Tech Support Terrors: 4 People No IT Worker Should Have To Tolerate


Tech support terrors, or those people who should never be allowed around technology, bring equal parts laughs and fear from your typical IT professional.

On the one hand, they provide great stories to relive over beers after a long workday. On the other, there is so much else to do that it’s aggravating having to help someone learn how to turn on their computer.

I was reminded of this recently when a tech support terror story hit the first page of Reddit. User ImRachaelGreep shared an experience involving her Nana.

“My Nana asked me to fix her phone because ‘the outside clock is always showing the wrong time.'”

The Reddit user was able to tap into advanced skills and training to discover the issue.

Tech Support Terrors Bad Time

This story was up to 377 comments shortly after being posted and currently resides at the top of Reddit’s front page.

Here are some more classic tech support horror stories from the r/talesfromtechsupport subreddit.

For a second I thought this lady was trolling me or something:

Me: Ok, I’m just going to need you to unplug the power cord from the back of the Actiontec router, wait 10 seconds, and then plug it back in

[customer instantly switches to rage mode]

Customer: WHAT?! DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE ASKING ME TO DO?! DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE?!

Me: [trying hard not to laugh]…..to unplug the power?

Customer: YES, I’D HAVE TO MOVE ALL THIS CRAP AND I’D HAVE TO MOVE THIS HUGE DESK AND EVERYTHING TO GET TO IT! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!

Me: But you said the actiontec is sitting right there in front of you right?

Customer: Yes!

Me: You just have to unplug right it from the back of the actiontec not from the wall socket..

Customer: Oh….

And if that’s not enough to make you seek out your IT professional and give them a hug, maybe these will do the trick.

Monday morning.

“First cup of coffee down, tickets are piling up as we are moving headquarters shortly. While browsing through my to-do list, an new ticket comes in from Legal marked as a high-priority. Uh oh.

Subject: Urgent, action needed.

Hello. I need the phone number for [insert first and last name here]. Can you please provide it to me?

Um… This person is still employed here. Works in the next cubical area over from her desk (about 50 feet).

My response –

His contact information is listed in our Corporate directory. If you cannot find that info, please send him an email.”

And then there’s this one.

“Me> IT what can I do for you today?

User> I cant enter my password into this website

Me> ok lets take a look here (connecting to users computer)

Me> go ahead and try again I’m gona watch you..

User> see I cant enter anything!

Me> let me try ( 5 seconds later I realize shes trying to enter her password into a video with a enter password here demonstration, so I click play on the video)

User> No!!! NO go back!!! I need to enter my password!!

Me> its just a video you cant do anything to it… (sounding confused)

User> But I need to enter my password here!

Me> its just a password video, you just need to watch it.

User> But I need to enter my password here on the screen!

Me> Just watch the video it will show you how to enter your password on the actual website you use for training

User> So I cant enter my password here?

Me> No.. its just a video like youtube or your training videos

User> (lightbulb turns on…) oh its a video?”

Do you work in tech support, or know someone who does? What are some tech support horror stories that stick with you? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image via Flickr Creative Commons]

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