What the actual issue is on 90 percent of all calls to
technical support/I.T. help desks, it is an acronym meaning "Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard."
The use of this term became common when tech support people began to have a need to vent
frustration on arrogant callers who had, in fact, themselves caused the problem, yet continued to insist it was the computer's fault, or the techie's fault.
So you would explain to the user that it was a PEBCAK error, and then walk them through how to fix it.
John (
technical support person, just leaving work, holding his head in his hands)...
James (
technical support person just coming on shift, passes John on his way out)
James: "Rough day today, John?"
John: "Yeah, 99 percent of my calls today were PEBCAKs...do they make Excedrin in one-pound tablets?
I have a headache the size of Texas!"