Everyone's favorite mom is getting into the tech support business. Florence Henderson, the actress best known for playing Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch and for appearing on The Surreal Life, has launched the Floh Club, a tech support service designed to help older computer users solve problems and make the most of technology.
"It's like roadside assistance for your computer," Henderson said.
For $249.99 a year,$124.99 for 6 months, or $24.99 a month, members can get help with technical problems or get on-the-fly help with e-mail, instant messaging, online shopping, and more. The club also sells "one-time empowerment" services which, for $49.99, provide help with learning how to get onto Facebook, use Skype, set up e-mail, and more.
"Just knowing that there’s someone there that’s patient and caring that’s not emotionally involved with me that I know they won’t think I’m an idiot or stupid and that they’ll stay on with me as long as I need and I can call as often as I want. That’s very comforting," Henderson said.
The service is provided via toll-free phone, with the support techs using remote access software to take control of your PC through the Internet. To eliminate language problems, all of the techs are based in American and Canadian call centers, which operate 18 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The support service is provided support.com, which has its own set of plans. However, Max Drucker, Floh Club's tech guru, says that only the best support techs are used.
"The two key words are 'patient' and 'caring' and in our selection for those people that are in those specific pools it’s those that have demonstrated that as employees of support.com," he said.
Only computers with working Internet connections (for the remote access software) and Windows XP, Vista, or Win 7 operating systems are supported currently, but Drucker said they plan to branch out and help seniors learn to use smart phones and home entertainment systems at some point in the future. He also said there would be Mac Support if enough users demand it.
Users can sign up for the Floh Club or give gift memberships by going to flohclub.com.
