Call Kurtis: Unreliable Repair Tech

CITRUS HEIGHTS (CBS13) - Trust is invaluable to the small-business world.

When you violate that trust, word gets around, and soon the customers may stop calling.

"I was really hopeful that it was going to turn into a nice relationship for him and I," says Bonnie Kelly.

She'd planned to give Super Nerd Consulting more business, had they done a good job for her.

"This is the culprit," Bonnie says, while holding up a very colorful parrot.

That little guy had ripped off all of the keys to her laptop computer.

You see, Bonnie runs a bird rescue operation.

"I have a lot of different kinds of birds and I try to match them with the right home."

And her computer contained everything she needs to foster these colorful creatures.

So in June, she went to Craigslist.com and found the self-described Super Nerd Dustin Destree.

She says he came to her home and picked up the computer; she paid him $95 for parts.

She says he told her it would be done in two weeks.

Well, that time went by but there was no word from Dustin Destree, Super Nerd.

Over the next several months Bonnie called him.

"15 times," she says.

She soon filed a police report with the Citrus Heights Police Department.

They talked to Destree, who told them his car had been towed and that Bonnie's laptop was in the car.

But the tow company said it was gone, and the police told Bonnie this was a civil matter.

"It was crushing. It was really hard."

So Bonnie had hoped that we could get Destree to replace her computer.

"And get my money back. So a hundred dollars would go a long way towards feeding the birds."

We called, left a message, and then emailed Destree.

He agreed to give her a replacement laptop and to repay her in two installments.

Well, the first due-date passed with no payment; he claimed he'd mailed it but would send another.

Again, it never arrived.

Destree has since cut communication with us; in essence he's flown the coop.

There are warning signs within Super Nerd Consulting's advertising.

California consumer law says it must contain his license number; neither Super Nerd's business card nor his Craigslist ad, does.

That's because records show that Super Nerd Consulting is not licensed.

Now consider the word "super."

Dictionaries define it as meaning "excellent, first-rate, of the highest quality."

Bonnie would dispute that.

"It makes me kinda sad he's still able to keep advertising and other people can still be having the same problem."

Dustin Destree continues to advertise on Craigslist, calling himself an expert tech, and The Mac Doctor.

Computer repair businesses must be licensed with the Department of Consumer Affairs, and that number must be listed with any form of advertising including business cards, web sites, even a Craigslist ad.

So do your research; a little time doing that could save you money, time, and stress down the road.