to expect them to have hung on to my data

[santander]

I took my laptop to a local computer place where they do repairs and sales. It's keyboard was knackered but, I thought, repairable.

The technicial looked at it, took it into the back and came out shaking his head saying it's repairable but it's going to cost about a hundred quid to repair. It was a rubbish laptop - the battery was knackered and all the usb ports were glued in. I said I didn't want to spend any more money on it and said would they trade it in there and then for another. I negotiated a deal and bought a new one. Obviously my data was on it (dh's payroll etc) so i said i would return later on that day with my external drive. Well what with the three kids and everything this didn't happen until Friday, I went in, noone knew anything about it and they said the man that did the transaction was at a funeral and to call back in 2 days when he was back.

I called this morning, he said he would go and locate my laptop and call me back in 20 mins. He didnt. I called him, I was told he was on his lunch! (this man is the owner btw) So I got in the car with the two toddlers and drove down there. Climbed the 3 million steps to the unit and guess what? They've wiped my computer.

Their defence? They only keep the data for a week and then they delete it and do whatever with the traded in pc. I am livid. granted, I didn't get back straight away but NOONE told me I had to get back to them within the week and you'd thik they'd stick a post it on it or something and give me a call to chase it up.After all, they got another 600 quid outof me on the day :( I can't believe it...

AIBU?

AIBU ??

you aren't BU, but assuming your DH is an employer, was that personal data you handed over to them???

Hmm. The man tried that (head cocked sympathetically to one side) 'did you not have a back up?'

Grrrr

what do you mean stealth?

I really think you shouldn't have left it in the shop without backing up the data.

You mention payroll...am assuming that means names and salary details? If that is the case I suspect you would have been in breach of the DPA...

I know, I know, I'm a fuckwit. But is that really the point?

You didn't back it up and then complain when they do the responsible thing and wipe the laptop before passing it on?

I suppose they could have been a bit more efficient in how they managed the laptop while in their possession but if the data was an important as you say then its your fault for not backing it up in the first place.

Well they wiped it before she had had a chance to go back and get the backup, as had been agreed!

Well it was all passworded but IS THAT THE POINT?????????

Well it's not the point any more since it's gone (effectively we asume), but just thought I should mention :)

Well yes it is really. Under the DPA you have a responsibility to maintain the security and integrity of that data.

As I say, count your lucky stars that the repair shop wiped it instead of just passing it on for recycling.

Consider it a lesson on the virtues of backing up your data.

My DH takes weekly copies of everything and stores them in a fire proof at his mothers...

If you ever hand your laptop into a shop you should always backup important files. Its a golden rule

YABABU but I sympathise, been there done that sort of thing. Not quite getting round to things (sorry if I'm reading too much between the lines) is a terrible habit and while you can get away with it often, sometimes it can bite you on the bum. Did you ring to say you'd be in on Friday and remind them you wanted your data? At that point it was their laptop really, and if they'd had a buyer waiting they'd surely have been within their rights to sell it, so you were taking a pretty big risk not getting the data straight away.

(If you were part-exing a filing cabinet would you just leave all your important papers in there and assume they'd be OK for a few days in the furniture warehouse till you could come back to get them? This seems as odd tbh!)

This sort of thing never happens to people who (not like me) are sensible and efficient, back up regularly, allow time for important jobs and always keep their word about when they'll be back for something. The rest of us are just lucky if we get away with being a bit slack, and we can't really complain the times we don't!

Yabu.
It was no longer your laptop to dictate what should happen to it, you traded it in. It was their laptop. They wiped it. You should have backed it up prior to taking it for repairs.

I have NEVER taken a laptop to repairs without wiping the data MYSELF first. You were sloppy.

I honestly think they did not realize you would come back, it is just too unbelievable. Sorry.

YABU. You should always back up Data before taking a laptop to be repaired. The Data could easily get lost during the repair.

Would make an interesting legal case IMO.
No use to you, of course.

BTW what do you mean by another £600 ?

How long had you left it there ?

What does it say on the receipt ?

I was referred to the computer shop by my regular computer guy who hadhad a look at the keyboard, which had an intermittent fault, and said it just needed a clip. He bodged it up with tape for the time being and said he was off somewhere for the weekend and would source a part to fix it properly in the next few days. In the meantime the keyboard stopped functioning completely so I rang him - he was still away but he referred me to this shop - he said tell them gary sent you and hopefully they will have a part and fix it as a matter of urgency.

So, I took it there, and they looked at it and said that the ribbon had gone and it was a big job..

I looked around at the laptops on sale and asked how much they would give me as a trade in. I said I need a reliable laptop so I'll take the plunge and buy one. The owner said, 'obviously you'll need your data' and I said yes, I would, I'll have to come back with my external hard drive and transfer it. He informed me that they closed at one, I said there was no immediate hurry I would nip back in when I get a minute and we'll do it then. He said it shouldn't take too long. He said he'd put it in the back until I returned.

Time marched on....

I returned.
Noone knew anything about it. I feel shat on. He was happy enough to take my money on a trade in but when I came back in, he barely remembered me.

What's more, when I phoned my friend he said bollocks there was nothing wrong with the ribbon on the keyboard!