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What I can help with
If it has a plug, a battery or a screen, it’s probably on this list. And if it isn’t, ring me anyway. It very likely still is. At the clinic, in your home, or over the phone.
Everyday devices
Phones and tablets
The device most people use most, and the one that changes under them without warning.
- Setting up a brand new phone or tablet
- Moving everything across from an old one
- Making text and icons bigger and easier to read
- Contacts that have gone missing
- “Storage full” messages
- Updates that won’t install, or installed and changed everything
- Turning off notifications that never stop
- Getting the ringer working again
- WhatsApp, messages and photo sharing
- Apps you didn’t mean to buy
Laptops and computers
Computers that have slowed to a crawl
Usually fixable, and usually far cheaper than replacing the whole thing.
- Computers running slowly or freezing
- Windows updates and upgrades
- Setting up a new laptop properly
- Rescuing files from an old or broken machine
- Backing up photos and documents safely
- Removing viruses and unwanted programs
- Getting rid of pop-ups and browser nonsense
- Word, email and everyday programs
- Making the screen easier on the eyes
- Safely wiping a machine before you pass it on
Television and music
Smart TVs, sound bars and streaming
New homes come with clever televisions and four remote controls. This is one of the most common things I’m asked about.
- Setting up a new television from scratch
- Netflix, iPlayer, ITVX, Prime and YouTube
- Logging back in when it’s signed itself out
- Sound bars, speakers and hearing the dialogue
- Reducing four remotes down to one
- Freeview, aerials and missing channels
- Subtitles and accessibility settings
- Playing music you remember, on demand
- Casting photos from a phone to the TV
- Radio, podcasts and audiobooks
Getting connected
Wi-fi, routers and printers
The invisible plumbing. When it works nobody thinks about it, and when it doesn’t nothing else works either.
- Wi-fi that won’t reach the back bedroom
- Setting up a new router or broadband
- Wi-fi passwords nobody can find
- Connecting a new device to the internet
- Printers that refuse to print
- Printing from a phone or tablet
- Scanning and sending documents to family
- Ink, paper jams and error lights
- Switching broadband provider without losing email
- Smart speakers, doorbells and plugs
Staying safe
Scams, fraud and keeping your money where it belongs
The part of this job I care about most. Please never feel embarrassed about asking. These frauds are designed by professionals to fool clever people.
If it’s happening right now: hang up, then ring your bank on 159: a free, safe number that works with most UK banks. Then ring me and I’ll check the device over.
- Checking whether an email or text is genuine
- Cold calls claiming your computer has a problem
- Fake delivery and parcel messages
- What to do if you’ve already clicked something
- Making online banking safe and simple
- Passwords you can actually remember
- Two-step login, explained without the jargon
- Removing software a scammer installed
- Stopping the calls and messages coming back
- Talking it through with your family
Keeping in touch
Seeing the family, wherever they are
Of everything I do, this is the bit that gets the biggest smiles.
- Video calls set up with one big obvious button
- FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom and Messenger
- Sending and receiving photographs
- Getting old photos off a camera or phone
- Digital photo frames that update themselves
- Email that works and doesn’t fill up with rubbish
- Online shopping and supermarket deliveries
- Booking GP appointments and NHS App
- Prescription ordering online
- Anything the grandchildren have set up and left you with
Not on the list?
This page could go on for ever, and people still surprise me. If it plugs in, charges up or lights up, ring me and ask. The answer is nearly always yes.
And a great many of these I can sort out over the phone, without coming to you at all, wherever in the country you happen to be.
Come to the clinic, or I’ll come to you
Free every Friday at Wadswick Green, or £50 an hour in your own home with no call-out fee.