Please, please, avoid Time. (Time Computers)

Member Name: Pueblo

Product:	Time Computers
Date:	24/06/02 (153 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Everything

I'd love to be able to tell you why we decided to purchase a computer from Time. I've asked myself the question constantly since the day it finally arrived, each time filling me with hate and aggression towards this company who I have slagged off to anyone who would listen. Maybe I should have cottoned on when we strolled around their store, witnessing the most smarmy and arrogant staff I've ever encountered, yet completely unable to assist you. Answering back sharply at any questions or comments that displayed even remotely incorrect technical knowledge didnt endear me to them.

Eventually we decided on our PC, happy with the specification and looking forward to it being delivered. However, this is Time, and things are never that easy. Days soon turned into weeks and eventually we had to actually collect the PC ourselves, but we had the computer thank God and that was the main thing. But, of course, soon the problems started and booting up one evening, the computer decides to hang for no reason - it wont even get past the first boot screen. No problem, I can go without for a night and we'll give them a call in the morning to sort it all out.

The Time technical help line is marvellous though, £1 a minute, you are put on hold and get to listen to some super music. Yet on two occasions that was as far as I got, after 10 minutes of holding, I was just cut off without even actually speaking to a human. Further phone calls took place and I recieved such technical assistance as "Re-install Windows" "Use your boot up disk" and "Is X connected to Y" etc etc, but all to no avail as none of them understood the error message being displayed on my screen.

Right then, this is getting serious, lets take the PC to the store we bought it from. We march in, tower in hand and up to the desk making our presence felt. However it was clear we werent wanted, dirty looks from staff galore we soon found they couldnt
help so we were handed a telephone. On the other end was a very nice but ultimately useless man who informed us that if we wanted it fixed we'd have to take it to Time's headquarters in Burnley. Ok, grin and bear it, not living TOO far from Burnley we'll do it, at this point we'd been without a computer for about a month and we wanted this sorted. About another month went by until the tower arrived back, the diagnostic written on a form being "TV Card made system hang".

I could go on about the problems encountered during such simple requests as ordering a Time drivers CD over more recent times but to be honest I hate Time too much to write about them anymore. Its really the whole package with TIME, the annoying and inept staff, unqualified and unhelpful technical support, poorly made PC's. All I can say is Please, do not buy from TIME and I long for the day they cease to exist.

Summary: