Hi all,
I just got burned by PC Tools. I bought a copy of Registry Mechanic about a year ago and these people latched on to my credit card number and now have me on an automatic renewal for $39. This severely upsets me that they would abuse customers like this. Now I've got to dispute the payment with my credit card company, and they are suggesting canceling the card and getting a new one. If a company wants you to buy an update or get a new subscription they should contact you to purchase it. This company's practice is totally bogus. I did not sign up for an automatic renewal.
If you are considering buying Registry Mechanic or anything else PC Tools sells via the web you should think twice.
Joe
PC Tools Registry Mechanic
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DanEpps
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Re: PC Tools Registry Mechanic
Sorry to hear this happened to you Joe.
Unfortunately, PC Tools is one of those companies that choose to "create" business by decpetion. They are one of the hundreds of companies that will drop a piece of malware on your computer that causes popups saying something like "your computer is at risk...click here to fix it." When you do, you are taken to their website and told to fix the "problem" (usually one that does not exist) you have to purchase their product.
I urge you to file a complaint with the FTC.
It is wise to never purchase software online if the company does not use either VeriSign or PayPal for payment processing. If the site did use VeriSign or PayPal, contact them and file a complaint. Many times you can get a full refund for the decpetive software purchase. If they used VeriSign for their SSL certicificate (secure sockets layer...used for https) and use decpetive practices, VeriSign will revoke their certificate.
If they used neither VeriSign or PayPal, try contacting the payment processor they did use and file a complaint with them.
One more thing: ALWAYS make sure the address starts with "https" and not just "http" when making any internet purchase. Https is secure and http is not. If you are using Internet Explorer 7, you will get an additional box beside the URL when connected to a secure site. Click this box to get information about their SSL certificate. If it is not issued by a trusted certificate authority such as VeriSign, don't make the purchase.
Again Joe, I'm sorry this happened to you but thanks for sharing the lesson learned with everyone...you may save someone else from the same headaches you are having.
Good luck with getting this corrected. If you need any assistance with finnding the right sites to report this, send me an email.
Unfortunately, PC Tools is one of those companies that choose to "create" business by decpetion. They are one of the hundreds of companies that will drop a piece of malware on your computer that causes popups saying something like "your computer is at risk...click here to fix it." When you do, you are taken to their website and told to fix the "problem" (usually one that does not exist) you have to purchase their product.
I urge you to file a complaint with the FTC.
It is wise to never purchase software online if the company does not use either VeriSign or PayPal for payment processing. If the site did use VeriSign or PayPal, contact them and file a complaint. Many times you can get a full refund for the decpetive software purchase. If they used VeriSign for their SSL certicificate (secure sockets layer...used for https) and use decpetive practices, VeriSign will revoke their certificate.
If they used neither VeriSign or PayPal, try contacting the payment processor they did use and file a complaint with them.
One more thing: ALWAYS make sure the address starts with "https" and not just "http" when making any internet purchase. Https is secure and http is not. If you are using Internet Explorer 7, you will get an additional box beside the URL when connected to a secure site. Click this box to get information about their SSL certificate. If it is not issued by a trusted certificate authority such as VeriSign, don't make the purchase.
Again Joe, I'm sorry this happened to you but thanks for sharing the lesson learned with everyone...you may save someone else from the same headaches you are having.
Good luck with getting this corrected. If you need any assistance with finnding the right sites to report this, send me an email.
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DanEpps
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Re: PC Tools Registry Mechanic
Here is a little more information on PC Tools.
The use Element5 for ESD (electronic software delivery) and payment processing. Element5 has a valid SSL certificate issued by GeoTrust which is a valid SSL Certificate Authority. Element5 is one of the largest ESD providers on the internet and can be trusted.
They say you can change your automatic subscription status by going to your account profile. Additionally, they say you can change the credit card information in the same manner.
The use Element5 for ESD (electronic software delivery) and payment processing. Element5 has a valid SSL certificate issued by GeoTrust which is a valid SSL Certificate Authority. Element5 is one of the largest ESD providers on the internet and can be trusted.
They say you can change your automatic subscription status by going to your account profile. Additionally, they say you can change the credit card information in the same manner.
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Joe Dusel
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Re: PC Tools Registry Mechanic
Thanks Dan.
I called the 800 number you found for Element5 and I was kind of surprised by the selections provided on their voicemail system. Apparently this is a standard procedure for them and they must get a lot of calls about their automatic renewals showing up on credit card bills, so they have selections for this. The person I spoke to seemed well prepared to handle this situation and said it would be removed from my credit card in the next few days.
My question is, what kind of a company sets up their system to abuse their customers like this? Even the PC Tools forum is loaded with comments from irate users about this automatic renewal practice. This has got to hurt their business in the long run. I know that I will personally never buy another product that is associated with PC Tools, Digital River or Element5. I would be worried first off that I might be loading up with malware.
By the way, I'm not sure I agree that Element5 can be trusted with anything.
Joe
I called the 800 number you found for Element5 and I was kind of surprised by the selections provided on their voicemail system. Apparently this is a standard procedure for them and they must get a lot of calls about their automatic renewals showing up on credit card bills, so they have selections for this. The person I spoke to seemed well prepared to handle this situation and said it would be removed from my credit card in the next few days.
My question is, what kind of a company sets up their system to abuse their customers like this? Even the PC Tools forum is loaded with comments from irate users about this automatic renewal practice. This has got to hurt their business in the long run. I know that I will personally never buy another product that is associated with PC Tools, Digital River or Element5. I would be worried first off that I might be loading up with malware.
By the way, I'm not sure I agree that Element5 can be trusted with anything.
Joe
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DanEpps
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- Joined: Thu, Jul 28 2005, 10:18AM
- Company Name: Dan Epps
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Re: PC Tools Registry Mechanic
I'm glad they were willing to refund the charge Joe.
Bear in mind that Element5 (and Digital River) is only acting as a payment processor for Central Point Software (PC Tools) and as such, they only make charges sent to them by the vendor (Central Point in this case).
The fault here lies with Central Point and their sales practices, not Element5. To blame Element5 would be analagous to say, paying for a car repair with a credit card then blaming the mechanic's bank (who processed the credit card payment) when the repair wasn't done correctly.
To me, that Element5 had a selection on their auto-answer system reflects problems with the sales practices of their customers (sellers) that they are willing to help with rather than problems with Element5.
Either way, the most important aspect is that you found relief for the problem. Just make sure you edit your account profiles with PC Tools and Element5 to remove any credit card numbers.
Bear in mind that Element5 (and Digital River) is only acting as a payment processor for Central Point Software (PC Tools) and as such, they only make charges sent to them by the vendor (Central Point in this case).
The fault here lies with Central Point and their sales practices, not Element5. To blame Element5 would be analagous to say, paying for a car repair with a credit card then blaming the mechanic's bank (who processed the credit card payment) when the repair wasn't done correctly.
To me, that Element5 had a selection on their auto-answer system reflects problems with the sales practices of their customers (sellers) that they are willing to help with rather than problems with Element5.
Either way, the most important aspect is that you found relief for the problem. Just make sure you edit your account profiles with PC Tools and Element5 to remove any credit card numbers.