Neat Company - Neat My files are being held hostage! Philadelphia Internet
These people should be shot! I bought my scanner in 2011 and subsequently got all software upgrades free. I enjoyed using it even though it wasn't perfect and I continually lost my files. Just recently I had a bad virus and had to reinstall my Windows. I therefore lost all my applications, so I just reinstalled NeatWorks from the CD. Unfortunately it was way old (original). I went to Neat's website to again upgrade the software but it told me that they had discontinued support. I must subscribe to one of their monthly plans for $7.99 per month for their cheapest plan in order to get any support; who knows if they would have provided the upgrade even then. This is highway robbery. I'm continuing to use the scanner with the very old software until the machine stops working and will not buy another, ever! I didn't buy this scanner (for a lot of money-$369) just be told later that I would have to pay them monthly to use it. I tried to get some support from a tech but they would not discuss any potential solutions unless I paid them $50.00 with a credit card ahead of time. I am now effectively unable to restore any of my backup files because they were created with the upgrade that I can no longer download. All my data is gone even though the working file is still on my hard drive. You need the backup file to restore it. So they no longer support software, how much would it cost them to just leave the upgrade program on their server for people to access in cases like mine where the application was corrupted and needed to be reinstalled? This "no longer supported " policy is merely a way for a failing company to generate more revenue.
Update: I am so incensed by the non-support issues with regard to this Neat Scanner, that I just now unplugged it and threw it into the trash. I then got on-line and bought a Fujitsu. It was more money but from all the reviews it is a far superior product and well worth the money. (4.7 stars). Suggest you do the same if you're equally disgusted with this, in my opinion, unethical company. And, BTW, it comes WITH FULL SUPPORT included.