarding computer work done for Joe Garris AKA "Bruce" at Custom Computing, Inc. (last year). This man contacted the police & others about his false claims; they followed him to our office and afterwards had to remove him by force.
We proved to the officers that his claims were not true (they informed our office that he was a "thorn in their side" regularly). We also submitted proof to the BBB of his false claims (we have that document if you would like a copy).
It would seem that he is still "grabbing for straws" by posting his lies on your site.
Please inform us how these claims can be removed from your site, we have been in business 7 years with a clean slate & do not want false claims posted on your site.
The Officers of the Kinston Police Department & BBB can validate our integrity and truthfulness in this matter.