Beware of this company! I had a problem with my computer and clicked on a result from a Google search. It seemed like free help for Microsoft issues. Man was I wrong!
After chatting online with someone from FixNow, they referred me to a technicain, who came online as "Tech 41", and I noticed the website URL switched to an omnitech site. This person asked me to download an App so he/she could take remote control of my computer and try to find and fix the problem. since I had experience reliquishing control to qualifed techs before, I did it.
After a while of watching as he was controlling my computer, he supposedly ran some PC optimizer program and it showed all kins of problems in the results. He then chatted that he had found many serious problems with infected files on my computer, and many corrupted registry entries. Then when I asked if it would cost for him to fix them, he said it would be $249.99! At that point I got hesitant and said I couldn't afford that. Then the super agressive sales pitch came. This person kept pushing that if I did not have him fix the problems, my whole computer would get infected and be ruined. I kept resisting and then eventually he came back with a $99.99 cost for fixing. At that point I just said I didn't want to do it, and would he please return control of my computer back to me. He kept persisting, until I finally closed the App and the session.
After I got off with this 'technician', I ran a registry cleaner program, and it found some issues but nothing serious, and then I ran a full computer scan with my AVG protection software. It found and fixed one threat that was not serious. I rebotted and the problem was still there. I finally got on the answers.microsoft.com site and asked for help from that site. I got an answer soon that fixed my problem, and my computer is running just fine now.
If you ever enter the Fixnow site and get handed off to a technician from Omnitech, DO NOT let them take over your machine. Run away as fast as you can. I did not ever give them a credit card number, but if I see a charge from them, I will complain loud and long.
Jim
Cupertino,#2Author of original report
Sat, January 11, 2014
I can assure you I do NOT work for a competitor of FixNow or Omnitech. I do realize they use software to take over one's machine and do some testing, and if they find something that takes time to fix, they would charge for that. HOWEVER, my complaints still stand. I was routed to a tech who took over my machine, and then he came back saying I had all sorts of problems, and then was very pushy about paying $249 to fix all my serious problems. There was nowhere before that where it was prominently displayed that they offer a service for that fee, and the tech said nothing about it. Eventually I negotiated the tech down to a $99 deal (kind of reveals what they are all about, huh?).
In any case, as I stated in my original complaint, I asked the tech to give control back to me several times, and he did not. There was no obvious way I could take control. I finally had to power down and reboot and hope that nothing on my PC had been permanently messed up. As I also stated in my orginal complaint, I eventually contacted Microsoft, found a fix, used an inexpensive registry cleaner, and then did a fiull system scan. Then my problem was fixed and my system ran fine.
I have had no major system failures as the tech stated, My system did not have lots of corrupted files and malware that would require a lot of work to fix. I still hold to my guns that I was handed off to a tech by FixNow, none explained the process or the cost, the tech presented a scary scenario that turned out to mot be true, and then was pushy about getting me to pay to fix all the problems. Wen I repeatedly asked for him to give me back control, he would not do it, and there was no obvious way for me to do that myself, contrary to what the person from Omnitech said. I had to power off and reboot in order to get control back.
I realize that Omnitech uses somewhat standard tools to remotely check out a computer, but in the process of going through FixNow to Omnitech, there was not description of the services or costs, I was not informed how I could take control back if I wanted to, and I was given exaggerated information about the state of my PC, and was subjected to a very pushy tech. I stand by my original report. I have since talked with others about this, and while they say some of the tools the tech used are common, and one can use them independently of FixNow, they had similar problems going through FixNow and getting subjected to the pressure to sign up for their $249 program.
I avoid companies that use these tactics, and I suggest you do to.
OTS
LOS ANGELES,#3UPDATE Employee
Sat, January 11, 2014
As these allegations are posted anonymously, unfortunately we are not in a position to offer any comments as to what actually transpired. Generally, we access the customer’s computer using a standard and respected third-party remote access tool which is needed to allow us to be able to check the issue in detail and to work on the customer’s computer in order to fix the issue. We have no control over the results of the scan. Our process is very transparent and the customer can monitor every step performed by our technician. If they wish, they can immediately terminate the remote access.
The way the process works, is that when a customer comes to us with an issue, we’ll run a free diagnosis to help uncover the root of the problem. Some issues are obvious, such a help being needed in setting up a home network, but in others, the diagnosis may uncover registry errors or malicious software. There are some viruses that by their design can only be removed manually. That’s something anti-virus software just cannot do.
Obviously, we are a fee-based solution to our customer’s needs. As is clearly mentioned on our website, we offer annual and half-yearly System Assurance plans, which offer great value. If a customer doesn’t want a subscription plan, they can elect to purchase, one-time fix or single issue support, which are very affordably priced. However, one-time fix price always depends on the complexity of the issue (as required time can be varied to fix issue to issue).
As always, we are here to assist people who truly need our experienced technician’s help regarding their any software related-issues at any time, day or night. Our professionalism and policies are why we have maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Sometimes we get fictitious complaints from competitors who cannot match our pricing, professionalism and services. This complaint is missing key facts.