I use to praise Avast!....

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

:frowning:
Avast let me down is the worse way–they betrayed my trust and took advantage of me.

I was having problems with Avast premier and GrimeFighter not working correctly (initially Avast was the problem, not my computer). A technical service representative sold me on Avast’s tech services for 179.99; it didn’t take much convincing to sell me a remote service because I trusted the company and their employees.

Right away the tech services was a scam-- nothing was done as promised. What they did to my computer was unnecessary disabling of critical start-up programs (I guess to get me to continue to call and request more help), my hard drive was suppose to be cleared of clutter–the tech created more clutter and I lost more memory space. Now I have no choice but to partition my hard drive or but a new computer. I was also denied a refund–less than 24 hours after purchase of the tech services I knew I was scammed into a crap product and requested a refund. I was forced to call my bank and have them credit my account and place a complaint against avast through my bank (that should never have to be an option). I wish there was more I can do, because I feel the damage Avast’s tech team did warrants more than just a refund; I’m out a computer and because of that I had to take a semester off from school; I’m left with unreliable security software. I’ve trusted Avast for over 4 years with my computer’s security–I’ve been cheated and scammed, feels like by someone I personally knew. >:(

2

What you called was not avast but a third party.
This has been explained 100’s of times already.

They can’t deny you a refund.
If you would had submitted a ticket to avast they would have taken care of it.

3

Report your experience to Vojta Nekvapil: nekvapil[at]avast.com (3rd Party Support Manager)

4

3rdnuit, you are not alone in being cheated and scammed. MANY of Avast’s customers have experienced the same exact thing that you describe. Take a look at http:\avastscam.com to see what I am talking about.

As to the response from “Eddy”, it takes quite a bit of gall to shift the blame of a fraud from the perpetrator to the victim!

From Eddy: “If you would had submitted a ticket to avast they would have taken care of it.”

If he had submitted a ticket? Avast has a phone number listed directly under the support section of their website located at https://www.avast.com/en-us/support . On the same page, Avast touts: “Free telephone support for installation, configuration, and trouble-shooting is now available for your Avast product.” And yet you blame the customer for not submitting a ticket?

You, as well as others on these forums, continually lambast innocent customers that are nothing more than victims. How about directing that criticism to where it belongs: Avast Software. Stop passing the buck on to “3rd party support”. That excuse was tired and worn out years ago.

By the way Eddy, you write: “This has been explained 100’s of times already.” Maybe the fact that it has to be explained so many times, over and over, should tell you what a widespread and common problem that this fraud on Avast’s part is. Instead, it irks you that you have to reply to yet another customer that is simply venting after having been ripped off.

5

The phone call is free, it doesn’t say anywhere that everything is free.

I’m not blaming the customer anything at all, I just stated a fact.

There is no need to posts things again that have already been posted lots of times already.
It is not gonna help them to post the same thing another time.
People should (re)search and do as has been suggested.
Namely report things to Votja.

6

Eddy, did you really just say: “The phone call is free, it doesn’t say anywhere that the rest is free.”? Come on now…

Taken directly from https://www.avast.com/en-us/support : “Free 24x7 Phone Support” Further down the page: “Free telephone support for installation, configuration, and trouble-shooting is now available for your Avast product.” It continues: “We provide Free telephone support for the following issues with your Avast software* : Fresh installation; Errors during install/uninstall; Configuration-related issues; Update-related issues”…

You’ve taken up the task of defending the indefensible. I don’t envy you. Let the awkward silence commence…

7

Chief Joseph do you have a problem that we can help resolve or are you just in the habit of reviving old threads to throw a few grenades

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Essexboy, I certainly do have an issue, and that is with Avast continually scamming customers out of money for “support” services for years now, as described by the original poster. You certainly can help me with this issue, by informing customers about this, and by taking Avast to task for their behavior. Covering for Avast and defending their actions does nothing to help customers. As to your reference to an “old thread”, this is an ongoing issue that occurs daily, and your dismissal of it as old news isn’t warranted. As to your “throwing grenades” comment, I stand by my statement above about people on this forum “lambasting innocent customers” for having voiced their experiences after being taken advantage of.

9

Yes but more to the point do you have a problem with your Avast installation

10

Chief,

what part of “It is not avast but a third party” is it that you do not understand ?

what part of “Report your experience to Vojta Nekvapil: nekvapil[at]avast.com (3rd Party Support Manager)” is it you don not understand ?

11

Essexboy writes: “Yes but more to the point do you have a problem with your Avast installation”

Essex, the original poster was not posting issues about installation problems, but about “Right away the tech services was a scam”… "I’ve been cheated and scammed, feels like by someone I personally knew. " I was responding to that topic, and not about my own Avast installation. I’m on topic. Nice way to try to deflect and distract on your part, though…

Eddy writes: “what part of “It is not avast but a third party” is it that you do not understand ?”

Not surprising to see Eddy also trying to deflect the issue… What part of this problem and scam has been going on for years do you not understand? Not days, weeks, or months, but YEARS. At what point do you acknowledge that Avast is at the core of this problem, and not “3rd party support”, regardless of who is manning the phone lines. After 5 years would you consider Avast responsible, or 10 years, or 20 years? And by the way, when I dealt with this issue years ago, in approximately 2013, I asked specifically if I was speaking with an Avast support employee or a 3rd party support rep. The rep’s response was that he worked for Avast. They also answer the phones “Avast Support” or something along those lines. And even if it is still 3rd party support after all this time, Avast is responsible, as mass complaints have been ongoing since about 2011-2012.

You also write: “what part of “Report your experience to Vojta Nekvapil: nekvapil[at]avast.com (3rd Party Support Manager)” is it you don not understand ?”

Oh, you mean Adam Riley’s replacement? Adam Riley, Avast’s previous “3rd Party Support Manager”, never did anything to stop the support scam. Why would his replacement do anything different? When Avast is dead set on continuing this scam support service, what is talking to this manager going to accomplish? I asked Mr. Riley years ago if they would stop, and they didn’t. Telling people to talk to Avast’s “3rd Party Support Manager” is like telling victims of Bernie Madoff to direct any complaints to Mr. Madoff’s secretary… It’s a brush-off and won’t accomplish the goal of putting a stop to the scam.

Both your and Essexboy’s responses have only shown just how true my original comment was: “You, as well as others on these forums, continually lambast innocent customers that are nothing more than victims. How about directing that criticism to where it belongs: Avast Software. Stop passing the buck on to “3rd party support”. That excuse was tired and worn out years ago.”

I stand by that statement.

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Adam Riley, Avast's previous "3rd Party Support Manager", never did anything to stop the support scam. Why would his replacement do anything different?
Only thing he could and Votja can do is trying to solve things for users. It is the avast management that decided to use that third party support company. They are the ones who should and can do something about it, not the rest of the employees.

A problem? Yes, definitely.
A scam ? Legally it is not a scam.

I and many other people (including avast employees) do not want support to be provided by that company.
But all we can do is telling people not to call/use them and try to help people here and in other places for free.

How about directing that criticism to where it belongs: Avast Software.
We did and keep on doing so.
13

@Eddy,
Please stop putting salt into an open wound. It isn’t a nice thing to do.
@ Chief Joseph,
Please file your complaint here:

https://support.avast.com/Tickets/Submit/RenderForm/27/&cls02&ptf01&lic01&scr06
Choose your language and submit your problem directly to Avast.

14

Nothing wrong with it Bob.

Salt disinfects. :wink:

15

Hi there, looking through the info I also found on there site;

We offer free support in English for the consumer versions of avast! Antivirus on the following issues:

Installation of avast! products
Errors/problems during avast! installation
Basic configuration
Inserting the license
Avast! update issues
Error messages for avast! products

If the issue is more complicated, you could be offered a paid service.

which sounds very reasonable. Helping with the basic setups, but other then that hit the forums or ticket support.

Peace
MK

P.S I hope Avast does really offer these as stated, I have just set my family up with this softwear!

16

The PAID SERVICE is from a 3rd Party Support Avast has contracted, but there have been 1000’s of complaints and reports of unethical pressure tactics and misleading advice.
Do not pay for support, the forum is free and many users have experience with Avast for over a decade.