customer payments

[chetreynolds]

Does anyone know if a program exists that could be setup to stop a computer to stop working after a preset time unless a special code was entered to reset the time counter .This could be used to unshure that a costmer came in to make a payment on time . A system like this could used to set up a payment for customers that are a credit risk

 

[dgiles79]

Wouldn't it be easier to just collect payment when the computer is picked up? If these are residential customers, there's no reason they shouldn't be paying before you return the computer to them.

 

[Xander]

This was discussed a couple of months ago (damned if I can even think of the search terms to find it).

Let's just say the overall concensus was about how extremely unethical it would be and, yes, you should just collect the money before it's taken out of your shop. In the event of a bounced cheque, there are more legal ways around that.

 

[Timslin]

Agreed with the above, doesn't make sense for such a system when you can collect payment first.

 

['putertutor]

I can't find that thread either, but as Xander pointed out, this is at best a bad idea, and at worst an illegal one. This is one of the reasons most of us take payment before returning the computer. For residential this is just how business is done. In my case, I sometimes give business net 30 terms, and I have never been burned. I can't imagine you intend this for businesses though, because you truly would be opening a can of big, fat, career-devouring worms.

Can you imagine a mechanic setting your car up to never start unless you paid? Or an appliance tech making your refrigerator shut down for non-payment? Of course not - these are silly ideas, and so is yours. We are in a service industry and as such, you either take payment prior to returning the machine (just like the mechanic keeps your key until you pay) or you take your chances. If you don't get paid, then you take other, legal and ethical, actions. Your idea certainly fails he ethical test, and probably fails the legal test.

 

[red12049]

I can't find that thread either, but as Xander pointed out, this is at best a bad idea, and at worst an illegal one. This is one of the reasons most of us take payment before returning the computer. For residential this is just how business is done. In my case, I sometimes give business net 30 terms, and I have never been burned. I can't imagine you intend this for businesses though, because you truly would be opening a can of big, fat, career-devouring worms.

Can you imagine a mechanic setting your car up to never start unless you paid? Or an appliance tech making your refrigerator shut down for non-payment? Of course not - these are silly ideas, and so is yours. We are in a service industry and as such, you either take payment prior to returning the machine (just like the mechanic keeps your key until you pay) or you take your chances. If you don't get paid, then you take other, legal and ethical, actions. Your idea certainly fails he ethical test, and probably fails the legal test.

Actually (in the U.S., at any rate), both the "Buy Here, Pay Here" used car lots and the "Rent To Own" industries use exactly such devices to ensure timely payment. Fail to pay? Good luck with your car or computer.

Perfectly legal on this side of the pond.

Rick

 

[rjframe]

Does anyone know if a program exists that could be setup to stop a computer to stop working after a preset time unless a special code was entered to reset the time counter

It does exist; we call it malware.

Actually (in the U.S., at any rate), both the "Buy Here, Pay Here" used car lots and the "Rent To Own" industries use exactly such devices to ensure timely payment. Fail to pay? Good luck with your car or computer.

Perfectly legal on this side of the pond.

Rick

Seriously? I've never seen it, though I've never used any of those services.

Anyway, there is a small difference between that and the question here. Those companies are selling use of their assets -- until you've paid every penny, the item still belongs to them. It's kind of like 30 day software trials. You only get continued service if you paid for it.

The OP is talking about making sure they pay for repairing the client's own PC. There is no continued service here, just a completed one.

--Ryan

 

[chetreynolds]

We also have used computers in the shop this would be used to sell them on a payment schedule .

 

[3ft]

We also have used computers in the shop this would be used to sell them on a payment schedule .

I've heard of this being used at Rent-To-Own shops, although I've never seen it.

Google PCRental Agent, that seems to be what you may be looking for.

 

[oldtech]

Actually a programmer here in the states recently got significant jail time for doing exactly what you are proposing. He included the ability to remotely disable (via locking the users out) if payment was not made.

I'll have to look up the case but it was in the news.

 

[14049752]

I don't see this as working very well... legality and morality aside.

My opinion on payment plans has always been that I'm not in the business of extending credit to people. Credit cards and banks do that, and I'll gladly accept payment from them. If you're giving a system to someone with the intent to have them pay monthly, that's really just an unsecured loan to them and you're offering it based mostly on faith. I find that most people that ask "do you take monthly payments" are really saying "My credit sucks."

There's where your program comes in...they don't pay, you use your kill switch. They have at least two options: Pay or just have Jimmy down the street reload it with his bootleg copy of Windows. Alternatively, they could just destroy it/toss it out/etc...because it's not THEIR money that paid for it, it's yours.

I would suggest against taking payments for systems directly and partnering with an established company to offer financing. Let them run the credit checks and take on the risk...

 

['putertutor]

Actually (in the U.S., at any rate), both the "Buy Here, Pay Here" used car lots and the "Rent To Own" industries use exactly such devices to ensure timely payment. Fail to pay? Good luck with your car or computer.

Perfectly legal on this side of the pond.

Rick

Never heard of these. Regardless, these businesses own those items outright until they are paid off. It is entirely different than what the OP is talking about.

 

[lsi]

get a CC number on file

The only way I can see you doing something like this and not getting into a huge amount of trouble (at least in the US) is getting them to sign some sort of paperwork stating that they know the timebomb is in their system and they agree to the terms of it being there and activated if they don't pay. In my opinion it would be way easier to get them to sign something which submits a credit card number (that you verify) and says if they fail to pay for any services their card will be billed. At least it increases your chances of getting paid. If they are unhappy enough with you to not pay, they are not likely to go back to you to fix their time-bombed computer when it malfunctions or locks them out; they will find another tech to get around it.

-Den

 

[Xander]

There's where your program comes in...they don't pay, you use your kill switch. They have at least two options: Pay or just have Jimmy down the street reload it with his bootleg copy of Windows. Alternatively, they could just destroy it/toss it out/etc...because it's not THEIR money that paid for it, it's yours.

I would suggest against taking payments for systems directly and partnering with an established company to offer financing. Let them run the credit checks and take on the risk...

Quoted/emphasized for truth.

Ultimately, this is where it comes down to being a bad idea. Unless you put the timebomb right in the BIOS, you can't prevent them from reformatting/reinstalling.

You risk either loss of reputation or loss of capital. It really is a lose-lose venture.

 

[shamrin]

Actually (in the U.S., at any rate), both the "Buy Here, Pay Here" used car lots and the "Rent To Own" industries use exactly such devices to ensure timely payment. Fail to pay? Good luck with your car or computer.

Perfectly legal on this side of the pond.

Rick

Used Car Dealers, now there's the model we should be emulating in our business