Complaint Review:
McAfee Anti Virus
I received an unauthorized charge on my card from McAfee. I responded with several emails including many times on their site and advised that I did not place any order with them and was not served any offer from them to accept nor served anything else that my antivirus system terms were changed or otherwise.
After several emails to them regarding this illegal act, I received absolutely no response from this company regarding the $80.00 charge.
I sent final emails that this was illegal to steal funds without notifying me or otherwise and that I was going to do a chargeback I still had no-reply from McAfee.
I called the issuing bank to my card and had to do a chargeback against McAfee for the funds that they stole.
The shame of it is, I hate change and was going to keep McAfee and was ready to purchase another terms worth of protection for a very low price through an offer they sent through an email. Before I had a chance to even order, I received a whopping $80.00 bill without my consent or notifying me of anything, not even a change in policy.
Well after this little down and dirty, I will be seeking new protection for my computer. I will probably go with Nod32 instead. Therefore theyve lost a good customer and by the looks, Im not the only one as I see allot of other similar complaints as well.
Im not one to write bad reviews about any company but sorry, this is clearly illegal You just cant go charging cards without any notification to the card holder I suggest if this has happened to you, to call the card issuing bank and notify them that you have been charged without your permission. They will go against McAfee on this illegal attempt to retrieve your funds.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
jc
Southborough,Massachusetts,
USA
Fixed double billing
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 18, 2009
I was double billed by McAffee and it was my error. I went to my MCAffee Account and handled it very quickly by using their instant messanger. I got an account rep within minutes, and it took about 5 minutes to resolve. They credited by Visa card.
A phone call would have taken much longer. I belive the wait was something like 30 minutes.
Tad
BELFAIR,Washington,
USA
McAfee Update
#7
Thu, August 20, 2009
Thanks Robert, it has been a bit of a nightmare Its in the banks hands right now but good advise. Its just that I have put so much time on this already and the stress is burdensome What gets me as that I was never served a change of policy, so wasnt expecting any of this and I always renew at the sale prices but I will be changing antivirus programs after this is over. Simply dont need this kind of aggregation.
How are things in NY? Originally from there but dont miss that crazy weather Thanks for the advise and help.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
USA
Auto renewal
#7
Wed, August 19, 2009
I've used McAfee for years and several times they have performed the "auto-renewal" even though I had told them NO AUTO-RENEWAL. I have been able to have them reverse the charge with ONE telephone call to their customer service.
I suggest you telephone their customer service rather than use email.
Here's another tip: IF you let your subscription EXPIRE, they will send you an email with an offer to renew at $49 instead of the regular, higher price. I've taken advantage of this for the last 3 years.
I don't like their renewal policies but I do like their security suite.
Tad
BELFAIR,Washington,
USA
Unauthorized Funds Taken by McAfee
#7
Wed, August 19, 2009
I have the antivirus program and NO, I did not set any auto renewal If that was done, it was done by McAfee and not me and I asked for no such a thing.
I am certainly NOT going to give anybody $80.00 for something I did not order, period!
Furthermore I just went over to my account and there is no field for the auto renewal that you have mentioned.
In the past, McAfee has always sent emails to renew at a sale price. I was served no change of policy terms and there isnt even a place to select an auto-renewal on this format.
Yes, McAfee took funds from my account without my authorization to do so and yes that is illegal and no, Im not going to let them get away with it.
After several emails to McAfee regarding this issue, this is the only response I have received I also have proof of the emails sent by your auto-bots
Thank you for contacting McAfee Consumer Support.
We have recently opened a Service Request for support based on the information you provided us at our support website. Below you will find the details of this request for your reference.
This has also been turned over to the issuing bank as evidence of my numerous efforts of trying to contact McAfee regarding this issue, yet McAfee refused to respond to my numerous request of the unauthorized charge.
Certainly not good business ethics from the way I see it
Tad
BELFAIR,Washington,
USA
Unauthorized Funds Taken by McAfee
#7
Tue, August 18, 2009
I have the antivirus program and NO, I did not set any auto renewal If that was done, it was done by McAfee and not me and I asked for no such a thing.
I am certainly NOT going to give anybody $80.00 for something I did not order, period!
Furthermore I just went over to my account and there is no field for the auto renewal that you have mentioned.
In the past, McAfee has always sent emails to renew at a sale price. I was served no change of policy terms and there isnt even a place to select an auto-renewal on this format.
Yes, McAfee took funds from my account without my authorization to do so and yes that is illegal and no, Im not going to let them get away with it.
After several emails to McAfee regarding this issue, this is the only response I have received I also have proof of the emails sent by your auto-bots
Thank you for contacting McAfee Consumer Support.
We have recently opened a Service Request for support based on the information you provided us at our support website. Below you will find the details of this request for your reference.
This has also been turned over to the issuing bank as evidence of my numerous efforts of trying to contact McAfee regarding this issue, yet McAfee refused to respond to my numerous request of the unauthorized charge.
This has caused me much time and stress trying gain back my funds and it took to this point to get a reply and I get a response on how to make sure my card is active and an auto renewal feature that does not exist and that you dont refund business renewals for funds that were wrongfully took. Certainly not good business ethics from the way I see it
Ashley
springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Not Illegal
#7
Mon, August 17, 2009
Boy you sure throw that term around a lot.
If you will go in to your mcAfee software and check this setting:
If the auto-renewal box is checked, then every year they will charge the credit card on file for renewal.
Why? because you asked them to when you configured the software. Additionally, the only 80$ charge I see on their site if for small business software. Is this the software you have? If so, it does state in their refund policy that they do not refund business renewals.
In the future, make sure that you have your settings right before going crazy. I guarantee that you have automatic renewal on, otherwise why would they charge your card?
Let us know if your chargeback is approved. The bank may deny it over this.