Charges for Microsoft Security Essentials

[hazel m]

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.

 

[Golden]

No it is not. The software is free, as are the updates as long as you use genuine Windows.

 

[hazel m]

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.

 

[Golden]

Email him this link, and ask him why he is charging you for a free product.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials from Official Microsoft Download Center

Make sure that his charges are for the software, not for the labour.

 

[boohbah]

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

 

[ThrashZone]

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.

 

[hazel m]

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.

 

[hazel m]

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.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Lesson learned ?

No, this should not be at your expense !

I would demand my money back, call the credit card company and report this person to the BBB and everything else I could think of.

This person needs to be stopped, now !

 

[whs]

I would report that to Microsoft and have them go after that guy.

 

[hazel m]

Lesson learned ?

No, this should not be at your expense !

I would demand my money back, call the credit card company and report this person to the BBB and everything else I could think of.

This person needs to be stopped, now !

I have called my credit card company and will call them again now that the charge has actually appeared on my account. And, yes, BBB is a good idea.

 

[ThrashZone]

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.

An easy way to get an idea of what all was downloaded,
Go to the Start button and type in the search box,
Uninstall a program,
Click on the suggestion on the top,
Take screen shots of this page or pages,
This will list everything installed on your computer and when if you set the pages view correctly,
This will show you how to take screen shots and upload them here,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[hazel m]

I would report that to Microsoft and have them go after that guy.

I did mail them a letter just this morning. At least they need to know it is happening whether I get any satisfaction or not. Considering that my ISP gave me their number has me wondering if they use this company.

Thanks, all.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

You should call your ISP and give them an ear full about this situation.

They are the ones who got you into this.

I would be relentless about this. Do everything you can to get your money back.

 

[hazel m]

ThrashZone, I did look at that page. That is how I learned that it was Microsoft Security Essentials. Thanks for the print screen bit. That is useful.

 

[hazel m]

I would report that to Microsoft and have them go after that guy.

When you write to Microsoft about something like this, do they reply? Or do they just take note at their own end and carry through if they think it necessary? I ask because I never got a reply to my letter in which I reported this charge.

Thank you.

 

[Mellon Head]

I would report that to Microsoft and have them go after that guy.

When you write to Microsoft about something like this, do they reply? Or do they just take note at their own end and carry through if they think it necessary? I ask because I never got a reply to my letter in which I reported this charge.

Thank you.

It may take a while. I'm assuming that Microsoft has many cases like this to look at, but given their aggressive nature in handling things like this, I'm sure they'll be contacting you for more details.

 

[hazel m]

I would report that to Microsoft and have them go after that guy.

When you write to Microsoft about something like this, do they reply? Or do they just take note at their own end and carry through if they think it necessary? I ask because I never got a reply to my letter in which I reported this charge.

Thank you.

It may take a while. I'm assuming that Microsoft has many cases like this to look at, but given their aggressive nature in handling things like this, I'm sure they'll be contacting you for more details.

All right. Thank you. Was just wondering.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Why not call them directly.
There must be a lot of toll free numbers. If by chance you call the wrong one they will be able to give you the correct one.
Like I said in post #14, I would not let this go.

Have you gotten your money back thru your CC ?

 

[hazel m]

Why not call them directly.
There must be a lot of toll free numbers. If by chance you call the wrong one they will be able to give you the correct one.
Like I said in post #14, I would not let this go.

Have you gotten your money back thru your CC ?

I didn't know you could phone Microsoft. I'll keep that in mind for after I give them time to respond to my letter. As for getting my money back, that company is ignoring my efforts to talk with them. All they want is more customers. I'll try some patience with Microsoft. Thanks.