Done

[CraigB]

Since Lukas replied/answered back at reply 43 there hasn't been a need for any further responses in this topic, it needs to be locked.

[REDACTED]

Yes! Why don't you do that! There are 9 pages and counting in just a GOOGLE search re  AVAST SCAMS,  including a report of hacking this very "Community Forum" - effecting 400,000 users! For all I know, some of you may very well be hackers. I'm off of here before I incur further damage. So long! I've printed out the entire TOPIC and have all the documentation I need. https://grahamcluley.com/2014/05/avast-forum-hacked/

[bob3160]

Yes! Why don't you do that! There are 9 pages and counting in just a GOOGLE search re  AVAST SCAMS,  including a report of hacking this very "Community Forum" - effecting 400,000 users! For all I know, some of you may very well be hackers. I'm off of here before I incur further damage. So long! I've printed out the entire TOPIC and have all the documentation I need. https://grahamcluley.com/2014/05/avast-forum-hacked/

Your problem was addressed and handled. The forum breach was a little annoying but not anything that left any permanent scars or aftereffects.
Only Avast can lock a thread. We are all users on this forum just like you.

[REDACTED]

Something similar to what happened to Deborah happened to me-- I was a Premium user--  on one of the automatic upgrades, my Avast suddenly reverted back to the Free version-- I called support to get the Premium version back as I'd paid for it and the subscription had not expired.  A sales rep hoodwinked me into believing that this happened because of serious security breaches on my computer...and that I needed to purchase "Total Support" for $179.00.   

The only thing that happened from my purchase, is that- Premium was reinstalled (which should have been done for free given that I had the license), a junk removal program that I could have run myself was run, a quick avast virus scan was run (no surprise, it was clean).  Contrary to what I had been told regarding the service I was purchasing-- my computer did not boot faster, did not run better.   All I got was the Premium that was removed on an Avast upgrade back.

I will no longer recommend AVAST because of these tactics and plan to switch to another antivirus program when my current avast license expires.  I have requested a refund (I had to root around similar complaints on the net to find what seems to be the email of a higher level person at Avast, because people who have experienced similar tactics have been given the run around and refused refunds.    Evidently the company was using a company named Yogi or something and stopped using them because they were using these type of scare tactics..  unfortunately, the new company they hired to manage support is doing the exact same thing... 

[bob3160]

Something similar to what happened to Deborah happened to me-- I was a Premium user--  on one of the automatic upgrades, my Avast suddenly reverted back to the Free version-- I called support to get the Premium version back as I'd paid for it and the subscription had not expired.  A sales rep hoodwinked me into believing that this happened because of serious security breaches on my computer...and that I needed to purchase "Total Support" for $179.00.   

The only thing that happened from my purchase, is that- Premium was reinstalled (which should have been done for free given that I had the license), a junk removal program that I could have run myself was run, a quick avast virus scan was run (no surprise, it was clean).  Contrary to what I had been told regarding the service I was purchasing-- my computer did not boot faster, did not run better.   All I got was the Premium that was removed on an Avast upgrade back.

I will no longer recommend AVAST because of these tactics and plan to switch to another antivirus program when my current avast license expires.  I have requested a refund (I had to root around similar complaints on the net to find what seems to be the email of a higher level person at Avast, because people who have experienced similar tactics have been given the run around and refused refunds.    Evidently the company was using a company named Yogi or something and stopped using them because they were using these type of scare tactics..  unfortunately, the new company they hired to manage support is doing the exact same thing...

Help here is always free and gladly offered.

[REDACTED]

 

Help here is always free and gladly offered.

 

Anjou111 - "Advice" not necessarily "help" here is always free and some, like  Bob3160 & Lakrsrool were very nice & tried to be helpful. Others, like Pondus, Eddie, Rednose, and Schmidthouse were rude, arrogant, condescending bullies and NONE of them are paid technical support on Avast payroll!!

 Who knew you needed to go to a user forum to get technical support for an application?? I was initially "chastised" and made to look like I was a fool for calling the technical support number listed on the customer service page for Avast instead of coming to the forum. It was not until I persisted in making my case, provided screen shots, names and logs, was I taken seriously and  Bob3160 & Lakrsrool made an attempt to help me. To those rude, pompous bullie's,  I would ask, what kind of "loser" hangs out in a community forum  waiting for some "newbie" to seek help, out of desperation, and then pounces on them like buzzards going in for the kill?  There was another fellow on here who had similar issues who they were equally as rude to.

At point #43 Lukas.Hasik replied. He is an actual support team manager for Avast. I don't know if it was because he was alerted or he just monitors the forums and picked up on my issue....but ONLY after he got involved did I get resolution and received not only my premium service back but a full refund of the service plan, I was duped into purchasing by a 3rd party technical support....within weeks. I would reach out to him.  Good luck! 

[REDACTED]

Deborah, thank you for your help-- how do I get in contact with Lucas.hasik ?

[Rednose]

Hi anjou111, welcome to the forum

I am sorry for your bad experience !

Send an email with your complaint to Vojta Nekvapil - nekvapil [at] avast [dot] com (3rd Party Support Manager) with a link to your first post. I will put this forward as well.

Greetz, Red.

[Eddy]

Bob3160 & Lakrsrool are not paid by or working for avast either.

Who knew you needed to go to a user forum to get technical support for an application??

It is not a forum, but a webboard. A forum is only a part of a webboard. It is very common that software developers use a webboard for support.

Besides that, you didn't had to come here.
You could also have used the ticket system, read the avast blogs, searched the support website etc.

I was duped into purchasing by a 3rd party technical support

No you weren't. It was your own free choice. No-one has forced you. I (and others) can't help it if you do not (re)search and think before doing/deciding something.

To those rude, pompous bullie's

You are the one that is rude now.

[REDACTED]

Thank you Rednose-   I have written to the person you recommend I do not wish to get involved in the arguments on this thread, I only want a refund.   

[Rednose]

Thank you Rednose-   I have written to the person you recommend I do not wish to get involved in the arguments on this thread, I only want a refund.   

You're welcome

Greetz, Red.

[REDACTED]

I didn't read the whole thread of posts, but if you want to know whether you made the right decision, here is MY two cents.
a
I've been using computers for 30+ years. Since before anti-virues. I've used many different ones. AVAST does a great job and rarely gives me any issues (note I'm in the forum today cause I did have an issue and wanted to report it in case others ran into it).

I purchase the 3-license bundle for my PCs at home.  I also have Malwarebytes and SpyBot Search & Destroy on those same computers. I feel that the combination of the 3 products gives me the best possible protection and Avast has a good easy to use interface and doesn't have a lot of overhead on my older computers.

So.. if you bought avast, great.  I recommend it to my friends and my son and daughter both use it also (they are in their 20s now).  I don't use Grimefighter.  I did a trial of Secureline VPN and forgot I had.  SO I guess that tells you it's pretty invisible .. I had a problem with it when I upgraded 2 days ago.  It took a while to figure out it was Avast, and it finally went away when I did an avast "repair" (from the uninstall menu).

The reason I didn't realize it was avast is because I've had it for years and have never had any issues.  So, yes, stuff happens, but I'm going to renewing my 3-PC license later this month and will see if I can get a discount on a 2- or 3-year deal.. and I'll consider Secureline VPN once I figure out why I had a problem..

So there's my answer.. Avast == Good stuff.

Dave

[schmidthouse]

Help here is always free and gladly offered.

 

Anjou111 - "Advice" not necessarily "help" here is always free and some, like  Bob3160 & Lakrsrool were very nice & tried to be helpful. Others, like Pondus, Eddie, Rednose, and Schmidthouse were rude, arrogant, condescending bullies and NONE of them are paid technical support on Avast payroll!!

 Who knew you needed to go to a user forum to get technical support for an application?? I was initially "chastised" and made to look like I was a fool for calling the technical support number listed on the customer service page for Avast instead of coming to the forum. It was not until I persisted in making my case, provided screen shots, names and logs, was I taken seriously and  Bob3160 & Lakrsrool made an attempt to help me. To those rude, pompous bullie's,  I would ask, what kind of "loser" hangs out in a community forum  waiting for some "newbie" to seek help, out of desperation, and then pounces on them like buzzards going in for the kill?  There was another fellow on here who had similar issues who they were equally as rude to.

At point #43 Lukas.Hasik replied. He is an actual support team manager for Avast. I don't know if it was because he was alerted or he just monitors the forums and picked up on my issue....but ONLY after he got involved did I get resolution and received not only my premium service back but a full refund of the service plan, I was duped into purchasing by a 3rd party technical support....within weeks. I would reach out to him.  Good luck!

@ Deborah29
Read Posts #35,36 and #37 in your own Topic
What's the matter with you?

[REDACTED]

David-
I also have used AVAST for years and the virus protection has been good.  That is not what I am questioning. 

 I am questioning the integrity of the support that I received from the support phone number on the site that uses scare tactics to induce those of us, who may not be as tech savy as some here, to purchase tech when they are called with  a simple request like--hey,  I need to have my Avast premier reinstalled because it disappeared and went back to free Avast because of an AVAST automatic update.  Obviously the first technician was more concerned with making his commission than providing the support I asked for.  If you do a web search, it is quite obvious that this happens repeatedly and there are a number of folks who have experienced these scare tactics.

If Avast is unwilling to rectify this situation by giving me a refund, I can no longer recommend AVAST or continue to use AVAST because they employ a support service that behaves like this.     I am really disappointed and did not expected this to happen when I called with a simple support question
 

[REDACTED]

Wow, this article describes exactly the scare tactics that were used on me!!
http://www.sitepronews.com/2015/03/13/bogus-tech-support-companies-targeted-ftc/

he salesperson would then launch into a scripted sales pitch while showing images of standard Windows screens (such as the Windows Event Viewer), citing them as proof that the computer is significantly damaged. After convincing the caller that their computer is in dire shape, the salesperson would proceed to pitch them security software

but in this case, it was the unhelpful "Total Support"