Money
Getting the best deal
Help with your computer is at hand
Having a computer at home has opened many doors for us - from keeping in touch with friends and family by email to bagging cheap holidays and electrical goods on the internet, writes Holly Thomas
But what happens when something goes wrong and clicking on restart isn't enough to kick start your PC back into action?
Before now frustrated users have been forced to phone premium rate numbers for help, or use the internet for self-diagnosis.
A new breed of IT services have emerged offering their expertise for a fee as an on-going membership or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The services are not just for fixing problems. Most offer help with setting up a new computer, coaching for new programmes, computer health checks and security installation.
One of the most popular services according to BT is installing wireless broadband connections.
Depending on what you need, you can get help over the telephone, or the work can be done remotely which means engineers access your computer through your internet connection. Alternatively they offer home visits which are where it can get expensive.
Services offered vary between providers, so check exactly what you are signing up for before you buy, remembering to read all the terms and conditions for any exclusions that might apply to you.
BT Home Advisor (http://www.bt.com/homeitservices) costs £9.99 a month which include access to help on a freephone number open until 11pm every day - even Christmas Day. Advisors can access your PC remotely to fix the problem if they cannot talk you through it. Home visits cost extra - £75 for the first hour and £30 for every half-hour beyond that. If the problem turns out to be a time-consuming one, it could be very costly and could be cheaper to take it somewhere yourself.
You don't have to be a BT broadband customer to use it but you do need a BT line.
Comet on Call (http://oncall.comet.co.uk/comet/cometoncall/index.htm) offers a range of services, each individually priced. A health and security check costs £79.99. But if you drop the computer off at a store yourself, it drops to £49.99. You can also sign up for the remote support service for between three and 12 months starting at £29.99.
The Geek Squad (http://uk.geeksquad.com/) from Carphone Warehouse offers services from its "geeks" who can deal with your queries. This is only available in areas inside the M25 at the moment but plans are underway to expand this. Around 30 agents whizzing around the streets in environmentally-friendly Smart cars and on Vespa scooters doing home visits. The geeks can also deal with inquiries over the phone and remotely.
All work carries The Geek Squad Promise - if the problem it fixes occurs again Geek Squad vows to "do our best to sort it out - fast and free of charge".
With each offering something different, it's worth taking your time to look what might suit you best - whether it's pay as you go or a monthly subscription.
Whichever you sign up for, always make sure you read the small print before you buy.
* Holly Thomas is Deputy Personal Finance Editor at the Daily Express and Sunday Express. Holly's views represent her own opinions and are for general information only. Always seek independent financial advice.
