THE closure of schools and the ensuing surge in demand for computers for home teaching has brought a warning from Redditch-based Quickfix Computers.
Technical manager Carl Davis said such was the demand that people were paying ‘silly prices’ for not only second-hand machines but also for low-spec new ones.
“We do sell pre-owned machines but the demand is sky high – people are snapping them up and I’ve heard many are paying silly prices for them,” he said.
“It’s all about supply and demand and we’ve also heard about people paying a lot of money for new ones that are low-spec.
“There are so many people working from home and now the need for home schooling and you can’t have five people trying to work off a single mobile phone.”
Such has been the demand from schools for laptops that the government has pledged to help disadvantaged children who do not have access to one, with local MP for Redditch Rachel MacLean contacting headteachers to gauge demand.
She said: “With schools moving to online learning, it’s vital everyone has access to the devices they need.
“That’s why I’ve been in touch with the county council and Redditch headteachers about the laptops and devices they need for students who don’t have access to one at home.”
Carl also said the Unicorn Hill business was being kept busy by people hoodwinked by scammers into giving their personal and bank details away.
“There are a lot of scams going round and we have had a lot of older people who’ve been sent an email claiming to be from their bank and asking them to go to a website which allows the fraudsters to have access to their bank accounts,” he said.
“This is really traumatic for the person concerned and then their bank won’t allow them to open another online account unless they have their computer cleaned, which is what we do.”
