Geeks Home and Office David answers the phone AVOID GEEKS HOME AND OFFICE AT ALL COST Potsdam, New York, Nationwide

Six months and still no pay from Geeks Home and Office

I recently made the mistake of replying to an e-mail from David of Geeks Home and Office in August, 2012. 

He needed a tech in my area the next day, found me via my IT Field Tech posting on CraigsList, and offered me a $40 per hour field tech job, with the promise of more work if all went well.  The customer paid GHO previous to my arrival, with a credit card.  One hour of billable time was spent determining the customers laptop was not even worth the cost of being repaired.

Several weeks later, I again heard from David -  another house call, this paid $45 per hour.  The same situation unfolded this desktop was also not worth the cost of repairing it.  In both cases, I consulted with the customer and we together determined it was simply not cost feasible to repair and replace parts on either system, but to instead invest those repair dollars toward a new system.  Both customers were highly satisfied with my skills, recommendations and honesty.

I was to be paid at the end of each month worked, but my check didnt arrive in early September as promised.  However, requests to perform work for GHOs customers didnt stop.  And by now, I had started to read about the poor reputation of Geeks Home and Office on the Internet, and decided I would do no more work for them until I was paid for August.  Heres what they send in early September

Mr. G,
We have a Tuesday job if you are available. The customer has a Mac with an issue connecting to the internet. Not sure if you work on Mac's or not. It is for 10am, it is also possible to do Monday, but since it's a holiday, that's optional. Let us know if you are available, and if not, what availability you have.

Geeks Home and Office
1-214-303-9819
1-972-782-2552

I declined this job and instead began pressing for my August pay.  My phone numbers were immediately blocked, and my e-mails went unanswered.  GHO refused to communicate with me regarding my back pay till I sent them several terribly nasty e-mails, which are available upon request.  When I finally got them to reply, heres what they sent:

Hello Bob,
This is David.   I apologize again for the delay in your payment.   The issue we are having with are billing is something I cant discuss.  But I have a way you can get paid as fast as Today or tomorrow.   We have a customer in Eagle ID, an older gentleman who is having a TV issue.  He set up his Bose surround sound sytem for the TV.  He got it working somehow messed up the picture.   Seems like the dislpay is now to big for the screen and get it back to way it was.   He is going to pay $129 for a technician to come over and help him fix this issue,  we can have him pay you directly and send you his contact information now so you can confirm.  Please let me know here if you want the information and we can get you paid.

Bob here is the customers information.  I apologize that our billing dept has not been able to send you check yet so please taks this job as its the only way I can get you paid for your work.   Here at dispatch we understand your issues and want them resolved asap.  He can write you a check or pay cash the $129.  I told him you would be contacting him within the next hour to set up an appointment time. Please confirm once this is resolved

Bob did you service the customer?  We sent you his contact information and he was going to pay you $129 for a very easy  service call.  There is your $85  + $44 for an hour or less onsite w/ the customer.   We are now even.  Please do not call dispatch about your payment they cannont help you.  Please email us here with any questions.

Me:  I called the customer, and within two minutes, we had the problem resolved.  It was just the ZOOM button on his remote.  It was then I told the elderly gentleman that GHO expected him to write me a check for $129.  He was shocked and angered -  and so was I.  There was no such agreement.   So I couldnt and didnt charge for my time on the phone.

GHO:  We set up the appointment with the customer because he wanted to pay for a tech onsite to help him with his issue.  We are not in the business of giving away free help and advice.  Plenty of jobs may seems simple to you but not to a paying customer.  We do not understand why after we gave you  way for us to resolve this issue you decide not  to charge the customer?   Would you rather us call him and bill his credit card and send you a check??  We tried to cut out the middle man and get you paid directly and its seems like you dont want to accept that.    At the very least collect the $85.   If we didnt deicde to help the customer he would of paid someone else to go onsite and help.  There was never a reason to do this service call for free.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT ??? 

Geeks Home and Office was trying to make me rip off a nice old man $129 for work I completed in 2 minutes.  Money theyve already been paid 6 months ago, and have owed me for 6 months.  The issue we are having with are billing is something I cant discuss.  Clearly, this company is not to be trusted.  Do not give them your credit card number.  Tell all your friends, your neighbors, tell anybody and everybody you know to AVOID GEEKS HOME AND OFFICE.

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