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Antivirus software (1 PC lifetime edition) license is only 5 years!

coporalcuddles
Posts: 8 Forumite

Purchased antivirus software which was advertised as 1 pc lifetime edition.
The machine is a high end dell precision workstation, which I was was hoping to keep and use for at least 10 years, or as long as I can keep it going....
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Am I reasonable in expecting more from the vendor, and do I have any chance in getting the vendor to honour their agreement by complaining ?
5 years have past and the software has stopped working.
I contacted the vendor and they claim the software license is only valid for 5 years. This is this because they expect a PC lifespan to be 5 years only.
No mention of 5 years in the description when I purchased the product or in the order invoice email I received from them. I still have a copy! In fact, it clearly states in the email, extract below:
” The PC Lifetime Edition Key ties itself, via hardware ID, to the computer where it’s first installed. The product can’t be installed on another computer/laptop.
The PC Lifetime Edition key is valid for the lifetime of the computer you first install it on.No mention of 5 years in the description when I purchased the product or in the order invoice email I received from them. I still have a copy! In fact, it clearly states in the email, extract below:
” The PC Lifetime Edition Key ties itself, via hardware ID, to the computer where it’s first installed. The product can’t be installed on another computer/laptop.
”
Am I reasonable in expecting more from the vendor, and do I have any chance in getting the vendor to honour their agreement by complaining ?
Where do I go from here ?
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Comments
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No wee asterix that gives you a definition of what they call a PC lifetime?0
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coporalcuddles said:Where do I go from here ?
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I don't think you're being reasonable. It's literally not lasted a lifetime but 5 years in computing terms is a lifetime.2
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My lifetime VPN expires after six years as they say 6 years os a PC lifetime .
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Paying for AV is not necessary in this day and age (assuming you have Windows 10) so chalk it up to experience. It's quite a common trick. Tomtom advertise their map updates as for life but they mean whatever they define as the life of the machine and if it continues to work then its just tough and you don't get further updates.0
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Did you buy direct from them or a third party? Is this bitdefender?
Typically software companies do make it explicit, what they're offering. This is because they are only granting you a licence and not placing specific restrictions works in your favour rather than theirs. I would be surprised if they didn't have a clause stating it was a 5 year limitation, and also specifying that it's tied to the mobo.You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride0 -
unholyangel said:Did you buy direct from them or a third party? Is this bitdefender?
Typically software companies do make it explicit, what they're offering. This is because they are only granting you a licence and not placing specific restrictions works in your favour rather than theirs. I would be surprised if they didn't have a clause stating it was a 5 year limitation, and also specifying that it's tied to the mobo.0 -
giraffe69 said:Paying for AV is not necessary in this day and age (assuming you have Windows 10) so chalk it up to experience. It's quite a common trick. Tomtom advertise their map updates as for life but they mean whatever they define as the life of the machine and if it continues to work then its just tough and you don't get further updates.
I contacted their support team. Here is an extract from their email reply:Thank you for contacting xxxxxxxxx.We inform you that when you purchase xxxxxx Internet Security PC Lifetime Edition, you get a license key valid for 5 years.Since the lifetime of a computer is 5 years (this estimate is made by the producers of the devices, not by xxxxxx) it is considered that your PC has reached its end of life.I don’t agree with them. My workstation will last me a lot longer than 5 years. I plan to use it for another 5 years. There is no reason why it should not work for that long.
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JJ_Egan said:My lifetime VPN expires after six years as they say 6 years os a PC lifetime .
These guys did not say 5 years. They claimed lifetime!Lifetime is lifetime, not an unwritten rule that I am meant to have known.0 -
The_Rainmaker said:No wee asterix that gives you a definition of what they call a PC lifetime?
I am meant to know some unwritten rule.
They say all pc manufacturers claim their machines lifespan is 5 years, and it’s not them making the rule. I don’t believe them, so now I’m reading the documentation that came with my dell precision workstation.0
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