Let's see....
I notice several things.
I'm finding it extremely difficult to contact avast!
Submitting a ticket is not difficult at all.
Within a few weeks of getting an avast product, (which did not help me in my situation
What was the situation ? If it is/was about a infection, there is no tool in the world that can detect/remove/prevent every malware. There is no such thing as 100% detection/removal/prevention.
I had to employ the services of a computer guy to fix my computer
You could have explained the problem here and we sure would have tried to help you without any cost at all.
I thought I cancelled the subscription.
Did you purchase a license ? If so, for what exactly ?
I found a landline so I stayed on the phone ( to an interstate phone number ) for 43minutes only to be told the 'Avast Customer and technical support" for payment could NOT help me.
The phone number you called is likely from a third party company and not from avast. Next to that it is clearly stated on the avast website "If you have billing inquiry, please submit a ticket."
The product was recommended by my brother who told me it was suppose to be free anyway.
Yes, avast has free products but also paid ones as well as trial versions.