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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Scrittore on February 01, 2014, 07:36:35 PM

Title: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 01, 2014, 07:36:35 PM
Have waited - BY THE CLOCK - over two hours listening to flutes, etc., waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number (Saturday  Feb 01, 2014) which joined the over two hours combined waiting in between tech reps working, disengaging, me having to call back each time after some process completed (AND THE MESSED UP MY COMPUTER SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T START WINDOWS ALL LAST NIGHT!!!

Then - there's the "Customer Service" matter - wherein AVAST in all its wisdom has NO PROVISION for a "customer service representative to contact a Level 2 technician to give a phone number and name to to call back to finish what they started (see above problems covering now two days) - all because the above "technical support" line seemingly just doesn't have near enough staff (as per my over an hour wait time just today alone).

Also - I bought the VPN (Jan 02, 2014) and the license file was never sent.

Customer service says I didn't buy it because they can't find any record of the purchase - BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR RE-SELLER (Digital River) ON MY CREDIT CARD!

Needless to say - I'm very, very, VERY dissatisfied with AVAST !!

Quick to take the money - but slow as the lead turtle in a turtle race to service  >:(

Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Asyn on February 01, 2014, 07:45:36 PM
...waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number...

That's not the official support number..!!
-> http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=111435.0
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: thekochs on February 01, 2014, 08:30:39 PM
Have waited - BY THE CLOCK - over two hours listening to flutes, etc., waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number (Saturday  Feb 01, 2014) which joined the over two hours combined waiting in between tech reps working, disengaging, me having to call back each time after some process completed (AND THE MESSED UP MY COMPUTER SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T START WINDOWS ALL LAST NIGHT!!!

Then - there's the "Customer Service" matter - wherein AVAST in all its wisdom has NO PROVISION for a "customer service representative to contact a Level 2 technician to give a phone number and name to to call back to finish what they started (see above problems covering now two days) - all because the above "technical support" line seemingly just doesn't have near enough staff (as per my over an hour wait time just today alone).

Also - I bought the VPN (Jan 02, 2014) and the license file was never sent.

Customer service says I didn't buy it because they can't find any record of the purchase - BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR RE-SELLER (Digital River) ON MY CREDIT CARD!

Needless to say - I'm very, very, VERY dissatisfied with AVAST !!

Quick to take the money - but slow as the lead turtle in a turtle race to service  >:(

I've been where you are on "phone support"...........Avast or not.
However, another suggestion is to start a thread on the Forum for help.....more details the better.
There are so many great and experienced people on the Forum and hopefully address your exact issue.
Even when you get the alot of times on these calls the Level 1 support folks start at step #1....."is your PC plugged in ?". :)
....you know the deal....
Anyway may be good to use the Forum....
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: AdrianH on February 01, 2014, 08:35:13 PM
...waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number...

That's not the official support number..!!
-> http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=111435.0

Umm ............. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=96766.0 
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Asyn on February 01, 2014, 08:38:57 PM
...waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number...

That's not the official support number..!!
-> http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=111435.0


Umm ............. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=96766.0

Thanks Adrian, I didn't know about this number.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 02, 2014, 08:15:12 PM
First - I've read the responses - and thank those who have taken their time to comment.

Secondly - although using AVAST for several years now, haven't used these boards much during those years and therefore not sure how to 'respond' __directly__ to a responder (don't see a 'Reply' button for each entry, etc) so any guidance appreciated.

Third - as to the 'that's not the (right) phone number' (877-204-9327) response - that's the number listed on the webpages seen. One of my chief complaints with AVAST in general (other than this specific complaint.- entry) is the difficulty in finding phone numbers for someone to talk with about an issue)

Finally - my issue with the 2nd level tech that messed up my computer so badly it STILL isn't all corrected (even though three other techs have since worked on it) I have to doubt the issue(s) are going to be solved with a 'community' blog (with all due respect to all) in this instance.

So again - tks to those who have responded - and stay tuned as I continue to try and get things resolved.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: thekochs on February 03, 2014, 02:13:37 AM
First - I've read the responses - and thank those who have taken their time to comment.

Secondly - although using AVAST for several years now, haven't used these boards much during those years and therefore not sure how to 'respond' __directly__ to a responder (don't see a 'Reply' button for each entry, etc) so any guidance appreciated.

Third - as to the 'that's not the (right) phone number' (877-204-9327) response - that's the number listed on the webpages seen. One of my chief complaints with AVAST in general (other than this specific complaint.- entry) is the difficulty in finding phone numbers for someone to talk with about an issue)

Finally - my issue with the 2nd level tech that messed up my computer so badly it STILL isn't all corrected (even though three other techs have since worked on it) I have to doubt the issue(s) are going to be solved with a 'community' blog (with all due respect to all) in this instance.

So again - tks to those who have responded - and stay tuned as I continue to try and get things resolved.

Use the "quote" button on top right of post to respond to specific comment.
Also, I have no real insight to Avast Phone Support but I guess like most you go thru either Junior folks to get to some-one whom knows much about anything and you also spend TONS of time getting there.  Also, most of those people are working off scripts prepared by someone else rather that really digging into a specific issue.  Regardless, you can still go down the "phone" path but at least in parallel start a new thread with your original issue and the current state of the machine and its issues.  You would be surprised how senior the folks are on this Forum and the tools they have that can help.  Remember to post as many details on what is going on, what you see, your system setup and all software loaded...especially current security software, software firewalls, or even old security software you had previously and removed.....a lot of times they really aren't gone and cause issues with new A/V.

Anyway, if you do...start a new clean thread with clean topic....this one has become a discussion topic not a problem & solution one. :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 03, 2014, 05:31:04 PM

Use the "quote" button on top right of post to respond to specific comment.
Also, I have no real insight to Avast Phone Support but I guess like most you go thru either Junior folks to get to some-one whom knows much about anything and you also spend TONS of time getting there.  Also, most of those people are working off scripts prepared by someone else rather that really digging into a specific issue.  Regardless, you can still go down the "phone" path but at least in parallel start a new thread with your original issue and the current state of the machine and its issues.  You would be surprised how senior the folks are on this Forum and the tools they have that can help.  Remember to post as many details on what is going on, what you see, your system setup and all software loaded...especially current security software, software firewalls, or even old security software you had previously and removed.....a lot of times they really aren't gone and cause issues with new A/V.

Anyway, if you do...start a new clean thread with clean topic....this one has become a discussion topic not a problem & solution one. :)

Thank you for the tips and comments.

I don't want to "beat-this-to-death" but the forum couldn't have helped me given the problem the Level 2 Tech caused when he ran "HitmanPro" which corrupted something to the point that (a) Windows would not load [thus could not access this board of anything else] and (b) Safemode - nothing worked [not w/Command Prompt, not w/Networking, not with ANYTHING] and (3) finally had to use the "restore" to factory settings to begin again - SOMETHING I COULD HAVE DONE MYSELF without having had to pay AVAST for "total support" to mess it up and then to fix what they messed up!

So - still don't have full use of my computer because now it is downloading 200+++ "updates" (from the intervening time between its 'birthday config' and now') which are still going on so the computer isn't usable while that process is going on.

Now AVAST has told me that "once technical support has been rendered nothing is refundable" - EVEN THOUGH that process broke it and at THAT point there IS no "accountability" on the part of AVAST for the fact that I was charged for something that messed the computer but that 'was not refundable' + that all service is done "on a best efforts basis" - THUS NO GUARANTEE IT WILLWORK - and NONE of which was described during the process of buying the service! (Oh - and "customer service" further stated that the two preceding points were in their TOS as "disclaimers" - which I reminded the rep I COULDN'T SEE BECAUSE THEY MESSED UP MY COMPUTER!)

Getting the idea here? that AVAST is a good product in many ways BUT their "customer support" and policies as described above ARE NOT O.K. !!

Tks again for taking the time to repsond. This will be my last entry on this thread - but everyone should take notice of the points being made in my complaint and reasons for thereof.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: DavidR on February 03, 2014, 05:43:27 PM
The people responding in this topic are all avast user like yourself, not avast employees.

We do take note and have complained about 3rd party support. However, I and many other avast users in this forum wouldn't recommend 3rd party support as the first port of call but these forums.

@@@@
Contacts relating to poor 3rd party support - riley@avast.com - Adam Riley, Manager, Global Services - includes 3rd Party Support
Third-party Support Manager, Vojta (nekvapil (at) avast (dot) com) has requested info about 3rd party support issues, so if you have time to recount your experience (copy and paste your post give the link to this topic, etc.), and see the post below.
Reference forum response post http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=111683.msg877605#msg877605 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=111683.msg877605#msg877605)

Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 03, 2014, 10:26:01 PM
Very interesting @David R - and thanks for the comment.

Actually - there was NO indication that what I purchased as a "support package" was a 3rd party! All phone numbers were associated with an AVAST webpage. I of course understand that if a 3rd party provider (such as "Digital River" is an authorized reseller of AVAST - STILL - resellilng the software is one thing - CLOAKING THEY ARE PROVIDING TECH SUPPORT AND NOT AVAST ITSELF - is b s in my book! __If__ that is to be the case (a 3rd party and not AVAST doing the tech work) then AVAST should be posting a clear disclaimer that a 3rd party is being contacted and __not__ AVAST.

Tks again for providing additional insight :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: DavidR on February 03, 2014, 11:08:18 PM
You're welcome.

I strongly advise you to use the contacts I have given as they 'may' well be able to do more about getting a refund, given that they A) didn't resolve your problem and B) screwed your system up.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 04, 2014, 02:08:36 AM
Will do David R - tks
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: thekochs on February 04, 2014, 03:23:35 AM
Also.....and I am not including myself but I am a techy enough to know........many of the senior guys on this Forum are better than most top level techs...not to mention a Level 2.  My point is, I personally go to Forums (not just Avast) first.....not last....I have found 99% of the time the issue has been encountered and the fixes are there.....and if not the guidance surely is for proper next steps.  Other than Microsoft.....which I have had to engage with once....I would trust NO tech support phone guy with my PC.....they are guessing.....perhaps educated guesses....but guessing none the less.

Good luck.........
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 04, 2014, 06:07:02 PM
Great and helpful comments - thanks

Perhaps my "error" in all this is that I haven't had enough experience with the board-members otherwise I would probably have gone that direction instead of the 'paid' tech service. What actually transpired - was that I was getting hit 24/7 by malware attacks (which I alternately tracked to Russia and to China when twice an IP address was [I'm sure inadvertantly] left visible) and had taken EXTENSIVE screen-shots which I had approach AVAST with even a year ago - all with a big yawn or no response at all from AVAST.

I guess THAT should have been my first clue to look elsewhere!

In this latest round - the tech ran HitMan Pro and when he restarted the computer - that was when something had gotten sooooo screwed up that not only would Windows not load - but nothing in Safe Mode would load either (no w/networking; not /w/command prompt; etc).

I was never called back (the 'notes' say the guy 'tried but failed to reach me' - even though I was sitting by both phone and computer the whole time). When I finally called in myself - I was told there was no record I had purchased any support - and from there everything just continued to go downhill to the point that I lost three days use of my computer and spent those HOURS on hold listening to flute music as previously stated.

Soooo many things I was NEVER told by those representing AVAST in all this as well as by the Tech who finally directed restoring the computer to it's factory settings (never told me [I should have known I guess] that the backup done was NOT going to backup existing installed products like Photoshop, MS Office, and numerous other programs - so - now I have to dig for those original discs and reinstall all of that PLUS hassle with those compaines about activation since their records show they are are already installed on my computer.

I sure as hell didn't need to pay someone to tell me how to run "restore to factory settings" etc.

Anyway - tks again to all for the VERY helpful suggestions (and advice about coming to the boards before again looking to AVAST or any 3rd parter provider [which I never knew I was dealilng with because no such notice was ever given].
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: bob3160 on February 04, 2014, 06:19:33 PM
Quote
that the backup done was NOT going to backup existing installed products like Photoshop, MS Office, and numerous other programs
That requires doing an Image Backup which, depending on your operating system, can be done within Windows or, may require a separate program.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Michael (alan1998) on February 04, 2014, 07:32:56 PM
Also.....and I am not including myself but I am a techy enough to know........many of the senior guys on this Forum are better than most level techs...not to mention a Level 2. [/b]

I can vouch for that. If you search names like Essexboy, g3n-h@ackm@n, TwinHeadedEagle. You'll find them all over.

Essexboy is a teacher here. http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/288498-thank-you-essexboy/
G3n-h@ackm@n: http://www.security-helpzone.com/forum/User-g3n-h-ckm-n

Essexboy has posted almost 60,000 posts on G2G + 27,000 here.
G3n-H@ckm@n hasspent 6 months on Security HelpZone. Most of these guys have the knowledge of a computer on the back of their hand. I am notkidding when I say. "They are the best I've seen in my entire life."

Btw, Congratz Essexboy on reaching 60k Posts on G2G! I'll have to join the school someday
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: thekochs on February 04, 2014, 07:55:01 PM
that was when something had gotten sooooo screwed up that not only would Windows not load - but nothing in Safe Mode would load either (no w/networking; not /w/command prompt; etc).

Tech who finally directed restoring the computer to it's factory settings (never told me [I should have known I guess] that the backup done was NOT going to backup existing installed products like Photoshop, MS Office, and numerous other programs

Just some items that may help in future..........

1) You can re-install Windows without destroying your installed software & data.....in XP called a repair install, in W7 an in-place upgrade.  There is also ways to get to command prompt and runs some utils that may repair the O/S.  I know all that is moot point now but FYI for future.
2) You really need to have a offline (eg USB HDD) image of your HDD.  The factory restores are hidden partitions and while they do work they also put your machine back to state when you bought it.....hardly good as you stated.  There are a lot of imaging software out there but this is a very good, easy and FREE one: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
You can schedule backups at night to run to the USB HDD....and if (when) your HDD on your PC has a physical crash and you have to replace the HDD you have an image of your machine that with one recover CD (able to burn from Macrium software) and about and hour of it restoring you are back up and running.

Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Eddy on February 04, 2014, 08:23:19 PM
Hitman? A tech who knows what he is doing will never tell you to run that crap!

"Software producer Lavasoft was in discussion with Mr. Loman over changes to the program before granting any official permission to implement their software and McAfee says they did not grant permission and claim no knowledge at all of the program"

"HitmanPro 3 also requires a license key to remove malware found on a user's computer, however it does offer a free 30-day trial, which does not let you remove any files identified"

I have met and spoken to Loman. He was living in the same town as me.
The only thing that hitman was doing (and basicly still is), is running software from other developers.
If you wanted to fix things you could click a link provided by hitman.
And that link was the affialiate link from Loman.
So if you bought e.g. McAcrap through it, he would make money.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 07, 2014, 04:51:39 AM
Quote
that the backup done was NOT going to backup existing installed products like Photoshop, MS Office, and numerous other programs
That requires doing an Image Backup which, depending on your operating system, can be done within Windows or, may require a separate program.

Thank you Bob for the comment and observation of what should have been done to preserve all of my personally owned and installed software - but - unfortunately that suggestion/recommendation/process was not done by any of the techs that alternately worked on my computer - so all of that was lost in the re-format and has to be reinstalled.

Unfortunately that wastes more time - time needed to accomplish (especially since I don't know where those disks are pursuant to a recent move) so again - more loss of productivity and all because the 'protocols' were so loose regarding discussions that none of the techs who worked on my computer bothered to tell me (remind me) of implementing your suggestion.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: bob3160 on February 07, 2014, 01:43:15 PM
Quote
Thank you Bob for the comment and observation of what should have been done to preserve all of my personally owned and installed software
That comment wasn't meant as something the techs should have done but, as an observation of what procedure is required
in order to totally back up everything on your system.
It's something I do regularly on a weekly basis and something everyone should be doing to be prepared
for a disaster prior to the disaster happening.
You unfortunately found out the hard way that once a disaster happens, hindsight doesn't work.  :'(
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 13, 2014, 02:16:27 PM
Quote
that the backup done was NOT going to backup existing installed products like Photoshop, MS Office, and numerous other programs
That requires doing an Image Backup which, depending on your operating system, can be done within Windows or, may require a separate program.

Thanks for the comment Bob.

Not sure why an earlier response to you didn't post - but I did a number of days ago.

None of the 'techs' never questioned what I had installed before directing me to return my computer to factory settings - which of course I did know was going to wipe the hard drive. What I didn't realize was that the "backup" was not going to capture those programs, etc., and even then, all the 'backup' window indicated was going to be backed up didn't 'reappear' when restored.

I've learned a lot on this - mainly to approach the forum first with questions and issues and not the 'online techs' :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: thekochs on February 13, 2014, 03:08:27 PM
It is clear to me the Avast dial-in tech support is 3rd party.....contract folks.....not Avast.
Sure, Avast "monitors" them like I'm sure the 100s of other companies using the same service.
Heck, if I call into Comcast and gets routed to tech support once they check my line and is OK they "route" me to "tech support".
Probably the same group.....why, because it's $175 first on your credit card and also allow them to connect to your computer.
I'm not sure which is more crazy....giving them money before they "fix" anything or letting them have access to your PC.

To me it is very simple.......NEVER EVER.....EVER use a dial-in service....don't care what company you are starting from.
In this day-n-age companies don't have the resources to have that backend infrastructure so they farm it out.
Those folks are generalists with standard steps and brute force techniques that are one size fits all approach.
For me, if you have a severe enough issue take the time to go to Forums and research.....heck, a Google search most times turns up good info.  If things are too mucked up then take the $175 you would pay those "guys" and go to a local PC house.  The local folks will at least backup your machine and you have local 1:1 access....plus, they probably won't charge you until fixed.

Anyway, I see threads like this on so many forums.......hopefully for new people reading the experience above can help avoid their frustration...just a shame did not help OP....... :(
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: myambo on February 13, 2014, 03:15:11 PM
Have waited - BY THE CLOCK - over two hours listening to flutes, etc., waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number (Saturday  Feb 01, 2014) which joined the over two hours combined waiting in between tech reps working, disengaging, me having to call back each time after some process completed (AND THE MESSED UP MY COMPUTER SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T START WINDOWS ALL LAST NIGHT!!!

Then - there's the "Customer Service" matter - wherein AVAST in all its wisdom has NO PROVISION for a "customer service representative to contact a Level 2 technician to give a phone number and name to to call back to finish what they started (see above problems covering now two days) - all because the above "technical support" line seemingly just doesn't have near enough staff (as per my over an hour wait time just today alone).

Also - I bought the VPN (Jan 02, 2014) and the license file was never sent.

Customer service says I didn't buy it because they can't find any record of the purchase - BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR RE-SELLER (Digital River) ON MY CREDIT CARD!

Needless to say - I'm very, very, VERY dissatisfied with AVAST !!

Quick to take the money - but slow as the lead turtle in a turtle race to service  >:(

I agree with you. Avast customer service sucks. I oppened a case Ticket ID: TIK-416-26536 on 11 February and more than 48 hours later no one has attended my case  >:(
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: bob3160 on February 13, 2014, 03:24:10 PM
Have waited - BY THE CLOCK - over two hours listening to flutes, etc., waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number (Saturday  Feb 01, 2014) which joined the over two hours combined waiting in between tech reps working, disengaging, me having to call back each time after some process completed (AND THE MESSED UP MY COMPUTER SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T START WINDOWS ALL LAST NIGHT!!!

Then - there's the "Customer Service" matter - wherein AVAST in all its wisdom has NO PROVISION for a "customer service representative to contact a Level 2 technician to give a phone number and name to to call back to finish what they started (see above problems covering now two days) - all because the above "technical support" line seemingly just doesn't have near enough staff (as per my over an hour wait time just today alone).

Also - I bought the VPN (Jan 02, 2014) and the license file was never sent.

Customer service says I didn't buy it because they can't find any record of the purchase - BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR RE-SELLER (Digital River) ON MY CREDIT CARD!

Needless to say - I'm very, very, VERY dissatisfied with AVAST !!

Quick to take the money - but slow as the lead turtle in a turtle race to service  >:(

I agree with you. Avast customer service sucks. I oppened a case Ticket ID: TIK-416-26536 on 11 February and more than 48 hours later no one has attended my case  >:(
May I suggest that rather than complain here, you use this Support Forum to get the help you apparently haven't received. :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Hammey on February 13, 2014, 04:53:51 PM
Hi well at least you are not dealing with Corel they sent me a 1-800 support number turned out to be a porn phone chat line. What kind of company lets there main support number go to a porn dialup service. That is the end of my business with them.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: jasmith on February 13, 2014, 10:43:02 PM
Having what seems to be the same issues as you Jim as far as support and customer service.

Please resolve this issue!   Please credit my account  ASAP

From: Julie A Smith [mailto:julie@julieasmith.com]
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 11:25 AM
To: orders@avast.com
Cc: julie@julieasmith.com
Subject: refund request - unsatisfied Order # 14236038642

Hi,  my name is Julie  Smith  and I am very dissatisfied with your support package.
Order # 14236038642  Julie Smith 


Called Avast on 29th of January 10 am….spoke with a nice gentleman about Avast Backup issues not working and no way to enter new key from newly purchased product after trial had expired.  Told him I really wanted to back up my files because my computer was very slow getting old I though and was going to replace it.
He said if I purchase the support product listed above the support department could get my computer running like new.  He checked and found lots of registry errors and then he had me put in a support ticket for Avast Back-up.
Then Cesar Solarte worked on my computer for a little over 2 hrs.  I had to leave for an appointment…I called support let them know I had to leave and left him on my computer…unfortunately he lost connection and left me a message to call back to continue working on the product when I returned.
When I returned at 4:30/5pm et  I called back and talked to Ronald Casasola who looked into the problem and sent the ticket to Christopher Vega who downloaded windows live and messenger, which I don’t even use, he did several other things which did not do anything of value….then he handed the ticket over to someone else and they worked on it for awhile and then just disappeared and never called back and I went to bed….next morning I also called back and had a Mathew Richardson work on the computer and he got avast backup up and running but by the time all was said and done some of my other programs were not working correctly…my computer was three times slower than before…it kept hanging up and I had to keep hitting refresh to get web pages to download…all my passwords where gone and outlook kept hanging up in limbo…I was getting computer errors windows explorer not working…..dos boxes popping up with errors and my desktop was not right either….files and programs were different 
THEN,  and 10:45 he seemed to just disappear seemed frustrated because I wasn’t happy with just backup working….and wanted the other issued addressed.
I left several messages in the chat box of bomgar and then called and talked to someone in support at 11:15 who was looking into it and said Mathew might have gone on break because they get 15 minute breaks and I said ok and he thanked me for being patient…BUT, at 1:00 pm I had to leave for work and could not wait any longer for Matthew….who had not touched my computer as my mouse and screen had not changed since my 11:15 conversation on the phone.
Last night I called and complained to support….told them I wanted my computer restored to the point they started working on it and I wanted my money back.
He, I believe his name was Randall,  said ok walked me through the restore process and told me to call when it was completed and they would walk me through the refund process.  I called was on hold for ½ hour  hung up called 952 908 4150 explained everything to some nice lady and she told me I had to write this all in an email and send it to  orders@avast.com to start the refund process.
My computer is back to the way it was before and I am having someone else help me to get Avast Back-up running again.

Please respond to this request VIA email or call me at 207 xxxxxxxxxhome or xxxxxxxxxxcell phone with your determination or a phone number to call you at to get this resolved…….I have been using Avast since the early 1900’s and have referred several people to you….I hope this is just an isolated incident, caused by to many people working on one computer with misinformation.

Thank you for your time,
Julie A SmithToday talked to Mike and she basically said to bad for me....they tried and can only do the best they can........NOT what I was promissed at time of sale.
________________________________________
 
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.

Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: jasmith on February 13, 2014, 10:49:31 PM
Have waited - BY THE CLOCK - over two hours listening to flutes, etc., waiting for technical support on the 877-204-9327 number (Saturday  Feb 01, 2014) which joined the over two hours combined waiting in between tech reps working, disengaging, me having to call back each time after some process completed (AND THE MESSED UP MY COMPUTER SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T START WINDOWS ALL LAST NIGHT!!!

Then - there's the "Customer Service" matter - wherein AVAST in all its wisdom has NO PROVISION for a "customer service representative to contact a Level 2 technician to give a phone number and name to to call back to finish what they started (see above problems covering now two days) - all because the above "technical support" line seemingly just doesn't have near enough staff (as per my over an hour wait time just today alone).

Also - I bought the VPN (Jan 02, 2014) and the license file was never sent.

Customer service says I didn't buy it because they can't find any record of the purchase - BUT I'M LOOKING AT THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR RE-SELLER (Digital River) ON MY CREDIT CARD!

Needless to say - I'm very, very, VERY dissatisfied with AVAST !!

Quick to take the money - but slow as the lead turtle in a turtle race to service  >:(

I agree with you. Avast customer service sucks. I oppened a case Ticket ID: TIK-416-26536 on 11 February and more than 48 hours later no one has attended my case  >:(
same here opened mine on January 31st..
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: DavidR on February 13, 2014, 11:14:29 PM
@ jasmith

I suggest that you remove (or obfuscate) your email address from your first post (email extract info). These forums are publicly available and email addresses could be harvested by spambots.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: waking on February 14, 2014, 02:49:17 AM
I have been using Avast since the early 1900’s

Holy Moley! Did avast! work with abacuses way back then?
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: bob3160 on February 14, 2014, 01:42:39 PM
I have been using Avast since the early 1900’s

Holy Moley! Did avast! work with abacuses way back then?
When you consider that Avast (Alwil) is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary this year, it's not
that hard to have been a customer that long. :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: waking on February 14, 2014, 11:53:52 PM
When you consider that Avast (Alwil) is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary this year, it's not
that hard to have been a customer that long. :)

I'm not sure if you're being facetious (as was I) or math-challenged.  :P

2014-25 = 1989

That's a *very* long way from "the early 1900's" - which I take generally to mean pre-World War I.   :o

The way I see it 1989 is the late 1900s. (Not that this has anything to do with the quality of avast!'s service - or lack of same. So apologies to the OP for digressing from the principal concern.)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: bob3160 on February 15, 2014, 12:15:47 AM
My eyes saw 1990...... :)
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 17, 2014, 03:08:40 AM
Hitman? A tech who knows what he is doing will never tell you to run that crap!

Sorry I didn't respond sooner.

Funny enough - it was the tech who installed and ran HitManPro - not me - after he 'remoted-in'.

Really messed everything up as commeted about.
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: Scrittore on February 19, 2014, 05:02:34 AM
Will report that as of yesterday - AVAST has agreed to address the multiple issues my originating post detailed in a postive and satisfactory way. I need to give credit where credit is due. I also want to express my deep appreciation to all others (board participants) that responded with helpful suggestions and directions.

Jim
Title: Re: ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE CUSTOMER AND TECH SERVICE
Post by: AdrianH on February 19, 2014, 09:16:27 AM
Good to hear a positive outcome for you Jim.