Can IT company charge for Microsoft Security Essentials?

[hazel m]

I tried to find my original thread about this but cannot. I know it was last January or very early February. I had asked if an IT company could install Microsoft Security Essentials and then charge for it. Not charge for the labor but charge $159 for the use of it for one year with a renewing fee at year's end.

I had written to Microsoft - twice since then - and received no reply. For you who have had experience with Microsoft, does this non-answer mean that, yes, IT people are allowed to charge annual fees for use of Microsoft Security Essentials?

If the answer is yes, how do I avoid having to renew this at year's end? Must I uninstall and reinstall it on my own? Or, does IT company now have control over my use of it?

Thank you all for help here. hazel m

 

[Boozad]

Microsoft Security Essentials is completely free, you can get it from here. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that someone charged you anything, let alone $159, as they have no right to do that whatsoever, they're not selling you a license or anything.

I could be way wide of the mark here but I'd be asking for my money back.

 

[bigmck]

I tried to find my original thread about this but cannot. I know it was last January or very early February. I had asked if an IT company could install Microsoft Security Essentials and then charge for it. Not charge for the labor but charge $159 for the use of it for one year with a renewing fee at year's end.

I had written to Microsoft - twice since then - and received no reply. For you who have had experience with Microsoft, does this non-answer mean that, yes, IT people are allowed to charge annual fees for use of Microsoft Security Essentials?

If the answer is yes, how do I avoid having to renew this at year's end? Must I uninstall and reinstall it on my own? Or, does IT company now have control over my use of it?

Thank you all for help here. hazel m

The IT company can charge to install it, but after that there is nothing to pay for. Even if they tell you there is an annual charge, if you don't pay it, the MSE will not stop working. It takes all of five minutes to install. We can direct you if you don't know anything about installation. Don't pay someone to install the software.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Here is your original thread :

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/320487-charges-microsoft-security-essentials.html

Whenever you have any problem with your computer, always ask here first.
Do not bring it to a "Repair Shop", Seven Forums is your Repair Shop.

 

[AddRAM]

Yep it`s free and no one has the right to charge you for it, demand your money back. If they won`t do it, say thanks for the service bye bye now.

Charging a naive customer is one thing, charging a naive customer $159.00 to install and use MSE is downright wrong. He or they should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Kari]

Hazel, I would not only demand my money back but also continue my efforts in contacting Microsoft; it's essential they get to know about this.

Your case is quite similar as what Dell was found doing in billing about installing Firefox, a free to download and use web browser (Dell charges £16 TO INSTALL FIREFOX on PCs ? Mozilla is miffed ? The Register). Although Dell was only billing for the installation, not the use of the program itself, it was judged to be unethical. Your case, billing you for a free to use program is criminal, I would like to think.

 

[Gator]

Never step foot in a PC repair shop, ever. Their job is to suck as much money out of you up front and throw freeware on your PC that they probably downloaded from ninite

 

[hazel m]

Microsoft Security Essentials is completely free, you can get it from here. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that someone charged you anything, let alone $159, as they have no right to do that whatsoever, they're not selling you a license or anything.

I could be way wide of the mark here but I'd be asking for my money back.

After I posted, I realized something else. In the three months that I've had this MS Essentials, I've not had one update. Makes me wonder if this is even registered to me. If you have MSE, have you received updates recently? It does scan weekly but no updates.

It sounds mean of me, I know, but I really wonder if they had an ulterior motive in removing the program I had and adding MSE instead. The other program (can't think of its name right now) is not free and was paid for through July. I also wrote to the company that makes the removed program but they, too, never replied. Seems like we are kept in the dark an awful lot.

Anyway, toward the end of this (paid for) term, I should uninstall MSE and then re-install it from MS web site? Will that make it right? At least, that will get it into my name. Might do it sooner and chalk the $159 up to a sad experience?

Thanks much for your reply. I don't know how these things work and it's hard to find out. I feel like an idiot. :-(

P.S. Asking for money back is impossible. One, I have tried to contact them and got no reply (same old story). Two, they actually include a statement in their closing comments that no refunds are allowed.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Have you received any updates from MS at all ?
The monthly updates every second Tuesday ?

 

[hazel m]

Thank you all for replies. As I said, I get no replies from that IT company and I know (now) why. Since they charged my credit card, I am changing that so they cannot charge anything more. I may also change my email address but what a hassle that is, as you all know. I think there is a way to block any emails I might get from them at the end of the year. But, those two things I can do. What really galls me is that a tech person at my internet server company recommended these people. All orally, of course, They never put anything in writing.

Yes, I shall make it a rule to check here first. Draw a big sign and hang it in front of my eyes.

Thanks all.

 

[DavidE]

After I posted, I realized something else. In the three months that I've had this MS Essentials, I've not had one update. Makes me wonder if this is even registered to me. If you have MSE, have you received updates recently? It does scan weekly but no updates.

There are 2 types of updates for MSE.
1) Definition Updates - You should get updates for these daily
2) Program Updates - The MSE program doesn't get updated very often, so no update in 3 months is probably OK

Do you get "daily" definition updates?

 

[COMPUTIAC]

hazel, could you please answer my questions ?

If you do not know how to check if you received any updates, just ask and someone will gladly help you.

 

[hazel m]

After I posted, I realized something else. In the three months that I've had this MS Essentials, I've not had one update. Makes me wonder if this is even registered to me. If you have MSE, have you received updates recently? It does scan weekly but no updates.

There are 2 types of updates for MSE.
1) Definition Updates - You should get updates for these daily
2) Program Updates - The MSE program doesn't get updated very often, so no update in 3 months is probably OK

Do you get "daily" definition updates?

If I do, I am not being made aware of it. There are, I think, programs that update without giving notice. Definition updates would be a good candidate for that. So, maybe I am getting those. Is there a place to check and confirm?

Thanks. hazel

 

[hazel m]

Have you received any updates from MS at all ?
The monthly updates every second Tuesday ?

Sorry. I had not been back to the site until just now. I think I just answered your question. The second Tuesday of May will be 5/13. I've made a special note on my calendar to pay attention to that. Thanks lots. Hazel

 

[COMPUTIAC]

This is how to check for updates :

Go to "Control Panel" > click on "Windows Update" > on the left side you will see "View Update History" > it will show all the updates installed.

 

[gini]

This is how to check for updates :

Go to "Control Panel" > click on "Windows Update" > on the left side you will see "View Update History" > it will show all the updates installed.

Also, to check about definition updates (different from the program update through Windows Update), right-click on the MSE icon in the notification area, select "open", then click on the Update tab. You see the date of the most recent update there.

 

[hazel m]

This is how to check for updates :

Go to "Control Panel" > click on "Windows Update" > on the left side you will see "View Update History" > it will show all the updates installed.

Thank you. I'm on my way.

 

[hazel m]

This is how to check for updates :

Go to "Control Panel" > click on "Windows Update" > on the left side you will see "View Update History" > it will show all the updates installed.

Also, to check about definition updates (different from the program update through Windows Update), right-click on the MSE icon in the notification area, select "open", then click on the Update tab. You see the date of the most recent update there.

Copied and will do. Thanks.

 

[hazel m]

All right! All systems go. Last definitions update was May 2, 2014. And I've been getting them all along. Thanks much. After lunch, I'll make a note about doing this. Thank you both.

 

[gini]

Glad all is well!