Support With Confidence

Windsor IT Services are proud to be members of Surrey County Council's Support with Confidence scheme.

Support with Confidence is a quality assurance scheme helping people to make good and informed choices when selecting care, or purchasing goods or services, knowing members of the scheme are reliable, trustworthy and understand and can respond to their needs. The scheme is run by Surrey County Council Trading Standards and Adult Social Care services in partnership with Surrey Independent Living Council (SILC).

For more information please visit the Surrey Information Point.

Keep the Cowboys Out

Selecting the right trader is essential and anything that helps keep the cowboys out is great news. Here's a few simple rules to keep you safe.

1. Always do your research - referrals will help, particularly from people you know. Websites such as Buy With Confidence and Which? Local actively monitor and vet traders. Business directories such as FreeIndex actively encourage referrals from customers.
2. Avoid buying from cold callers without doing many extra background checks. Your bank, Microsoft, British Telecom and other companies are unlikely to call you about your computer - just put the phone down on callers purporting to be from these or similar companies.
3. Ensure you know how to contact the trader, use land line telephone numbers wherever possible.
4. Never let someone remotely connect to your computer unless you really know them and never ever if they cold call.
5. Always seek quotes and ask questions. Expect to pay a fair price - something that seems too cheap is likely to be a problem.

Let's keep the cowboys out this Christmas.

www.windsoritservices.co.uk

Keep your wits about you

It's easy to be wise after the event.

Someone who seems genuine calls you to say that they're following up a report that your machine may be infected with a virus, or some newly released software needs to be adjusted, or they're from your bank and they want you to confirm some details about account irregularities.

What do you do - they sound plausible don't they? But remember that you're probably the 100th person they've called today and if they call enough people then just by chance their story will sound convincing to someone.

Whatever you do don't fall into their trap, don't let them remotely logon to your machine, don't part with any information that they may use to steal your identity. Just put the phone down and if they persist call Trading Standards or the Police.

Stay safe online by installing and keeping Internet Security software up to date, but also don't let fraudsters in by following links to their websites or by replying to their email.

Buy With Confidence

Trading Standards

Windsor IT Services

Buy With Confidence

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the number of times I come across instances where people have been overcharged, supplied with hardware or software they don't need, or persuaded to choose a solution which is just not right for them.

Customers place their trust in you as the "expert" who knows what you're doing, but I'm afraid there are some less than scrupulous traders out there who will simply take advantage.

So it's always encouraging when you find something that will help protect the consumer and also those of us who try to make an honest living. The Buy With Confidence scheme is run by Trading Standards who actively vet and monitor local traders. So avoid the risk and always insist that any traders you use are members of the scheme. We are.

www.WindsorITServices.co.uk