O/T maybe, but relevant anyway

Submitted: Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:17
ThreadID: 36679 Views:2938 Replies:8 FollowUps:28
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WARNING!
Do you subscribe to an Anti-Virus product for your PC?
What brand is it? Did you buy it on-line?

Let me warn folks about an unsavoury (and illegal) practice I have just had with McAfee.

Some 12 months or so ago, I ordered a copy of McAfee VirusScan and paid on line with my credit card. Since the original purchase, I had an issue I tried to communicate with McAfee and after getting zero response, deleted the product in favour of another from one of their Competitors. I also disliked the advertising pop-ups continually received when updating virus signatures. (You need to have pop-ups turned on to receive the appropriate menu screens)

About three weeks ago, I received an email from this Company informing me that they were going to invoice me for a renewal for the VirusScan product using the Credit Card details they had on file and if I chose to cancel this transaction, to send them an email informing them of my decision to cancel the renewal and they would reverse the credit charge.

Has anyone with this product ever tried to communicate with McAfee?
I tried the email notification, without success. In frustration I eventually discovered an Australian Customer Service number which I promptly rang and voiced my displeasure of the Company’s illegal and unauthorised use of my credit card account, demanding cancellation of the renewal and deletion of any of my details on their Web site.

Well folks, I have just received credit for the transaction in my account, but NOT for the same amount they originally invoiced me.

The original charge was for $68.14….the reimbursement was for $63.72…..a shortfall of $4.42. Ringing the Customer Service number again last night, I was advised there was nothing McAfee (Australia) could do. This was “bank charges” incurred for the transactions. B U L L S H ! T. More than likely a difference in US to AUS exchange rates and something McAfee should have included in their reimbursement.

It was not so much the $4.42 cost I ended up out of pocket, but the blatant misuse of my credit card in the first place for a product I did not want and didn’t ask for and the frustration of trying to communicate with them through a Web site mechanism that does not work.

Naturally I will NEVER buy anything from this mongrel Company again and advise anyone who has purchased a product from them to be very careful of what they may have got themselves into.

I still don’t know if my details have been erased, but any further abuse by this unsavoury Company will bring about Court action via my Bank, for illegal use of my Account.
Bill


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Reply By: Member No 1- Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:28

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:28
I use VET...so far so good
it irks me when co"s operate this way...ef'n mongrels

Cant your bank do anything on your behalf
AnswerID: 188474

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:33

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:33
who was your contract with? McFee US or Aust...
what is the email address...i will send email expressing my %$#&ing view on their behaviour to you!
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:45

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:45
sent them one anyway...hahaha
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:56

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:56
Nudie,

I also now use Vet. A very good product with painless online updates.

The Web site contact is with the US, even if you originally log in to the Australian site to select a purchase.

www.mcafee.com
www.mcafee.com.au

The email address they originally sent the invoice and notification to was subscriptions@mcafee.com but this is an umonitored email adress, in other words, a one way, them to you email address. The details they provided, invited you to "register" for cancellation and a return email would be sent for you to respond to, but of course, no email was received and thus the call to their local Customer Service number in Australia.

The whole thing got me steamed up. If the IT Company I work for had communications dificulties like McAfee do, we would be out of business quick smart.
Bill


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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:02

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:02
auconsumer@mcafee.com...is where i sent my email.

I await a reply...any one want to put money on whether or not I do?
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:11

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:11
vet is a great product...well it has been for me
Broadband+two ankle biters+1 x 20yr old who knows it all= a zillion trojans and 2million viruses...not one has gotten thru.

Only thing I dont like about latest Vet is that you cant reply automatically to the NAB, CBA, ANZ, Bank America, etc etc you know the so called phishing scams... it picks them up and you cant follow the link....its a bugga cos I used to click on the link, follow it back, and fill in the blank spaces with colour language...dont get much fun these days...:(

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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 18:30

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 18:30
Another vote for Vet here!!!!!

;-))
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Aug 14, 2006 at 20:35

Monday, Aug 14, 2006 at 20:35
no reply as yet...
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Reply By: ro-dah-o (WA) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:39

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:39
Hmmm, it makes your blood boil!!

I currently use Avast! which, if being used on a home computer, is free!!! AVG is the same at the moment. Used to use nortons, but had nothing but issues with it and the computers performance. urrrggh!

Google Avast or AVG, and you wil find links to the downloads and the free home version. Make sure you go THEIR home page, and not some unsavourty page. Works the same as any ohters. To date I have had no problems. Switch to firefox and thunderbird, and you'll have even less problems again!!
AnswerID: 188477

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:47

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:47
Avast is bloody fantastic for freeware... I use it with Sygate Firewall(also free) and have had NO intrusions for the past 2 years. Given that when the boys come over for a beer, that the computer is pointed at some of the most unsavoury sites known to man, I'm very happy with the performance of this freeware and will never pay for protection again...
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:45

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:45
Blue,

Sorry mate, I've got bad news for you.

Symantec has taken over Sygate and is pulling the plug on the free Firewall software as of 30th November. Current users will be then be invited to purchase a firewall product. Good Hey!

Extract from ZNET article:-
"By pulling the Sygate Personal Firewall, Symantec is further reducing the options for people looking for a free firewall for their computer. Sygate offered the Sygate Personal Firewall at no cost and sold Sygate Personal Firewall Pro. Kerio Technologies has previously said it will discontinue its desktop firewall at the end of this year."

Bill


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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:30

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:30
B@#$ARDS...!!! 'tis not the only capable free firewall out there though...

Computer Forum is a good place to look around for recommendations on free software, quite a bit of info on anti-virus/firewall combinations...
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Reply By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:41

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 09:41
Hi Bill,
Understand your frustration, its a widely used trend now for managment's to hide from incoming calls and the public in general, and it is very frustrating when you cant talk to the boss!
I fix this problem, not that I buy much on the net, but the card I mostly us on the net is a Debit card, and when I use it i put just enough in it to conduct my business and the rest of the time it sits idle and with no credit avail.
You can have this linked to your other accounts so you can transfer easily either on the net or by phone.
I guess the only problem is that you cant get free money for a few weeks, but you dont get these hassles either.

Cheers Pesty
AnswerID: 188480

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:07

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:07
Hi Steve,

Yes, a very good practice and one that I will certainly adopt.

I have made a few purchases via the Web and never had a problem with secure access transactions.

Maybe Roachie can answer for Forumites reference, but I would have thought it should be highly illegal for any company to perform a transaction on any account without the explicit permission of the Account holder and only then as a once off transaction.

I did contact my Bank initially and while they offered to put a "block" on the transaction (it had alrteady been debited) it may have taken several weeks, even months to do and I didn't want to incur any interest debts for not paying the amount in the meantime. There wont hopefully be a next time because I will use a debit card in future.
Bill


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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:07

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:07
Havent bought any software in about 10 yrs. Gotta love Kazaa, Limewire, torrents, and mates.

I use Norton Corp version....

One thing that has me lost is why people update from EG: Nortons 2000 to Nortons 2007.. just for the pretty new colours? The backend (the bit that does the work) is the same, as it downloads the same updates to "defend" your computer the same...
AnswerID: 188486

Follow Up By: pjchris - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:20

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:20
I have direct experience of a PC with Nortons 2002 installed that became infected with viruses and trojans despite having ALL of the available updates installed.

This occurs because the "engine" is different in the older versions. There are viruses and trojans around now that work in ways that were unthought of when the older products were designed and will never be detected by them. (Of course they could be updated to detect them but then why would we buy upgrades.....)

It is important to keep your anti-virus software current but likewise there are good reasons to stay away from the major companies. See this article

Peter

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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:29

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:29
funny you should say that, we just checked a dude at works lappy here, he has "THE LATEST" as he puts it, has same engine # as mine.

Oh well.
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Follow Up By: pjchris - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:56

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:56
Corporate edition may be different to the Home version....

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Follow Up By: Leroy - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 11:26

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 11:26
corp. is different to the home version.

Interesting article and that's exactly why we use antivirus software from 2 differnt vendors so if the one on the firewall doesnt pick up something then you have a chnace that the desktop will pick it up and vice versa.

leroy
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 18:32

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 18:32
I had Norton Gold and then suddenly it wouldn't update...... I rang their customer support and was told I would "HAVE to pay more for a new version"..... I told 'em what I thought of 'em..... which didn't take long... and bought Vet. A yearly sub but a great program!!
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Reply By: Robin - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:32

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:32
Single Users should try AVG , it actually works and is free completely.

Site Link

Robin Miller
AnswerID: 188490

Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:48

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:48
Got my vote.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:32

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:32
Yep, does daily updates. It works for me.
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Follow Up By: Mr Fawlty - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:32

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:32
Yep AVG is a good un...free auto updates, has stopped numerous viruses & trojans etc from getting to me...
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:53

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 10:53
This issue was discussed on Post 36443.

I posted the following at that time........

Don't know why you bothered mucking around with McAfee in this instance.

If you have an unauthorised amount debited to your credit card just contact the card issuer and "dispute the transaction" they will separate it from your correct undisputed charges and request the Merchant's bank (in this case McAfee) to provide within 30 days a copy of your authority to debit covering that charge.
You don't pay the disputed amount outstanding or any interest on the disputed amount while this is occurring.

Normally what happens is that the respective company can't provide the authority and the "Disputed" amount will be removed by your bank with out charge.

I have had charges such as airline tickets appear on my credit card over the years and my bank follows this procedure without hesitation.
In every instance of a disputed transaction it has been resolved in my favor quickly.

Thats what you pay your bank for and all of this procedure is part of the "Rules" that apply to the respective banks and the merchants who deal with credit cards.
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AnswerID: 188494

Reply By: donks1 - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:23

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 12:23
mc caffee and norton are the two worst anti virus programmes available.. ther is a reason they are given away free with new computers

i use NOD.. its great and only $60.00 for 2 years

loaded it and guess what?? it found over 100 viruses and trojans that norton knew nothing about
AnswerID: 188520

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:33

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:33
When did NOD become so cheap...??? It used to be $70/year... Used it when I first got on the web, it is one of the best out there.
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Follow Up By: donks1 - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:49

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:49
i bought it about 4/5 months ago
we did get a few mates together though and bought about 9 or 10 licences at once
it is definately the best that ive used
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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:15

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:15
Yep got to agree , NOD 32 , keeps winning pc user "best "award year after year ,easy to use and auto update ,catches before all the rest and best of all is AUSTRALIAN.
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Reply By: bigcol - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 14:56

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 14:56
Another free firewall is ZoneAlarm. You have to pay fro ZoneAlarm Pro.
Works well with all programs and has never let anything through that it shouldn't
AnswerID: 188545

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:36

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 15:36
Have used ZA in the past also, found it very good... Is completely incompatable with Avast though(mentioned for everyone's benifit, not knocking your statement), you'll have BSOD's coming out your ears if you mix the 2.
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:28

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:28
Blue,

I've used ZA for years and used Avast for a couple of months. Did'nt have any problems at all and definitely no BSODs that I can remember :)))))
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog - Vic - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:47

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 17:47
I used avast in conjunction with zonealarm pro for 2 years with complete harmony, no probs at all.

Still using avast but have dropped zonealarm and just use the router firewall now.
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FollowupID: 445816

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 19:23

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 19:23
Al, Ray...

Glad you're having success... When I bought my laptop, I was already running ZA on my desktop and was introduced to Avast so I plonked them both onto both computers... Desktop started acting up and the laptop was suffering daily BSOD's. I eventually took the laptop back to the supplier for diagnosis and he rang me the next day to tell me ZA and Avast were not compatible, apparently impeding one anothers performance. Let me know it was a widely known issue in the IT industry but not widely publicised. After removal of ZA, both computers have run faultlessly.

So I guess after your response, I should amend my statement to... If you run ZA with Avast and your puta goes all antsy, it's probably your firewall/anti-virus combination...
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog - Vic - Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 19:34

Friday, Aug 11, 2006 at 19:34
Just luck I think Blue, had my share of other problems but that wasn't one of them. My network runs very sweet now, no bsod's at all which is surprising with a 7 and 5 year old :)
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 12, 2006 at 01:28

Saturday, Aug 12, 2006 at 01:28
Blue,

LOL like most things in IT (intermittent technology), it ain't always logical :)))))
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