I was asked to make a new system for one of my neighbours friends, did not charge any money for doing the job but for being a good neighbour I was given a dud cheque! I am unable to get in touch with the guy but still have all the details of the operating system, Vista home prem, can I get microsoft to close the system down. Anyone else have this problem?
Been ripped off help?
- Thread starter princejim
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I guess in theory if you were to call up the Activation Centre and explain that you believe somebody has been stealing CD keys then they could be flagged "Do not activate - stolen"
It's not something I've come accross before, I think you'd have to speak directly to MS on this one.
It's not something I've come accross before, I think you'd have to speak directly to MS on this one.
if you have got the serial make another pc and activate/or try to MANY times with a bit of luck microsoft will block the serial 
am i correct in thinking if you keep putting a check into the bank and it bounces the payee(the **** who diddled you)gets charged on his account?
am i correct in thinking if you keep putting a check into the bank and it bounces the payee(the **** who diddled you)gets charged on his account?
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It's fraud, report it to the police. With a bit a luck a visit from the friendly neighbourhood bobby will get him to pay up. The police should be able to get his address etc from the details on the cheque
If you didn't charge any money, where's the dud cheque coming from? Or did he pay you something without you asking as a way of saying thanks?
Honestly I think the best way of solving this is to just talk to the guy, it's unlikely that if you gave him the option of paying nothing that he'd decide to make a donation anyway with a dodgy cheque.
Honestly I think the best way of solving this is to just talk to the guy, it's unlikely that if you gave him the option of paying nothing that he'd decide to make a donation anyway with a dodgy cheque.
You mean you purchased all the components - built it and he paid for it all with a cheque?
I often do system builds but i insist that they give me the cash to purchase the parts first, they are welcome to come along with me to make the purchase, and then have the build charge off them when they have seen it up and running.
I often do system builds but i insist that they give me the cash to purchase the parts first, they are welcome to come along with me to make the purchase, and then have the build charge off them when they have seen it up and running.
Thanks Butters thats what I meant, what if I publish the Serial Number on the web for anyone to use, would this mean that eventually that serial number would become unusable? The machine is up and running with Vista at the moment.
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princejim said:
Yes, after a lot of activations MS will block the activation of any new PCs.
Burnsy
Tell your neighbour that his friends cheque bounced and that you can't get in touch with him? You might of just cashed it earlier then he expected.
If your neighbour wants sod all to do with it make him give you up to date contact details and speak to the guy direct. As last resort you can threaten to shut it down / kill the key remotely.
If your neighbour wants sod all to do with it make him give you up to date contact details and speak to the guy direct. As last resort you can threaten to shut it down / kill the key remotely.
If you can get his contact details off your neighbour, and after talking to him, he will not pay up, simply get the monies back throught the County Court, Small Claims.....it is quite a simple thing to do, and you don't need a solicitor.
EDIT:
Sorry...didn't read the last post....but this is what you could try.
EDIT:
Sorry...didn't read the last post....but this is what you could try.
Before doing anything stupid like filiing a small claims, go and knock on your neighbours door who knows the guy and explain the problem and that you are £x of out pocket now. Im sure he will get straight on the phone and sort it out for you.
If not then file a small claims case obviously.
If not then file a small claims case obviously.
Am I missing the point here? 
If you didn't charge him for the work & he then gave you an effectively un-solicited cheque as thanks, you don't have a leg to stand on do you? Surely you can't cry foul, deactivate licences or sue for small claims when he didn't have to give you any money in the first place?
If you didn't charge him for the work & he then gave you an effectively un-solicited cheque as thanks, you don't have a leg to stand on do you? Surely you can't cry foul, deactivate licences or sue for small claims when he didn't have to give you any money in the first place?
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I think that the cheque in question was payment for the components, not a charge for assembly.deSade said:Am I missing the point here?
If you didn't charge him for the work & he then gave you an effectively un-solicited cheque as thanks, you don't have a leg to stand on do you? Surely you can't cry foul, deactivate licences or sue for small claims when he didn't have to give you any money in the first place?