Two years ago we downloaded Cyberdefender's free software to protect against computer viruses. My husband upgraded our package and subscribed to a two year service contract for $254. The contract was set to expire on 7/22/10 and we expected to receive a renewal notice in our email in box. It never came. On 7/21/10, Cyberdefender debited our checking account $424.98 and sent us a notice thanking us for renewing our contract with them. The P.S. Remarks stated that we would notice a debit to our account in the amount of $424.98. We never approved this debit. We never even had a chance to renew the contract. They took it upon themselves to renew us without our permission and they raised their rates without prior notification.
I called Cyberdefender and explained the situation to the first representative, who sounded confused. He kept asking me if I had two computers. I do not. He put me on hold, then came back and asked me if he could transfer me to a supervisor. "Shane" the supervisor refuted every complaint I had and tried to tell me that "every company has a right to raise its rates." I said, "Of course they do, but they have an obligation to notify their customers first!" He offered my two options to appease me: 1) $25 gift card, $40 gas card, and 6-months extended service on top of the two year contract price of $424.98; 2) 1 year subscription for $249. I told him I didn't want his options. I wanted my money back! Immediately! He persisted to the point of driving me mad and I started to yell at him to refund our money that they had stolen. I told him his company was crooked and that I wanted to cancel the account altogether. I said that they billed us without permission and raised our rates without notice and demanded an immediate credit to my account. He said he would initiate the refund in the next 24 hours and that it would take 1-2 billing cycles (ie: months!) to refund me the full amount. Needless to say, I called my bank to have the charges reversed and they are going to file a claim against Cyberdefender for fraud. Score!
Do not subscribe to this crooked company. They steal from you.
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