At what point does dishonesty become acceptable?

[DCGPX]

Another breach of the law would occur when a .co.uk business website is registered with the UK registrar as:
"
The registrant is a non-trading individual
"

double trouble...

Which law?? I was advised to register as an individual for my domains by Business Link, checking whois shows as "UK Individual".

Now I'm wondering if I've inadvertently broke some law and need to change via my registrar

 

[iptech]

Which law?? I was advised to register as an individual for my domains by Business Link, checking whois shows as "UK Individual".

Now I'm wondering if I've inadvertently broke some law and need to change via my registrar

There is no law on this, don't worry about it. You've done nothing wrong, as a sole trader you have no option but to register your domain as an individual.

This is the second thread today 'wimwauters' has hijacked with his pugnatious, unnecessary and inaccurate remarks. I don't believe he was aiming at you, Martyn or any other members other than myself. He's only dragged this thread up as he was trolling through my Technibble profile, it doesn't seem he was trying to make a credible contribution to either thread and it appears he's trying to bait a flame war at my expense.

C'est la vie.

 

[DCGPX]

Aw well, at least some good came out of it from my point of view, one of my domains had very outdated info, so just updated both to show correct info!

Couldn't find anything on a law as such either but it served a purpose as mentioned!

 

[reesk92]

hmm thats a tough one i suppose never although if its to save trouble then maybe

for instance

you are asked to take a look at a computer and find love letters to a husbands love affair the wife asks you if you found anything maybe saying no would be ok

but in regard to pure buisness never

althoiugh i think everyone has been a teensy little bit disohonest in there career even something as small as saying your better than the local pc wiz kid

 

[wimwauters]

Which law?? I was advised to register as an individual for my domains by Business Link, checking whois shows as "UK Individual".

Now I'm wondering if I've inadvertently broke some law and need to change via my registrar

There's a significant difference between "individual" and "non-trading individual".

The usual way for scammers and dodgy people to get round having to publish their trading address, is to register their business or domain against an anonymous PO box somewhere in London.

Also, it's against the law to pretend - or give the impression of - being a director, when acting as a sole trader. I've seen people fibbing on business cards and, more recently, their websites

You might well be a director elsewhere, but you can't use that to deceive people about your sole tradership.

In short: it's much easier to be honest, but I guess that takes a lot of courage and self-confidence

 

[Bryce W]

Cleaned this thread up. Keeping it open because there is some interesting parts of it, but its being watched closely.

 

[iptech]

Cleaned this thread up. Keeping it open because there is some interesting parts of it, but its being watched closely.

Thanks Bryce.

Filler text

 

[Xander]

I think it might be more than Cmonova might want to get into but, for ACRBO members, what about requiring that any certification claims link back to their profile page on the accreditation site? Or, that their cert# be included in an Alt tag on the cert's logo? (You get the idea)

Unless someone actually states that they don't have certs and I look at their site and they're claiming them publicly, I've got no way of knowing.

Edit: To walk the talk, I've linked my own A+ logo on my local site to my own cert.

 

[cmonova]

I think it might be more than Cmonova might want to get into but, for ACRBO members, what about requiring that any certification claims link back to their profile page on the accreditation site? Or, that their cert# be included in an Alt tag on the cert's logo? (You get the idea)

Unless someone actually states that they don't have certs and I look at their site and they're claiming them publicly, I've got no way of knowing.

You're absolutely correct...not something I want to get into

Seriously I have thought about it, but then I look at myself and I have done all the Comptia certs, MCSE, CCNP, etc...I don't see a need to link to my certs on all their respective sites. If a customer does not go with my business due to "verification" of certs I don't really care.

I think the word is "integrity" and in any business there will be that small percentage but I would hope in the Association that those members do have
integrity.

Maybe in the future, but too many other things on the table at this sec.

 

[maclaptech]

OK, I don't know about the rest of you, but when was the last time that being certified made much of a difference to a customer? Do they "even" know what the heck it means?

When was the last time you went to a car mechanic and new that their certs meant? Do you choose your oil change shop based on their certs?

Most customers are worried about having their computers fix and fixed at the good price and fast.

Does Geek Squad put any certifications on their main page? does it even matter if you think about it? Look how much business they get.

In my opinion people are more worried about how long you have been in business than how many certs you have...

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

OK, I don't know about the rest of you, but when was the last time that being certified made much of a difference to a customer? Do they "even" know what the heck it means?

When was the last time you went to a car mechanic and new that their certs meant? Do you choose your oil change shop based on their certs?

Most customers are worried about having their computers fix and fixed at the good price and fast.

Does Geek Squad put any certifications on their main page? does it even matter if you think about it? Look how much business they get.

In my opinion people are more worried about how long you have been in business than how many certs you have...

spot on, you're absolutely right

also, testimonials help a lot

 

[Atlantech]

After reading this 6 page thread.....I come the realization that some people on here have absolutly no life and nothing better to do than drill through other members profiles and try to poke holes. I am a fairly new member and I must say that this discourages me from even being a member here. I feel there were some vaild points made about pretending to have certs. I agree! But, at the same time snooping around members profiles and purposely "looking" for something wrong is just insane. Only a nutcase would do that.

\rant

 

[ATTech]

After reading this 6 page thread.....I come the realization that some people on here have absolutly no life and nothing better to do than drill through other members profiles and try to poke holes. I am a fairly new member and I must say that this discourages me from even being a member here.

Welcome to the internet.

OK, I don't know about the rest of you, but when was the last time that being certified made much of a difference to a customer? Do they "even" know what the heck it means?

It doesn't matter if they know what it means; it's eye candy. People are fickle and impressionable. They don't see the certifications and say "Well this person seems to be a more qualified candidate; that Security+ certification will surely help plug holes in my network."

They see certifications and say "Look, s/he's got more of those logo thingies that say s/he can do stuff; s/he must be better."

Does Geek Squad put any certifications on their main page? does it even matter if you think about it? Look how much business they get.

They've built a brand, people are already given a good impression by that, they don't need pretty pictures to help them. Besides, certifications aren't required for them, so posting one wouldn't be very honest.

 

[Martyn]

I agree. I put things on the website because at the end of the day the client chooses you or not on what they see on your site. They may not understand the logos etc but given the choice between say Microsoft Certified or not might make a difference between going with you or not. I have the ACRBO logo, again it might just give you the edge.

I know from some of the sites I see there is no way I would go with the company if the site looked amateurish. I always ask the client where they got my name from and if through Google why did they go with me and most of the time it's just the recommendations.

 

[Xander]

OK, I don't know about the rest of you, but when was the last time that being certified made much of a difference to a customer?

I think the main point of the thread is the difference between actually having certs and claiming to have certs.

 

[iptech]

They see certifications and say "Look, s/he's got more of those logo thingies that say s/he can do stuff; s/he must be better."

Which is grand if those certifications are genuinely held, but if the claimant is laying false claim to those qualifications and the 'tech' who's stolen the business by making false claim does an incompetent job, which profession as a whole takes the rap for being a bunch of shisters?

 

[reesk92]

ouch that thread tunred nasty in the end didnt it

couple things struck me

1. he was blatently trying to advertise his site by throwing his websites urls into his posts which also would puch him up google

2. for some reason he thinks he can take on a respected and long time member and discredit him just so he can get away with his spamming

3. his multiple websites seem verry dumb all he needed to do is put the names of the towns cites he worked in in a keyword section on one single site not make the 10+ websites

is this guy for real

if i wanna know how buisness for you guys is going id just say

hey guys just opened my buisness front hows work goign for you this time of year

i didnt even bother reading the countless lines of text cause im old fasioned i guess if you cant capture my interest in the first 4 lines or make any sign of not rambling i aint gonna read

and on that note im shutting up cause i am rambling

 

[basic]

Which is grand if those certifications are genuinely held, but if the claimant is laying false claim to those qualifications and the 'tech' who's stolen the business by making false claim does an incompetent job, which profession as a whole takes the rap for being a bunch of shisters?

But does that really directly affect your reputation or your ability to make money? There are tons of professions that are known for shady professionals; doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, mechanics, etc. Those professions have, probably, worse reputations than computer repair professionals but people still use their services and good men/women are acknowledged as being reputable. In addition, the professions I cited have some certifications, educational programs, codes of conduct, and/or professional organizations but those measures have done nothing to prevent bad or incompetent people from entering the industry or pose as legit professionals.

All I am saying is, yeah, try to keep end users or fake professionals out of this forum the best we can. But, of course this is my opinion, all these claims about them ruining the reputation of the entire profession are a bit overblown and overestimated.

 

[iptech]

all these claims about them ruining the reputation of the entire profession are a bit overblown and overestimated.

What claims? Certainly misrepresentation will damage the public image of any professional, but as long as there are enough reputable practitioners the reputation overall will not be "ruined".

 

[basic]

What claims? Certainly misrepresentation will damage the public image of any professional, but as long as there are enough reputable practitioners the reputation overall will not be "ruined".

Which is grand if those certifications are genuinely held, but if the claimant is laying false claim to those qualifications and the 'tech' who's stolen the business by making false claim does an incompetent job, which profession as a whole takes the rap for being a bunch of shisters?

I meant claims like that and the other times you have expressed those concerns. I agree with you that people may have reservations when dealing with technicians because of the stereotype, akin to lawyers, doctors, etc. However, I think it is a chance for real professionals to build loyalty. Because of that shyster reputation, when a customer finds someone that is good and trustworthy, they will stick with them. Much like when you find a good auto mechanic.

But I'm not trying to disagree with you about trying to rid the forums of these characters. My disagreement is about the constant proclamation that a code of conduct or governing body would be the panacea for cleaning up the profession. While it would be nice, even the oldest and most mature professions that have these measures in place still get their fair share of con men that taint the public perception of those professions.