GroupOn Microsoft Key

PennysIntoPounds

Hi all,

I bought a Microsoft Office package from GroupOn that was meant to be lifetime access.

But after one month it's no longer working.
When I open a Word document, it won't allow me to do anything (whether my document or someone else's).

I get a pop up box saying 'this copy of Microsoft Office is not activated'.
If I try to proceed to put the activation code in (which I shouldn't need to as it has been activated for a month) it says 'you have activated up to the limit of your multiple activation key. Consult your administrator for further help'

I'm self-employed so I am my administrator and I'm no help!
GroupOn say to contact the product provider, Microsoft, and Microsoft say to contact the seller, GroupOn, as it's likely to be a fraudulent code

Is there a way of getting my package to work, i.e. have I done something daft tech-wise, or have I just been unfortunate in getting a fraudulent code?

Is there a way of getting a refund from GroupOn if they're shifting the issue on to Microsoft?
Can I make a chargeback from my bank or is it a waste of time if GroupOn already state that it's not their problem?

Boohoo

PennysIntoPounds said:

Hi all,

I bought a Microsoft Office package from GroupOn that was meant to be lifetime access.

But after one month it's no longer working.
When I open a Word document, it won't allow me to do anything (whether my document or someone else's).

I get a pop up box saying 'this copy of Microsoft Office is not activated'.
If I try to proceed to put the activation code in (which I shouldn't need to as it has been activated for a month) it says 'you have activated up to the limit of your multiple activation key. Consult your administrator for further help'

I'm self-employed so I am my administrator and I'm no help!
GroupOn say to contact the product provider, Microsoft, and Microsoft say to contact the seller, GroupOn, as it's likely to be a fraudulent code

Is there a way of getting my package to work, i.e. have I done something daft tech-wise, or have I just been unfortunate in getting a fraudulent code?

Is there a way of getting a refund from GroupOn if they're shifting the issue on to Microsoft?
Can I make a chargeback from my bank or is it a waste of time if GroupOn already state that it's not their problem?

How much did you pay for this lifetime access?

Not sure if chargeback will work as you went through groupon but others will know for sure.

Also not sure if all your saved stuff on office will work again if you get a new key.

As self employed is buying software tax deductable?
There have been lots of users buying software on Groupon and after a month they get locked out which makes me think it's a 1 month deal but sold as lifetime.

ButterCheese

My partner had exactly the same thing this morning, it works now.  She had already activated it but had to do it again.  There is an option to verify by phone or something, and she then got sent the verification code again (it's something like 30 odd numbers).   

Eyeful

1. How much did you pay for that package?

2. I do not know the answer to your question.

3. Have you tried to use one of the free office packages to see if they would be suitable?

jim1999

I'd say you've got a fraudulent code. 

It has been an ongoing issue for many years, where people obtain codes via various means and then re-sell them against the T&Cs.

Sometimes people get lucky and they keep working, other times they are found out and clamped down on.

PennysIntoPounds

Thank you all for your responses.

I will try the telephone option, and remember to add the expense of the package to my self assessment 

flaneurs_lobster

The last version of Office that came with "lifetime" access was 2021, and that is no longer supported (but will probably still work) come Oct '26. 

You can only buy keys from third parties, their provenance will not be documented but will probably be surplus OEM stock or salvaged second-hand corporates.

Might work forever, might stop tomorrow, depending on the terms of the original licenses and if/when MS decide to enforce them.

If MS products are being used by a professional in their daily work then they should be paying for the full supported products from Microsoft. If they don't need the full products then use the free online versions or an alternative, free, product.

Have you tried getting a refund from the provider (not Groupon, they're just the marketplace - the actual supplier).

PennysIntoPounds

Thanks @flaneurs_lobster, I know absolutely nothing about this sort of thing.
So if I bought another lifetime access code from John Lewis which I've seen, it would be just as likely to stop working?
I assumed I'd just been naive thinking that GroupOn would be kosher

I don't need the full products so will have a proper look at the mse recommended free alternatives.
Had hoped that I would only have to think about it once and then never again, or at least in the lifetime of this laptop

QrizB

PennysIntoPounds said:

So if I bought another lifetime access code from John Lewis which I've seen, it would be just as likely to stop working?

If you mean you're going to walk into John Lewis and buy it over the counter, it should work.

If you mean you've seen a code online that the seller claims is from John Lewis, it could be dodgy.

PennysIntoPounds said:

I assumed I'd just been naive thinking that GroupOn would be kosher

GroupOn is just another business-to-consumer platform. I don't know how much vetting they do of their sellers but we quite often hear of problems.

QrizB

Office Home 2024 at John Lewis - should be fine.

https://www.johnlewis.com/microsoft-office-home-2024-1-pc-one-off-payment-for-windows-11-windows-10-and-macos/p112722251

Or direct from Microsoft at the same price:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/CFQ7TTC0PQVJ

PennysIntoPounds

Thanks @QrizB, it was on the John Lewis website

Eta cheers for links. Will see if I can understand how to try the free versions mse mentions in their guide and if not will go via one of those 

Lesson learned about GroupOn!