Laptop Issues - Your Opinions Please

[Theblip]

For many years I've used the same tech expert to help me (I am not good with technology) with all my computer problems.  Last week my laptop, on which I've got a huge amount of important work, fell on the floor and its screen smashed.  The keyboard half survived.  My tech expert offered to get me a new laptop (to the spec he knows I need) and have it delivered to my address, and lift all my documents, photos etc off my broken laptop and install them on the new laptop.  He said the new laptop cost £845 and his work would cost £200.  Anxious to get up and running again, I agreed.  I paid for the laptop.  After completing the work on both laptops he invoiced me for £400, saying it had taken longer than he'd anticipated.  He is extremely experienced and I believe he should have anticipated it'd take longer.  When jobs I do in the Media take longer than I expect, I don't get paid extra.  He didn't tell me during the job "I'm now going over the agreed £200..." which I think he should have.  Do you think it's right he should charge me double the pre agreed fee?   I've asked him for the sales receipt and warranty of the new laptop, and he won't let me have them.  He says that if the new laptop goes faulty within the next year that he will fix it free of charge.   But I say what if something happens to him, as could happen to anybody, I won't have a warranty.  I think he won't let me have the sales receipt because he got the laptop for much less money than he got me to pay for it, and he doesn't want me to know how much.  Your opinions and advice please

[barry1010]

I can't get your link to work with an i5 processor and 16GB RAM, Corby.  If I click 16GB RAM it reverts to an i7 processor.

[THECORBYLOON]

My mistake, I didn't spot there were other options.

[barry1010]

That link is confusing, Corby - it appears to give the choice of both processor and RAM but it doesn't

[ToraToraTora]

I had no idea you could get paid for this sort of thing.

[Smowball]

Just spoken to MrSmow and he said your 'friend' has completely ripped you off! You can buy an identical laptop memory wise for £450, and as for transferring the data, well it would take 2 hours max!! £200 was an absolute joke, let alone £400!

[barry1010]

That makes and model sells for £780 in Currys so it's not that far out.

[ToraToraTora]

most people have far too much for their needs anyway, I have a small cube that cost a few quid over 200. When I go to help out my mates I have usually fixed it before they've made the coffee. 

[gingejbee]

The fact he won't let you have the receipt is plain wrong and points to something untoward...  is the laptop even new?

[barry1010]

Yes, that worries me, and the fact he won't hand over the warranty.

Theblip could try and register the laptop with Dell using the serial number. That could prove very revealing 

[ToraToraTora]

I had no idea there where these charaltans conning people like theblip. He's made at least a monkey out of you me old china. If you lived near me I'd do it for a glass of sherbet. 

[barry1010]

I've just thought that you should ask for your old laptop to be returned, at least the hard drive. It's yours and you can easily put it in a caddy and use it as an external hard drive for extra storage and/or backupm

[Theblip]

I still have my old laptop, thank you 

[barry1010]

Good. When you said he did the data transfer by remote access I assumed he had the laptop at his own premises and did it from a distance

[piggynose]

21.22 excuse my ignorance whatz a glass of sherbet? 

[Atheist]

A drop of alcohol.