There are plenty of places that can sell you another computer, another subscription, or another service.

That isn't what I am here to do.

My job is to help you make technology work better for you.

Sometimes that means fixing something. Sometimes it means replacing something. Sometimes it means setting things up properly, teaching you how something works, or helping you avoid buying something you don't need.

• I charge for my time and expertise, and I try to make both worthwhile.
• If I can fix the problem, I'll work to fix it.
• If there is a better way to do something, I'll explain it.
• And if spending more money doesn't make sense, I'll tell you that too.

Both.

Many software, configuration, email, account, and troubleshooting problems can be handled remotely. Remote support can often be the quickest and least expensive option.

For hardware problems, networking work, installations, or anything that simply makes more sense in person, I can provide on-site service.

I may also occasionally take equipment with me when work is better performed off-site.

No.

If I purchase hardware, software, subscriptions, licenses, or other products for you, you reimburse me for what I actually paid.

I do charge for the time I spend researching, selecting, purchasing, configuring, installing, or delivering those products. That means my incentive is to help you choose the right solution — not the product with the biggest markup.

Yes.

In many cases, a little advice before a purchase can save considerably more than the cost of my time.

I can help determine what you actually need, compare reasonable options, and help you avoid paying for features or performance you will never use.

Just as importantly, I may be able to tell you when replacing something isn't necessary at all. I might recommend a startegic upgrade, for instance.

That's fine.

My job is to solve the problem, not make it more complicated.

Once the minimum service time has been met, billing is in 15-minute increments. I am not going to turn a 15-minute task into an hour of unnecessary work just to increase the bill.

If there is useful maintenance, cleanup, security checking, updating, or another task worth doing while I am already there, we can discuss it. You decide whether you want it done.

Yes.

If you believe a problem was directly caused by work I performed, contact me within 14 days.

If I determine that the problem resulted directly from my work, I will make a reasonable effort to correct it without charging you additional labor.

That doesn't cover unrelated new problems, later hardware failures, malware infections, changes made by someone else, or failures involving outside services, but I want you to be comfortable calling me if something doesn't seem right.

I treat all of your information as private.

Computer support sometimes requires access to files, accounts, network settings, email, cloud services, or other personal information. I only access information reasonably necessary to perform the work you asked me to do.

Whenever practical, I prefer that you enter your own passwords and authentication codes rather than giving them to me.

If I do sometimes need credentials to complete the work, I take reasonable precautions with them and do not intentionally retain them longer than necessary.

Any work involving computers carries some risk of data loss, particularly when a computer is already malfunctioning.

If you already have a good backup, great. If you don't, I may recommend creating one before performing work that presents a meaningful risk to your data.

I can also help you set up a practical backup system so protecting your files becomes routine instead of something you have to remember to do.

Sometimes.

Whether data can be recovered depends on what happened to it and the condition of the storage device.

I can evaluate the situation, perform appropriate recovery or transfer work when practical, and help determine when a specialized data-recovery company would be a better choice.

No one can honestly guarantee that lost or damaged data will always be recoverable.

Yes, when that makes sense for the work being performed.

I use reasonable care with equipment while it is in my possession and will let you know when it is ready to be returned or picked up.

I ask that completed equipment be collected within 30 days. If something unexpectedly prevents that, contact me and we can make arrangements.

Normally, no.

There is currently no standard storage charge for equipment left with me.

Equipment that remains unclaimed for an extended period is subject to the terms of my Client Services Agreement, including additional notice before it is considered abandoned.

I use a Client Services Agreement so that both of us know what to expect.

It covers the basic business details — rates, billing, purchases, privacy, backups, equipment left with me, and what happens when circumstances outside either of our control cause problems.

It is written to protect both of us, not to bury you in fine print.