Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/08/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am a photographer. My computer disk was full, so I hired Mehul to help me delete an extra copy of photo files I understood was on my hard drive, and to help me set up my 2nd external hard drive so that I would have 3 copies (only) of all my Photographs - one in *********, and two external copies. ********* was already set up so that it automatically made a second copy to one of the external drives whenever I uploaded to *********. Mehul worked on my computer for the first time on May 30, 2024. Although he left operations running on my computer, I paid him $150 through e-transfer for that work on May 31, 2024.Afterwards, I discovered that 1) thousands of photos had been removed from ********* and were now ONLY on a back-up, including some of my 5-star photos that I currently sell, and 2) I could not access them to print as ********* would no longer recognize them (see photo). Mehul returned on July 16 to fix the problems (see photos) and again left operations running on my computer. I stupidly paid him another $50 in cash only to discover that the operation, which took 24 hours running on my computer, did not fix anything. My computer even crashed when the operation was finally finished (see photo).I paid him $200 in total and he not only did not do what I hired him to do, he caused more problems with my files. I just paid another computer expert $150 to undo those problems and to free up space and set up that 3rd backup (see photo). I just want my $200 back from Mehul, as he did not do what I hired him for and he caused more problems which I had to pay for to get fixed. He makes good money doing what he does. He has good reviews and a lot of customers. Every now and then he is going to makes mistakes and his customers shouldnt have to pay for them. At first, Mehul said he would pay me back $100 (see photo), but when I said I wanted all the money back, he told me he was not going to give me anything and not to contact him again.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/08/2024

  Its long story with her but I can try to explain my side…
  
  CX don’t know what she like to do I was onsite visit at least 4 time and last 2 visit totally free of charge to help her about issue as I understand that she is not sure what she is looking to do and nothing was removed all pictures she telling everyone lost or deleted are all there on another external hdd...
  
  she called me for onsite visit for getting low storage space issue/error in her **** and already brought 2 x 16gb ddr4 ram to install on her **** for more space so explain this is for speed and need more storage or hard drive for space issue...I did spend then about 2 hr. there with her to install memory then ask and get all info what she like to do then explain about all what I was doing as her main HDD in **** is getting full she need external drive for backup or move files but she already have 2 ext. that she is not using and connected to **** so I help her backup all files on one ext. hdd and move all older than 2022 photos to another external NOT REMOVED from **** just moved external and also help get auto back setup using time machine and I told her multiple time and also copy this photos to another external as double backup just in case as she have 2 already. Was taking long for backup as she has more than 40000+ pictures so I left and next day I make sure all setup and explain even again before I left on another day that this way all setup done that what she asked for and she was OK all I did to help get more storage space back on her **** and was the main reason for her onsite visit call.
  few days later she contacted that she cannot find few pictures and keep texting back and forth about issue and I was trying to help I know all moved not removed and as per last talk I know she did not get all or fully understand even I explain what we were doing so I go again and help her find out that she using app called ********* that have location from that old photos link removed from main folder but NOT actual photos removed and I explain I am not expert but I will help re-syncing photos from external hard drive took time as shows again more then 4-5 hrs. as this is not problem I created it was her asking when we talk about what we doing to move older picture to external hdd to make room on her **** and she told me that she is not worried about reusing or connecting this pictures back to that ********* as they are older than 2022 she like to work on newer and current projects so we make sure she have room on **** for it and moved to external hdd, now few days later start complaining she missing 1000 pictures from her ********* and older pictures so I go back and started re-sync/import in ********* as I tried to show her manually find and connect 1-2 photos but she says she not sure how to do this so put it all back as it is they are all there just need re-sync from external hdd as its taking long time about 4-5 hrs. then I left but using remote support I keep checking/texting and help to make sure all moved pictures are back in ********* it was still doing that sync for reimporting older pictures until next day but looks like it was reconnecting all older photos from backup drive then she got all picture including older pic back now and then next day I have family emergency so I have to go to USA I told her I was leaving may takes time but will trying to help remotely or once I am back but she is not understanding my situation and keep texting asking for refund and I explain issue and we both agree on $100 refund to her and will help or find someone that look after this issue then my flight got delay then cancelled from USA and next day she think I am trying to avoid or whatever she start sending me threating text and telling me she will sue me for this mess that I make which is totally wrong so I decided not to work with her anymore and stop rep***** back to her.
  
  now she files complain about work I did but she did not understand what and in process all pictures are moved that I clearly explain all are in external hard drive and show her in my last visit all there we open  nothing removed few of them not linked so as per her complain that I deleted all her pictures is totally wrong and baseless and clueless from her side yes they are not showing in ********* as linked or editing but I need to get time to find out why and how to link them as I did get her most of the old pictures back in ********* as if I did removed them then how next repair tech that she talking about how he is able to get all this pictures reconnected in ********* back if she can explain me I will pay her refund back all $200 providing that other tech did just reimport or did recovery this files using what app and from where tech able to find them as they never deleted from her **** just moved to external hard drive just not sync or imported properly may be issue that I was trying to explain but not able to get done on time because of out of country family issue took me week there and that’s the service I got paid only $50 on my 3rd visit but main work done for $150 on first day all are only to help her install memory and make room on her **** even did not charge her for all auto backup using time machine I setup for whole her **** just because she have another external hdd connected doing nothing that she even not sure why and she have more then 40000+ pictures she know that ask her so putting me on this situation and mental stress I am not going refund for her anything now. Sorry.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/08/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  It began with an untruth - that Mehul visited my house 4 times, and twice without pay. Mehul was here only twice - the first time I sent him $150 by e-transfer for his visit, the second time, when he came to try to fix the mess he had created, although he had said it would be a free visit, I still gave him $50 in cash afterwards for his time.
  He continues to accuse me of saying my photos were lost, when I actually said they were moved out of my hard drive and rendered unrecognizable by *********. The computer expert I paid didnt find lost photos, he rendered the photos that Mehul had removed recognizable by ********* again so I could edit and print them again. It was a simple, yet time-consuming process that Mehul never figured out. I paid Mehul for his time to try to figure it out. I also paid the new guy to actually fix those files. How is that okay?
  I could go on. I am disgusted with Mehuls attitude. I was kind and patient while he experimented with my photography files. And again, I would never have okayed moving my best photos out of *********.

  Mehul was the expert I hired. He not only did not do the job I hired him for, he created problems and expense for me and took my $200 for it. 
  Its despicable. 
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business Response

  Date: 13/08/2024

  I am sorry you are going through this and thinking i am untrust worthy and please stop calling me and ********* me here if you file case then you dont call people ***********, complaining and sending VM to them, yourself shows you are ***** in this case here you open case you keep telling I deleted your photos so I did reply and I explain back now you keep changing your story shows how you treating me now you accepting I did not deleted but go through from beginning on this case you keep telling I deleted and once i explain now you know that its not deleted but its not rendering or link or showing in ********* app you change response now and I did tell you that I am not expert but will help you in the issue as the main reason you hire me for to make space on your **** main drive and install memory and I go above all this to help because when we moved all your photos to external we talk that this that you ok and old pictures you dont need to edit or use for devolve but keep it so we moved and help even auto backup because on another drive that you have spare not using, I do this for 10+ years and I know how importance photos and files are for any customer not just for you so I help all together and then you try devolve older files then we know its not link but physical files are still there I was there to show you know that they are there and still accusing me for deleting your photos which is not right and fair even I keep explaining that also I tried and help then remote support also done to relink connected and then you keep blaming that all your pictures are back in ********* old and new and few are missing this the same issue as I am having family issues and find time and trying get them connected and then offer refund and you agree on $100 back as per we texted each other and have to left *** for this family issue which is not your problem I know and you OK $100 refund but what you done then after as I was just 2 days late coming back and can not help then start *********** to *** me I run business to so I also dont like if someone *** me so what I response to that so sorry that I could not help that way you looking and you agree then change to *** me then asking for all $200 refund is not acceptable response then way you treating and I did not done anything wrong I did inform you about what I am doing and confirm about refund and still you started texting me to *** what you do if you were in my place running business let us know please what you saying on this please - I am not giving you any refund back now because you wasted more of my time on this then I try to help you hope you understand and find much better person and tech then me that can understand your need and help you in future. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 13/08/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Mehul is not accepting responsibility for his errors or incompetence. He continues to say I accused him of losing my photos, when I did not say that. I have also not threatened him. I said that I hope he gets the same treatment he has given me. Even now, he did not even take the time to manually type a simple and  comprehensible reply. As can be seen from the documents I provided, and common sense. In addition to the $200 I lost to him, he caused me to have to pay money to an expert to undo the disorganization he created in my files. I chose him because of his ****** review score, but now realize my 1/5 review for him is inexplicably not showing up. 
  I ask that you please post this honest review of his behaviour. If I had seen it, I would not have hired him to work with my photography files. 

  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business Response

  Date: 13/08/2024

  I am sorry that you have to go thought this and i don't like it either as i never have anyone called me to shame myself and done like this to me in my life and if you think i am incompetence then it is may be if that you like to hear and think then make you comfortable it is as i am not that capable helping you the way you think then it was my mistake in first place to come and help you and go way more then what you asked for support but did not know that it will cause this much pain to me but i did try and spend time to help you but what i got in return i can see that and will accept the fate of treatment i will get for this as i dont have any more words to say for this now. good bless and stay safe and healthy, hope one day you will realize what you have done, I can not reply any more. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 15/08/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Mehul is unwilling to budge. He admits in texts to me that he does not know ********* well and does not know how to deal with the problems he created with my files. He agrees, at one point, to give me money back, but still wants to be paid for his time, even though I would have been paying him for the time he took to not do what I hired him for but instead, to create more problems for me that I had to pay someone else to fix. Again, if I take a tv to a repairman and he spends time breaking it further, should he get paid for his time? If I had waited to pay until I was certain he had done what I hired him to do, would not have paid him a cent. My mistake was assuming he really was a computer wiz and that whatever operation he had left running on my computer was the correct one. Again, I dont doubt he knows what hes doing in most other cases, but in this case, he did not, and I should get my money back. Judging by his lack of any accountability, I dont expect that to happen. I just ask that you please post my rating so that other potential consumers will be aware of this experience with Mehul, especially if they plan to trust him with their photography files. 

  Sincerely,
  
  *******************