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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be a little annoyed that the computer shop watched a series on my laptop?

109 replies

JetTail · 19/02/2022 19:54

A couple of weeks ago I spilt a drink over my laptop. I dropped it into a computer repair shop. I collected it yesterday. They had asked for my password to access the laptop (it wouldn't turn on when I dropped it in).
When I collected it, the man showed that it was working and my browser opened up which has pages which open up automatically. I was a little concerned as 2 of the pages are my email accounts, one of which I use for day to day stuff and the other which I use for work related emails and financial emails. Nothing too traumatic that they might have found but they would have automatically been logged in and the other pages that automatically opens up are Facebook and Amazon.
However, today, I was looking for something to watch on Amazon Prime and found a series. Every episode has been watched.

AIBU to be fucking peeved that these fuckers obviously used my Prime account to watch a series?
It's one of these little phone/computer shops. Not a chain or anything.
I'm trying not to be annoyed and to tell myself that no harm was done and at least if they were watching some programmes (12 episodes), then they probably were not snooping through my emails.

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 20/02/2022 10:11

Op I'd change your passwords. They could have sent a password reminder from Amazon or even reset it (you may not notice unless youve tried signing into prime elsewhere) and deleted the evidence from your emails. They could be watching stuff on their own devices using your account.

DropYourSword · 20/02/2022 10:14

@JetTail

I'm not that calm Bobby lol. If I am going to complain, I'll kick up a stink. It's so fucking annoying to think some bastard has been snooping through your laptop.
Drama llama!

It's hardly snooping!

ThatsNotMyGolem · 20/02/2022 10:15

Leave a review and mention it.

RedKite96 · 20/02/2022 10:22

This reply has been deleted

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MischievousBiscuits · 20/02/2022 10:23

I understand you being annoyed. They've basically mooched off your amazon prime. If they needed to stream content to check it was working they could have easily used a free platform and explained they would need to do that.

DGRossetti · 20/02/2022 13:24

They've basically mooched off your amazon prime. and polluted the OPs search history and goodness knows what. Let's just hope the OP does start having inappropriate ads popping up. Or get a visit from the local constabulary "checking their thinking" about those tweets.

There is a reason you should never give out your password. Especially to anyone who asks.

balalake · 20/02/2022 13:45

How did you pay the £120? Could you ask for a chargeback? Or check how long it could be before you do so, and then try to get some form of reduction on the charge/money back.

Hont1986 · 20/02/2022 13:49

If it isn't in your watch history then they didn't watch it, did they?

Chisandbiscuits · 20/02/2022 13:56

My DH is a computer repair and networking technician who has access every day to people's devices, passwords and private data. No way on earth would he do that, it is a breach of trust and ethics. To be fair, they must be pretty crap at what they do to have the time to watch a twelve episode series. DH barely has time to breathe he has so much work on. I would complain, if you don't they'll keep doing stuff like this and it's not on.

Seemssounfair · 20/02/2022 13:57

I wouldn't use them again and I would leave a review stating the facts, but other than that there is little you can do.

Feels a bit like having a tradesman in who has a poke around your kitchen drawers for a nosey, no harm done, but just not professional.

BusterGonad · 20/02/2022 15:08

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MischievousBiscuits · 20/02/2022 16:27

@DGRossetti

They've basically mooched off your amazon prime. and polluted the OPs search history and goodness knows what. Let's just hope the OP does start having inappropriate ads popping up. Or get a visit from the local constabulary "checking their thinking" about those tweets.

There is a reason you should never give out your password. Especially to anyone who asks.

That's a very good point!
Arabellla · 20/02/2022 17:06

@BusterGonad

It's not on/in your watched list, you are jumping to conclusions, why would they use a customers lap top to watch TV? You are not 100% sure so why ruin someone's reputation by leaving a snotty review over something you're not even sure about? And do a charge back on the card. Are you for real. Life is hard enough at the moment, let alone with paranoid freaks ruining people's livelihoods. This place is crazy sometimes.
I agree and I think this is why OP has disappeared.
BusterGonad · 20/02/2022 17:32

Thanks Arabella, sometimes I think I live on another planet. So much vindictiveness on here sometimes.

MissConductUS · 20/02/2022 17:32

YABU. When a computer has accidental damage, particularly from a spill, it's hard to know exactly which internal components have been harmed. So after repairing or replacing those which have obviously been damaged it is common practice to run demanding software on the laptop for an extended period of time to see if any further errors occur. That's very likely why the streamed all of those videos.

DGRossetti · 20/02/2022 19:11

@MissConductUS

YABU. When a computer has accidental damage, particularly from a spill, it's hard to know exactly which internal components have been harmed. So after repairing or replacing those which have obviously been damaged it is common practice to run demanding software on the laptop for an extended period of time to see if any further errors occur. That's very likely why the streamed all of those videos.
Which you don't need the users password for. Assuming you know what you are doing.
Plump82 · 20/02/2022 19:27

@Seemssounfair

I wouldn't use them again and I would leave a review stating the facts, but other than that there is little you can do.

Feels a bit like having a tradesman in who has a poke around your kitchen drawers for a nosey, no harm done, but just not professional.

But she doesn't have facts as she's admitted herself her watch list isn't showing them all to be watched. So just now she's going off what she thinks might have happened. On this occasion I'd be chalking it up as experience and maybe thinking twice about who you give your passwords to.
ImInStealthMode · 20/02/2022 23:27

Spoke about this in more depth to DP; a while ago now but was a qualified technician for a major brand.

They had the capability to crack into a laptop / desktop computer without a password, but absolutely would not do it without original proof of purchase (or on occasion the original owner's death certificate). Even they couldn't crack a phone or tablet without the password, they could only wipe them clean - albeit still linked to the original owner's account.

Different brands will be different, but he'd expect one or the other to be required by any legit technician. Anyone who doesn't ask for some personal info to get into your machine is probably cracking and wiping stolen goods under the counter on the regular.

Run of the mill for them to stream something to check internals are all working. Often YouTube but if a client had a streaming site bookmarked and logged in then not out of the question they'd use that, quicker and easier.

Shockingly to some on this thread a technician who's fixed your device does have access to all your data and will definitely skim through it (including photos) when copying from one device or drive to another to check for errors or broken files, but they do it all day every day and couldn't give a toss about trawling the finer details of the content, even if they had the time.

What they didn't do was drop everything and binge a 12 hour series (These are out and proud geeks; if they were that desperate to watch anything specific they'd find and download it elsewhere).

This is just his experience working for a big player circa 10 years ago, different brands and companies will have different codes of practice.

Valeriekat · 21/02/2022 07:30

Did they watch porn also?
Sign you up for any subscriptions?
put on spyware?
They could have done anything.
I would be furious!

willithappen · 21/02/2022 08:07

There's a reason OP hasn't come back

Original poster
JetTail · 22/02/2022 00:32

@willithappen

There's a reason OP hasn't come back
And what would that be?

If you watch part of a film or something, it will show up blue to the point you've watched it (a blue line along the bottom).

If you start to re-watch that film however, it will show up as only having been watched to the point that you are now in.

I'm annoyed but whatever. Passwords changed.

OP posts:
Original poster
JetTail · 22/02/2022 00:34

@ImInStealthMode

Spoke about this in more depth to DP; a while ago now but was a qualified technician for a major brand.

They had the capability to crack into a laptop / desktop computer without a password, but absolutely would not do it without original proof of purchase (or on occasion the original owner's death certificate). Even they couldn't crack a phone or tablet without the password, they could only wipe them clean - albeit still linked to the original owner's account.

Different brands will be different, but he'd expect one or the other to be required by any legit technician. Anyone who doesn't ask for some personal info to get into your machine is probably cracking and wiping stolen goods under the counter on the regular.

Run of the mill for them to stream something to check internals are all working. Often YouTube but if a client had a streaming site bookmarked and logged in then not out of the question they'd use that, quicker and easier.

Shockingly to some on this thread a technician who's fixed your device does have access to all your data and will definitely skim through it (including photos) when copying from one device or drive to another to check for errors or broken files, but they do it all day every day and couldn't give a toss about trawling the finer details of the content, even if they had the time.

What they didn't do was drop everything and binge a 12 hour series (These are out and proud geeks; if they were that desperate to watch anything specific they'd find and download it elsewhere).

This is just his experience working for a big player circa 10 years ago, different brands and companies will have different codes of practice.

Aw. Your man has spoken.
OP posts:
willithappen · 22/02/2022 04:48

Because you have proof at all that they watched it and don't seem to understand properly how Amazon works.

You are refusing to even discuss it with the shop or ask them and instead just assuming the worst. It's highly doubtful they sat and watched 12 hours of your Netflix (which by your comments it now doesn't even seem like 12 hours worth )

ImInStealthMode · 22/02/2022 07:34

@JetTail Yes, he's given a reasoned point of view from the other side of your story. A professional answer to your bluster and assumptions. A reason why they need your password to access your device.

But fine, you toddle off still disgruntled that your own clumsiness meant that someone else had to access your laptop and all it's precious precious secrets. Fuck knows how you expect them to fix it without looking at it Hmm

Ogel · 22/02/2022 07:39

These are out and proud geeks

Ah yes everyone who works in IT, specifically fixing laptops which is quite formulaic so doesn't actually require much in depth knowledge are out and proud geeks. I know beside the point but perhaps if this ridiculous stereotype, believed to be true by people who can't see beyond people they know, was dispelled more people would see it as the promising career it is.

OP I'd be annoyed too, I took my phone to the shop for repair once and when I picked it up they commented on the photos (which they had no business looking at)- I was disgusted. Of course the vast majority are profession, like any job some aren't.