Annoying Things Techs Do (and Why!)

• Ask what were you doing when the problem occured. We use the scientific method to solve problems we try to eliminate all the possiblities to get to the root of the problem.
• Refuse to give you a short password. They are too easy to hack. It's harder if they are at least eight characters long and it's even harder to crack if you throw in upper and lower case and numbers with it. A good tech will never give you a password with less than 6 characters and I always give 8 with a combination of numbers and letters.
• Scold you for emailing a password. If you are sending your emails over a wireless router especially you are taking a big risk. We don't want your passwords intercepted. Your life will start to get ugly if they are! Emailing passwords is dangerous. Don't ever do it.
• Ask you to verify your home address and phone number. If I don't know your voice and you call me and ask to change your password, I'm going to ask for this to verify you are who you say you are. Simple as that. If you don't want to do this, then have your manager call and transfer me to you.
• Leave if you're on the phone. Often we have other people waiting after you. We have to make good use of our time.
• Ask what you have done already to try to resolve the problem. This is not asked to be annoying. We just don't want to repeat what you've done. It wastes your time and ours.
• Repeat things. I know I am way guilty of this, but sometimes it takes several times before something seems to "sink in."
• Remind you to back up your data. Data recovery prices are four figures. Few people can afford that kind of labor.  If you are really lazy about backing up, pay for Carbonite. They'll do it for you!