Limitations on customer helping customers?

I think your opening yourself up to a lot of problems doing that with complete strangers as are the folks you want to help. No matter how technically proficient you are I would personally not let you, a stranger, access my private network or computers. Likewise what happens if you happen to screw something up. For example how do you reimburse someone if they need to pay someone else to fix the issue you may have caused?

In my case I do use TeamViewer on occasion to support a family member in the next town with their computer or privately installed router issues. In that case I know them and most importantly they know me.

With that said I refer them to their ISP (Suddenlink) for any modem issues. That is what they pay their ISP for. In addition if their router had been installed by the ISP then the ISP is responsible for technical support.

SoonerAl said:
No matter how technically proficient you are I would personally not let you, a stranger, access my private network or computers.

Thats you. If someone isn't comfortable doing it that's fine. But what about people who are?

SoonerAl said:
what happens if you happen to screw something up

I would be writing a set of terms for CYA that would pop up that the user would have to agree to before I got access. 

SoonerAl said:
With that said I refer them to their ISP (Suddenlink) for any modem issues.

Have you called Tier 1? I wouldn't curse my worst enemy to that nightmare. 

SoonerAl said:
In addition if their router had been installed by the ISP then the ISP is responsible for technical support.

Only limited support. No port forwarding or DDNS or firmware updates or QoS. Most just support getting you online, and thats it. Its sad when people can't help other people because of current society mistrust. If someone walked up to my house and offered to wash my car for free, I would be all about it. Yet people don't think that way about computers, because they don't understand them as well. From lack of understanding comes fear. And I don't think fear is a good reason not to try to do something that could help a lot of people. Thank you for your insight though.

This would be a wonderful thing to offer.  I think Apple charges $45 to do that if you own an iMac that is out of warranty.  I would be willing to write a letter of recommendation based on the many things you have helped me fix (thru this forum).   A friend of mine offered to do this same thing on another website and was approved.  People were so happy with her service that the website bought her a new computer and a few other "perks". 

Here some info on some of the security and safety mechanism. I was able to make a custom invitation. I am no lawyer, but does this get the job done? And by the way, no tips, no nothing. 

"Any and all work via Teamviewer should be considered "best try". In no event shall Consultant be liable for any damages arising from the use of the software developed under the terms of this Agreement. I am not related or connected to any ISP and I do NOT want any compensation. It is suggested that you uninstall any teamviewer software after the support for privacy reasons. Also, I suggest the user be present in front of screen at all times for transparency. In short, I will do the best I can, but please don't sue me. If you do not accept these terms then please don't accept my support. Thank you." 

Ok, I will take the silence of the moderators that they are OK with this. Thanks :-)

No matter how proficient one may be, in my opinion it would open up too much possible liability. You may consider that you're doing some people good and no doubt you would be, but what happens when 2 weeks or 2 months down the road someone breaks their own computer and starts irrationally saying "you know, things were okay til that guy from the Cox forum messed with my computer...". So what happens when you get some non-techy unreasonable person with money for lawyers deciding they want to sue you? Do you need that headache? And I sincerely doubt that Cox legal would give you a wave to represent them even in an "unofficial" capacity without being on their payroll. Again, too many possible liability issues. The thought is noble and the gratification may be satisfying, but frankly there's nut cases all over even if they seem nice enough. I'm sure there's plenty of people out there to help out without a risk like this.

You said "Bye Bye" but i am hoping you reconsider.   To make your idea work, you would need to set up a place where interested people could visit you away from the forum.  When my friend offered something similar, she opened a free chat room (you can open one easily with no cost at chatzy. com or gabbly. com ....... i don't work for or promote either one of them).  She told interested people to go to the chat website.  Everything was done from there.  No one will mistakenly think you work for Cox.  She is slowly winding down after 5 years but she helped lots of people.  

Me leaving this forum has nothing to do with this current thread. The timing was coincidence. It has to do with the recent changes to Cox over the last year that I am personally aware of. It is a company I no longer trust and one I no longer want to be associated with. I hold no ill will towards any moderator or user here. It is the company I am tired of.  Thank you for your comments though. Best of luck to everyone.

PS. Im keeping my thread about the forum being broken open because...it is.