topic Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus in Electronics

Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Ladygray — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:24:46 GMT

During Covid, instead of going out and buying my new Norton renewal like I usually did in a box store, I ordered it from Norton. The first year it was $30. Upon renewal last year it was $99. Because of Covid, I did the auto renewal, too much in my life going on to worry otherwise.

Since that time, my charge card I used was updated and now Norton is telling me I need to update my card info for my service to continue (it's up for renewal end of the month). I'm glad they can't charge me now and I would prefer to cancel and go get a renewal for 1/2 the price at a box store download or key card.

However, will I have a problem with cancelling and then buying the cheaper version? I'm not sure if they will deny it for some reason. I know they make their money on people like me who renew and it's more expensive.

I'm just afraid if I get the one from the store and you have to register it under your accont, I may denied. I don't get it because I'm still using their product.

I am going to try to call them, but that usually is a joke. No one will answer or know.

I would appreciate any suggetions. Thank you.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Katcat1 — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:28:13 GMT

@Ladygray You may want to consider Webroot antivirus. Very reasonable even upon renewal and send you monthly reports.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

ECBG — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:34:11 GMT

@Ladygray

DH is the areas foremost computer pro. His degree was physics. He also works with ransom viruses.

He uses Malware bites on all of the doctor offices he works with and on our computers. Many people are dropping Norton.

We have yet to have an issue.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

CelticCrafter — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:38:52 GMT

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Venezia — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:41:23 GMT

@Ladygray - Disregard everything I just said in my previous post!!!

Your thread made me check on our own Norton and I noticed we were just renewed on 1/21/2022 for $131 (and change).

I looked at the calendar and saw we were within the 60-day cancellation period so I did a live chat.

Can I just say right now I'm fuming? It appears my DH got the auto-renewal notice in December and he simply deleted it without bothering to check the cost (and I now know he did the same last year).

Long story short: they count the 60-day period from the date they charge your card, which was more than a month in advance. They refused to do anything about it and when I saw that I could've bought the exact same version at Staples for $29.99 or at BJs for $34.99 - won't tell you what I said (under my breath; not to the agent).

It seems they are hardening their policies and I told the agent it was a rip-off of longtime customers. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told the super was in a meeting (aren't they always?).

So, we're out nearly $100 we could do without losing. I made sure the agent canceled the auto-renewal. For that kind of money, I can install the product myself.

Don't give them your new credit card details and get them to cancel the auto-renew. If you do it ahead of time, you may get a decent deal.

(Oh...and I was told I could always call to try to speak to a supervisor! And I should add, the agent tried to justify the price by saying we have the Premium 10-Device version. Which is exactly what I could purchase at the prices I gave above.)

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

judianne — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:41:11 GMT

I have spent a lot of time online getting rid of all the auto renewal stuff ! It's madness that sometimes they just charge and charge if they have your credit card . I still get notifications from my old anti-virus company that I canceled more than5 years ago saying my service protection needs to be renewed . They also started at $40 and were at $100 when I dropped them .My brother was in IT service all his working years . He uses a free one off the internet .

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Venezia — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:42:38 GMT

@judianne - It's obvious they rip off their customers for the "convenience" of auto-renewal. You'd think they'd want to keep their longtime customers, but it appears not.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Ladygray — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:48:21 GMT

@Venezia

Thank you for your advice and warning!

As long as they don't have my new card update, they can't charge me.

If I cancel and then add the one from Staples... they can't deny it can they? Since they know my name, etc.

Some of the ones at Staples and Office Max say "auto renewal" on them too. I guess you can just keep canceling. I just hope if you put it on your system, you don't have to give them your charge card to activate it.

I'm so nervous.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Ladygray — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 21:11:09 GMT

Has anyone ever used Bit Defender?

I still have an old Windows 7 and McAfee won't work on mine.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

gadgetgal613 — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 22:09:30 GMT

@Ladygray wrote:
Has anyone ever used Bit Defender?

I still have an old Windows 7 and McAfee won't work on mine.

I do and it was the only product which found the malware on my Macs.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Venezia — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 22:47:38 GMT

@Ladygray wrote:
@Venezia

Thank you for your advice and warning!

As long as they don't have my new card update, they can't charge me.

If I cancel and then add the one from Staples... they can't deny it can they?   Since they know my name, etc.

Some of the ones at Staples and Office Max say "auto renewal" on them too. I guess you can just keep canceling.   I just hope if you put it on your system, you don't have to give them your charge card to activate it.

I'm so nervous.

@Ladygray - No, you can always just install Norton (or any anti-virus) on your own. Once you've bought it, it's your property. We always used to install it ourselves until DH decided auto-renewal was easier (for him).

The only thing I'd stress is that you do need to contact them to cancel the auto-renewal; you can't do it yourself. Just another way they try to keep you on the hook. Even though they don't have your current CC info, stranger things have happened than a company continuing to charge you with the old info and the CC company accepting it.

However, since you haven't had yours renewed yet, you have a chance to do the chat with them and tell them you won't renew unless they price-match. That's what I've done in the past (until I left it up to DH who always takes the easiest path of least effort - my bad).

It's worth a try for you. If they won't budge on the price, insist they cancel the auto-renewal and don't take no for an answer. They have to cancel the auto-renew, if you tell them to. You'll then be free to buy Norton wherever you find it at a better price and install it yourself. It's just a matter of entering the key you get with the product and downloading it. (That's all they're doing for you, for the "convenience" of charging you a hundred more than other retailers, IMO.)

If the new product you buy says "auto-renewal", just cancel that next year again. What really irritated me is that even on the Norton website, the price for the version we have was cheaper than what we were charged.

Let us know how you get on!

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Ladygray — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 23:18:12 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
@Ladygray wrote:
@Venezia

Thank you for your advice and warning!

As long as they don't have my new card update, they can't charge me.

If I cancel and then add the one from Staples... they can't deny it can they?   Since they know my name, etc.

Some of the ones at Staples and Office Max say "auto renewal" on them too. I guess you can just keep canceling.   I just hope if you put it on your system, you don't have to give them your charge card to activate it.

I'm so nervous.
@Ladygray - No, you can always just install Norton (or any anti-virus) on your own. Once you've bought it, it's your property. We always used to install it ourselves until DH decided auto-renewal was easier (for him).

The only thing I'd stress is that you do need to contact them to cancel the auto-renewal; you can't do it yourself. Just another way they try to keep you on the hook. Even though they don't have your current CC info, stranger things have happened than a company continuing to charge you with the old info and the CC company accepting it.

However, since you haven't had yours renewed yet, you have a chance to do the chat with them and tell them you won't renew unless they price-match. That's what I've done in the past (until I left it up to DH who always takes the easiest path of least effort - my bad).

It's worth a try for you. If they won't budge on the price, insist they cancel the auto-renewal and don't take no for an answer. They have to cancel the auto-renew, if you tell them to. You'll then be free to buy Norton wherever you find it at a better price and install it yourself. It's just a matter of entering the key you get with the product and downloading it. (That's all they're doing for you, for the "convenience" of charging you a hundred more than other retailers, IMO.)

If the new product you buy says "auto-renewal", just cancel that next year again. What really irritated me is that even on the Norton website, the price for the version we have was cheaper than what we were charged.

Let us know how you get on!

@Venezia

Can I cancel online? They show how you can. Or do you suggest doing via phone? I want to do it online so I have a record of it I can print.

I so appreciate your help on this. Wish I was more computer savvy. I wish I had gone into Staples like I always did even during Covid and this wouldn't be a mess.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Foxxee — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 23:42:51 GMT

I use Norton and really like it...they have kept my computer clean for 6 years...but never did anything like you are proposing.

It might work if you let the current version you are using expire. It's worth looking into. If no one knows, all you can do is try it or the dreaded...call Norton.

Let us know how it works out for you. I might try it next time.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Ladygray — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:15:55 GMT

What I don't like is they renew automatically your next year 40 days before it's up. They say it's because they want you to have a streamlined succession of coverage.

LOL! It's so you won't be expecting that charge so early and it's done. Had they not sent an email that my card information needed updating, I may have fallen prey to them doing that before I even expected them to charge my card.

Very slimy. Norton/Life Lock is a big company. It's a shame they resort to those underhanded tactics.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Neetgal2 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 01:56:34 GMT

Be very careful with Norton. I have been charged by them for a computer that had Norton 8 years ago. I do not use the computer anymore and waiting for someone to take drive out and dispose of it properly. Credit card out of date but still got the charge paid. I fought with both Norton and credit card company took days. It was for $299.00.

Re: Need Help Regarding Norton Anti-Virus

Venezia — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 02:18:06 GMT

@Ladygray - it shows that you can cancel online, but when you click on that, it opens the live chat box. You have to tell the agent to cancel it.

But as I've said, you have the upper hand in your case because they haven't charged you yet.

Tell them you want to cancel and why and they'll offer you a better deal. Make sure you tell them prices at other retailers. But do it now.

In my case they already had my money.

One other thing - when you've finished your chat, there's an option to keep a copy of the transcript. Look for the dots in the top right corner.