Brid has more retired residents than almost anywhere else in the East Riding, and scammers know it. A lot of what I get asked is simply whether a text, an email or a phone call was genuine — and that's the easiest question of the lot to answer by email. Forward it to me and I'll tell you straight.
If you've had one of those calls where somebody claimed to be from Microsoft or your bank and talked you into installing something, don't feel daft about it. It happens to sharp people every day. That one's worth meeting up about so I can check the machine over properly.
There are plenty of cafés along the front and in the old town, so it's an easy place to sit down with a brew and go through it.
Ask me by email
Tell me what's going wrong in your own words — you don't need to know what anything is called. I'll work out what it's likely to be and talk you through fixing it, one step at a time. Ask as many questions as you like. There's no rush and no charge.
Meet me for a cuppa
If you'd rather somebody just had a look at it, we can meet in a café in your town. Bring the laptop, phone or tablet along and I'll go through it with you over a brew. It's free. Anything I can fix there and then, I will. And if it turns out to need proper tools and money spending, I'll write down exactly what's wrong, point you at the best repair shop near you, and come along with you if you'd rather not go on your own.
Nearby villages I can get to
What I can help with in Bridlington
Slow computers
Laptops that take ten minutes to start up, freeze halfway through, or have got slower and slower over the years.
Viruses and pop-ups
Something keeps flashing up on the screen, or a menu opens on its own when you haven't touched anything.
Scam checks
Had a text, email or phone call you weren't sure about? Send it over and I'll tell you straight.
Wi-Fi and internet
Keeps cutting out, won't reach the back bedroom, or has never quite worked properly since it was put in.
Printers and email
Printer says offline, emails have stopped coming through, or you can't remember a password you set years ago.
Phones and tablets
Getting photos off it, making the writing bigger, freeing up space, or video calling the grandchildren.
Everyday online jobs
The NHS App, repeat prescriptions, online banking, renewing a licence or passport, checking your bin day.
Get in touch
Tell me what's going wrong and whether you'd rather sort it by email or meet up somewhere in Bridlington. Take as long as you like explaining it.