Complain about a product or service

McAfee - Disputed Renewals

Padraic of Castellon, Spain November 3, 2009

Last year I purchased antivirus software from McAfee.com online. This year they automatically renewed it without my permission or instruction and took the cost from my credit card. I contacted them for a refund. The amount they charged originally was quoted in £STG - my account is in Euros.When they sent the refund there was a shortfall, they tell me this was due to exchange rates.

I recontacted them for a full refund and they are laying the blame on the credit card company and claiming they cant be responsible for exchange rate fluctuations. In my opinion nobody is responsible for exchange rate fluctuations. The fact remains that if they hadnt taken the money without permission or instruction the shortfall would never have arisen.

The amount involved is insignificant, its only a matter of a few euros but the principle of the matter is they should not be taking money from customers account without instruction or permission and if a shortfall arises in the refund as a result of their inappropriate business practices then only they should be responsible and restore my account to its original position. What do you think? What can I do?

Cheryl of Lansing, MI October 10, 2009

I just renewed my McAfee subscription, and I am still not able to fix the problem, and protect my computer. They said it couldn't be fixed because I had no protection service, which is new, because it was always included in our monthly payment to AOL.

Jan of Youngstown, OH August 19, 2009

Renewed subscription to McAfee Virus, etc. protection. Keep getting notice that I must renew and icon is x 'ed out. Have confirmation reciept order# of Tuesday August 04, 2009 Have accessed several McAfee sites still requesting me to renew !!!

Mary of Bakersfield, CA August 17, 2009

I ordered mcafee virus protection 2 years ago. I was going over my bank statements and noticed where mcafee withdrew 127.00 from my account.I did not ask for a renewal and called to ask why they would just take money from my account with out notification or at least ask if I would like to renew.

First of all, you can't talk to any one in America. WE kept asking to speak to someone in the USA and got no where. All we where told was when we accepted the terms 2 years ago, that the small print said, your protection will automatically renew if you don't call to cancel. It's ironic that we buy protection from the same company that goes around bleeding their own customers. We were told that they would return the money. waiting to see outcome.

Vicki of Brandon, SD June 13, 2009

McAfee has been withdrawing money from my checking account without my permission since 2004. I originally bought a anti-virus software program online from them. Hidden in the agreement I now found out is an automatic renewal. I haven't had the email address, home address, ect. since 2004. I live in a different state. I saw the tx on my bank statement. Called their ph number and they said they wouldn't credit back anything past 60 days.

I received an email from customer relations, Eric R, executive services team. He reinforced that they can bill you anytime unless you call them before the renewal date. How can you call them when you don't even know the date or receive an email. The email they had was disabled in 2004! This is the biggest rip off/scam I have ever experienced!

Samuel of Gainesville, FL June 5, 2009

Was receiving free Mcafee service from AOL when they notified must renew by 6 15 09 to receive discount. I e mailed and called mcafee to renew. gave credit card Discove Card, was advised it would cost 29.99 per year. Attempted to renew mcafee, had technical problems trying to renew. Spoke to six (6) technical people in India where they outsource. Spent 8 hours one day and six days the next and could not install their program. Tried to speak to someone in United States, got operator in California who immediately sent me back to India.

When you go on their site on computer, you get messages to get rid of old msafee programs and to install a new one. Please you try it. Hours of bein on a merry go round. They tell you that you are renewed, take credit card number and merry go round starts again. delete old mcafee programs and install new one. Then after a long time of renewing they tell you that you cannot renew on the last Windows program on AOL. Get rid of old mcafee program and turn off computer and ad infinitum, ad nauseum. India asked 9.00 for tech services to fix program. AOL says renew AOL but pay each month for AOL.

John of Seattle , WA May 21, 2009

At least three years ago, I purchased a McAfee Virus Scan protection, before I realized that I get it free as part of my Comcast cable internet service. I sent a customer service email and never got a reply. The next year I was told that by having accepted their contract they had the right to annually charge my credit card. I got rid of my computer, got a new one, took McAfee via Comcast and then was surprised to find that McAfee simply continued to charge my credit card. They have no telephone numbe in any of their messages. They do not respond to their customer sevice requests. What can I do to stop this automatic annual charge? With the new credit card law, there should be some recourse. I want to stop paying them and they will not let me.

Ray of Napa, CA May 7, 2009

Found an unauthorized charge of 39.99 on my credit card bill. This is the second time Mcafee has done this. My first complaint they said the auto-renewal would be canceled and they gave a refund. This second time, the lady assured me of the same thing. She said I was notified of the charge via email, but the email address they have listed has not been in service for over 2 years.

I was given a refference number, but I also recorded our conversation on a digital voice recorder. Don't have to let the other party know about the recording, because Mcafee notifies that they may record for quality purposes before your call goes through. This is a great record keeper and is evidence that I informed Mcafee they do NOT have my authorization to bill my account. If (when) it happens again, then I'll go to my local district attorney's office and asked for a consumer affairs criminal filing. For those that are tired of these companies putting it to us, record everything! If you want to have some fun after you get the good stuff recorded, let them know you are recording...the responses are pretty funny-

hannah of greene, NY May 7, 2009

i too am tired of dealing with these clowns at mcafee--NEVER AGAIN! I WILL BE CALLING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL and putting in a complaint about these losers. how many times do people have to register? mcafee-teach your people better english too! and manners. u disgust me. bought an av program in march 2009-it's may 2009 AND MY PROGRAM IS EXPIRING? that's a pretty short year mcafee! and all the same complaints here; constant pop-ups--sub expired, NOT REGISTERED? they are as bad as aol! time to get rid of both!

Chuck of Fairfax, VA March 28, 2009

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.