[Albert Lionheart]

I have just been reminded of an incident of some years ago when I first started my own IT support business.
I had a phone call from someone in the village called Jim - I thought I knew just about everyone but did not worry about not knowing this chap. Anyway, he said he had just come back from working in Saudi and his PC did not work anymore and could I help - for free! He explained he had no money, no job, and no way of getting in touch with possible employers without it. I gave him some advice over the phone and thought no more about it. 10 days or so later he rang again with a different problem on a different machine; again, not thinking much about it I helped him over the phone and that was that.
He called again a week or so after that about a laptop and as telephone support did not seem to be appropriate I suggested he bring it up to the workshop. Oh no, he says, he is not able to do that and rings off.
Ping! Thinks - this guy has no money but appears to have 3 computers, one of which was a laptop and they used to cost a lot in those days. What is going on here?
A couple of days later I am quaffing a few in the local and chatting to various worthy burgers as you do, and someone I don't know says so me "I hear you have some competition!"
"Sorry" says I, "what competition?"
Fellow boozer replies "I dropped my laptop off with this chap who is trying to start an IT support business and is offering to fix things for free labour. I don't think he knows much about IT as he is working from his kitchen table - not very professional!"
"Do you know who he is?" I ask.
"His name is Jim ****." comes the reply.
I keep my council and resolve to have a word with said Jim when and if he next calls.
He does, and I have a word, and he does not call again.
Last I heard he was working in local government.

[Gunner]

The nerve!!!
I've seen some who use computer help forums to maintain their business.
They know a little about computers and try and start a business but
then have to post a Q every time they have a problem.
Well, we are "FREE SUPPORT". But one wouldn't think a business should take
advantage of a good thing.
Merely my POV.

[Albert Lionheart]

Very valid POV - but then I tell my clients that I have met with a new problem and that I am asking for expert opinion - not usually a problem as !)they just want it fixed and 2)are secretly a bit proud to have found a really difficult problem for me to fix!

[Blackmirror]

You know what happened to Pinocchio

[wladicus]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

You know what happened to Pinocchio

He became human? ... or the nose thing, eh?

[Albert Lionheart]

This bloke never actually lied to me to begin with - he just let me assume the machines were all his.

[wladicus]

You get what you pay for...

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by wladicus

You get what you pay for...

I wish that were always true but, alas, sometimes a far cry from that even.

Even tech guys need an extra head sometimes but to exclusively use a support forum
for personal gain is not kosher in my book.
Now I have to look up kosher. Some Jewish thing, right?

[Albert Lionheart]

Originally Posted by wladicus

You get what you pay for...

Interesting aspect of this was that without my 'free' help his business appears to have failed....