Charges for Microsoft Security Essentials

When a computer technician downloads the Microsoft Security Essentials, which I understand is free, he can, of course, charge for the work he did. However, can he charge for the software and tell me I'll have to renew it at the end of the year for a reduced price? Is this legitimate?

Thank you.

Thank you and I suspected that. He charged me $159 for Windows Security Essentials and said that is good for one year. So, I have been "taken". It happens to everybody once in life. Nothing I can do now.

I do appreciate your reply. Now I at least know I am thinking straight. It is so hard to know whether I am getting a reputable tech support man.

Have a good day.

boohbah said:

lesson well learned, stay around the forum reading up on things and you will go away having learned much, and making the payment you made a cheap lesson.
here you have access to many tutorials and a huge amount of willing helpers.
we have newcomers who are learning from scratch to oldies who remember when a computer filled a room.
welcome to sevenforums :)

I will indeed. I did not know Microsoft had forums until this morning. It is indeed a lesson learned as he did everything orally, promised to send everything by email but didn't. He did quite $159 for the software and then quoted another "reduced price" to renew it after 12 months. The labor was extra. To show how little evidence I have, I asked twice what software he was installing but he never named it. I only found out after the fact when I looked for it. I am going to talk with my credit card company but I fear I do not have a leg to stand on, given that he has put nothing in writing. What troubles me also is that I was given this contact by someone at my ISP tech support office.

Ah, well. That's how it goes. I have a separate question about this software but it belongs on another thread. I shall post it and, yes, now that I know you are here I shall hang around. Thanks again.

ThrashZone said:

I'm not at all sure Microsoft would be happy to know that this technician is selling their Free security suite ?
I'd absolutely look closer at what their really charging for,
Sounds more like a service contract and not actually Selling a Free for download security suite/ I would verify that question,
Cheers.

I still have their phone number. I can call and ask for an explanation. I'm not sure I'll get one, given the kind of conversation I had with them but I an try. I do not know what a service contract is. I called my ISP about a download problem at Thunderbird. They couldn't fix it and suggested I call Mozilla. I said we do not have a phone support with Mozilla. The woman said she had their help line number and I ended up with what I finally learned - an Online Tech company. When I called this number and questioned the man, he said he works for many software companies and has a Microsoft Level 5 certificate. All that I never heard of before. Didn't know Microsoft had such training. So, yes, I think I just very stupidly got taken and am left with a learned lesson.

I tend to just live quietly at home and mind my own business. I don't follow all the ins and outs of the electronic age. Not a good idea.

Thank you all for confirming what I wanted to know.