PHOENIX -- 5 Investigates recently launched a high-tech sting with hidden cameras to see which computer repair companies you can trust to fix your broken equipment.

The 5 Investigates team rigged a computer to appear broken.

When Peter Howald's computer broke down, he called The Geek Squad at Best Buy. He said they told him his hard drive was bad and that his data could be saved for a hefty price.

"I think we were looking at roughly $500 to $550 worth of repairs," Howald said.

Howald said he took his computer somewhere else, saved his data and lots of money.

"Bad news for Best Buy," Howald said. "I would not do business with them again."

Felicia Overton of the Better Business Bureau said she hears lots of complaints about questionable computer repairs.

"Anytime there is some kind of repair that the average Joe can't figure out, they're going to need to put their trust in someone else's hands," Overton said.

5 Investigates took a computer and loosened one of the cables that is connected to the CD player. To fix it all you need to do is use your thumb. But the CBS 5 investigation found that could cost you plenty.

Next, the 5 Investigates unit called three repair companies -- the Geek Squad, Doctor Geeks and Techs on Time.

But before the team started, they did one final check with help from Eric Moran from AZ Computer E-R to make sure there was nothing wrong besides the loosened cable.

"Everything is working properly," Moran said as he inspected the computer. "All the drivers are working correctly and up to date. We've checked it for spyware and viruses. The computer is in perfect running order."

That's not what 5 Investigates heard when the team sent its intern into Best Buy to see the Geek Squad.

Best Buy said it would cost $59 for a diagnosis and take five hours.

Three days later, one of the squad's technicians called back asking for $140 more for additional testing. The technician had bad news. He said, "The only way to fix software at this point, from what we can tell, is just to start over. So basically we have to erase everything and reinstall the operating system."

5 Investigates took the computer home and discovered it wouldn't even start up. The team's expert fixed it and re-rigged the loose cable.

Next, the team called Doctor Geeks for in-home service. 5 Investigates wired an apartment with hidden cameras.

Doctor Geeks' technicians showed up with lab coats, stethoscopes and a grim prognosis.

"The more you run it, the more the registry -- the heart -- is going to have a heart attack," the technician said. "It's going to have a massive heart attack and you are going to lose all of your documents."

The doctors took the computer to their lab, where they found the loose cable. But they said there was more.

"Well, the cable was not hooked in like it should have been," the technician said. "And you did have some viruses on there."

They said they found viruses in the computer, something 5 Investigates checked for before calling them. They charged nearly $300.

"Do you think you deserve this?" the reporter asked. "Well, I'll tell you, I don't set the prices," the technician said. "That is what my boss does."

The last company 5 Investigates puts to the test, Techs on Time, immediately found the problem.

"Oh, here's your problem," the repairman said. "I'll even give you a 10 percent discount since it was so easy."

Only one out of three passed the test. Howald said it's depressing because most people don't know a mega-byte from a mega-bill. They have no choice but to trust repair companies like he did.

Representatives from Best Buy would not comment on the investigation.

Doctor Geeks sent the team a statement that said they stand by their work and reputation. They insisted the computer 5 Investigates used contained viruses and they asked for a full retraction.

That's something 5 Investigates said it was not going to do.