So, I bought microsoft office for my laptop . . . don't open it Microsoft and laptop breaks. So I get a new laptop and call microsoft to see if they can reinstall the microsoft office suite for me so I don't have to rebuy it. He says yes, no problem.
Then he starts running all these scans and performance tests. And says, oh no you have big problems on your computer on and on and on. And quite frankly I have no idea what he's talking about. He transfers me to a technician who can install the microsoft office suite. And this guy starts talking to me about how bad my computer is and I need their insurance to fix it . . . would I like the 1 year or 2 year plan. (I'm in sales and don't like being sold) so I say, I just want you to download the microsoft office suite and he says, ok, I will, but did you want the 1 year or 2 year plan. Again, I say I don't want the plan, I only want the suite downloaded and he starts showing me this stuff on my computer which means nothing to me. I'm very frustrated and I have 3 kids I"m trying to feed, baby is crying and he wants me to pick 1 or 2 year and I said I can't deal with that right now but can you just install the suite and he says my computer is too bad, if I buy the insurance he can do it.
Is this legit or a scam?
Thanks - I was soooo frustrated . . . I do not appear to have any problems with my computer and he said oh yes you get this error - which he's crazy - haha. I need Word to work on a project for work for this weekend, but will try that other program if it's compatible. I have a work computer, but my home printer isn't hooked up and I spent 4 hours with tech at work and got not where there trying to get word on my home computer - frustrating. As a poster mentioned, half my fustration was I couldn't understand him.
Just download OpenOffice for free.
OpenOffice.org
I hate Microsoft!
Is this HP? That's their job-- to upsell and make a profit.
I'm not a techie but everyone is trying to sell insurance plans on their products these days. So not a scam, just, like Jo says, high-pressure sales. I heard something recently, I think on NPR, that recommended not getting those extended warranties, because they are not cost-effective. If they were, the companies wouldn't be trying so hard to sell them to us.
Unfortunately, this was not a scam - it was a hard core up-sell that you have every right to refuse. Considering that most tech support is outsourced nowadays the "techies" read from a script and really do not know how to deviate from it. Make him tell you, slowly and clearly, what is "bad" about your computer and write it down. Than take the notes and the laptop back to where you bought it - tell them that Microsoft said there are problems with the computer. Either make them diagnosis it for free and fix it, or replace it.
As for Microsoft - don't even buy it. I use Open Office - it does all the same things even saves files to Word formats and pdfs. But it is free. I have not used Microsoft products in over two years and have never had a compatibility issue.
Good Luck
My hubby., and IT Manager and owner of his own computer consulting company read your post. It is a scam. The people you spoke with are NOT Microsoft employees. My husband can re-install it for you if you have the serial number. He's available tomorrow (Sunday) and he'll do it free of charge. No sales, no gimmicks, etc... :) Just message me the information if you want. We mommas need to stick together.
~L.
HE said your computer is too bad.... so even if you buy their insurance... your computer will not change. It will STILL be too bad. THAT is the bottom line...
But, the thing is, it is their word/opinion, that your computer is too bad and that there are "big problems" on it. You don't know for sure, because you are not a Techie.
Regardless, the fact is again: EVEN if you buy their insurance, your computer will still be too bad. You don't need their insurance plan just to install something. They can still reinstall it even if you do NOT buy their insurance.
If you want to reinstall the software, you need to UN-install it. Then install it again. If you know how to do that. The software package, usually comes with an uninstall disk.
Installing software is usually done by:
1) downloading it, via the internet or,
2) by installing it using the disks that comes in the box.
Is it a scam, no, you called Microsoft, you were talking to Microsoft. Is it high pressure sales, yes. Was there something really wrong with your computer, how would any of us know, we are not looking at your computer. You gave us no information one way or another.
I get you don't know what they were doing or would probably retain where they were looking and what you saw but without that no one would know whether something was actually wrong with your computer.
In the end it would seem that if you want the free office you have to get a one year plan, if that is less than buying office well there you go, if it is more expensive then buy office again. They don't have to give you a free download of office, ya know?
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Guys you are assume this is malware, that may not be the case. My daughter got a new laptop three months ago, it was so messed up she had to get a new one, it was hardware issues. We don't know what happened and we can't. The only facts we have is she asked a favor and they are unwilling to do it without their protection plan. That is not a scam.
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If it is a new computer take it back to where you bought it and ask them to check it out and tell you, and explain, if anything is wrong. A new computer should still be under the in house warranty.
I own Microsoft Office 2010 and use it almost daily for school. I am not understanding why you couldn't install it yourself...?? It doesn't sound like you would have needed to buy a new copy. Just put the disc in the computer. It would install on its own. Or you can use your product key to download off their website.
good grief.
sounds SCAM to me.
I'll bet he is outsourced from India...you always have to tell them that you cannot understand their English and they must speak slowly. The Indian speakers always speak English VERY fast. (How do they do that as a second language? Smiles!!)
It's not a scam if you have called the phone number on the box for Microsoft Office. What this is however, is their "job" to try to get more money by using tech support as their salesmen. The guy's job is on the line and he HAS to pressure you for this. You get to say no over and over - it's your right. You are kind of held hostage to him to get what you want done, and he has to keep pushing for a certain period of time to be off the hook from getting in trouble with his supervisors for "not trying hard enough". Plus, he gets bonuses for every person who signs up.
Quite frankly, he doesn't care about your screaming kids because as soon as you hang up the phone, he doesn't have to hear them anymore.
If you feel passionately enough about it (and if you can make the time LOL!) you could write a letter to Microsoft and complain.
Hope you got the program installed...
Dawn
Not sure, but I can tell you how to install a linux program and you can be done with Microsoft forever... heehee
If you just bought a new laptop, how could anything be wrong with it? Sounds fishy to me.
A legitimate scam...sorry...they are trying to use "Fear" (like political campaign ads) to get you to buy their product.
If you have McAfee or Norton installed you should be safe...there are other applications out there as well.
You can also do some of the things they are "scaring" you about yourself. You might need to defrag (if that's what they said) you can do that yourself by going to start button, system, tools, maintenance.
http://fix-kit.com/PC-Defragmentation/repair/?nid=1&d...
http://windows.about.com/od/maintainandfix/ss/defragment_...
i'm not techy but i have heard of them doing this...sounds like a scam to me! i would look up another place and get a S. opinion, at the very least....do you have a "geeky" teenage kid in the neighborhood that could look at it?
UUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM if you just bought your computer how could it be bad? It sounds like a scam to me. Tell them you want to talk to a mangager and you don't like there pressure techniques. All ou wwant is your micrsoft office.
