I bought this laptop back in August and about three weeks or a month ago, the speakers stopped working. Well, they work but only if the headphones are plugged in. Weird. I spent many hours trying to troubleshoot the problem myself and finally called Compaq customer support.

First, the support number on my computer had changed so I had to hang up and dial a new number. After listening a bunch and making a few selections, I found out I really should be at another number that is specifically related to Compaq (apparently I was at the HP only place). But this system automatically transferred me saving me one dial up.

After going through at least about 8 layers of automated questions, I finally get switched to the actual representative. During this process the call disconnects. Two more times and the same thing happens….layers of automated response only to have the call drop when transferring to India (I later found out).

On the fourth try, I finally get connected to a live body. After fully explaining my problem, the rep says “you have a laptop?? This is customer service for desktops!” I wanted to cry. One of the automated questions asked if I had a laptop or a desktop and which model I had…you’d think I’d get connected correctly.

He sends me somewhere else where that customer service person comes on the line with “so you have a Pavillion notebook?” (somehow I ended up back in HP land?) NO a Presairo. Oh, let me transfer you.

While I was waiting for the transfer, praying that the call wouldn’t drop I kept telling myself to get composure. I was ready to blow at the tech who answered even though I knew this hell wasn’t his fault.

Anyway, cutting to the end…after being on the phone with him for over an hour, he wasn’t able to troubleshoot my problem any better than I was. But the hardest thing to deal with is the language barrier. Oh sure, he spoke English but it was with and Indian accent and my ears don’t work with and Indian accents very well. There are just too many letter sounds that don’t translate and what is fine to deal with face to face is just impossible to deal with over the phone. Half the time I had to make him repeat his request 3 or 4 times before I understood it. It had to be just as hard for him. He was quite polite but the whole process was exhausting. Add to that, I’m now going to have to surrender my computer to the FedEx man on Wed and I won’t get it back for 10 days.

This was shit for customer service and if I don’t get a survey form, they’ll be hearing from me. Fat lot of good it will do but I’ll feel better.