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Software Renewal Wars....
Well, it's been 45 days. I've spent that time trying to renew my AVG Internet Security Suite. There's just one tiny complication. I had two contracts, one for the desktop and one for the laptop. But the laptop is old, and often refuses to connect through my wireless to my router. When I could get through, then I'd end up spending 1.5 hours downloading the AVG upgrades. (Yes, an old laptop, but I've booted the RAM as far as it will go.)
So, I was going to do what is the opposite of what most people do -- I was going to drop the laptop license, stop using the laptop for Internet, only for writing, and keep the desktop license. I wanted this renewal for one year, since I hope to find an income stream that will allow me to buy a new computer next year. Then, I get something for the new computer.
This is not an option when you go to the renewal screen. And when you contact customer service, they tell you that only a senior person can do that sort of downgrade, and you need to talk to a senior person -- who is never around when I call. Finally I filed "tickets" (note the plural, referring to the previous tickets) in an attempt to arrange this.
When this failed, I finally got through to the tech group and asked if I could completely downgrade and install the AVG free without freezing my machine. He was going to explain to me why I did not want to go free, and I explained that Customer Service did not want my business, and I was going to buy a license from a competitor like MacAfee or WinPatrol to cover everything else. He understood my concern, and said he would get me to customer service. But he did say I could download the free program with no problems.
And once again, the nice man in customer service had no authority to do what I wanted done. He COULD, however, put in a ticket requesting the downgrade be made, so the next time (tomorrow) when I go to the site, I can buy one machine, one year. However -- the coverage ends at midnight, so I will need to download AVG free tonight to protect my machine until I renew the license.
Yes, fans, AVG cuts you off exactly one year from purchase.
So -- No one could bother to answer any of the other tickets to do this and tell me I could now go back and renew my license. I get to go download a copy of AVG Free to protect my machine tonight. And, tomorrow I might download a new license for AVG 2011. Or, I might buy WinPatrol and see if it does as good a job with AVG Free.
I never had any problem with AVG Free. AVG Suite installed a $#@! toolbar that took me 6 weeks to get rid of, plus Customer Service ignores me anyway. Otherwise, AVG Suite seemed to be a good product.
For all I know, my Time-Warner Router and AVG Free would handle most everything. I also run NoScript.
Decisions, decisions. Making me go back tomorrow was not a good sales decision on their part. I do not feel well, and do not want to think about this anymore.
So, I was going to do what is the opposite of what most people do -- I was going to drop the laptop license, stop using the laptop for Internet, only for writing, and keep the desktop license. I wanted this renewal for one year, since I hope to find an income stream that will allow me to buy a new computer next year. Then, I get something for the new computer.
This is not an option when you go to the renewal screen. And when you contact customer service, they tell you that only a senior person can do that sort of downgrade, and you need to talk to a senior person -- who is never around when I call. Finally I filed "tickets" (note the plural, referring to the previous tickets) in an attempt to arrange this.
When this failed, I finally got through to the tech group and asked if I could completely downgrade and install the AVG free without freezing my machine. He was going to explain to me why I did not want to go free, and I explained that Customer Service did not want my business, and I was going to buy a license from a competitor like MacAfee or WinPatrol to cover everything else. He understood my concern, and said he would get me to customer service. But he did say I could download the free program with no problems.
And once again, the nice man in customer service had no authority to do what I wanted done. He COULD, however, put in a ticket requesting the downgrade be made, so the next time (tomorrow) when I go to the site, I can buy one machine, one year. However -- the coverage ends at midnight, so I will need to download AVG free tonight to protect my machine until I renew the license.
Yes, fans, AVG cuts you off exactly one year from purchase.
So -- No one could bother to answer any of the other tickets to do this and tell me I could now go back and renew my license. I get to go download a copy of AVG Free to protect my machine tonight. And, tomorrow I might download a new license for AVG 2011. Or, I might buy WinPatrol and see if it does as good a job with AVG Free.
I never had any problem with AVG Free. AVG Suite installed a $#@! toolbar that took me 6 weeks to get rid of, plus Customer Service ignores me anyway. Otherwise, AVG Suite seemed to be a good product.
For all I know, my Time-Warner Router and AVG Free would handle most everything. I also run NoScript.
Decisions, decisions. Making me go back tomorrow was not a good sales decision on their part. I do not feel well, and do not want to think about this anymore.