If they suggest you can get a refund, forget it (RegNow.com)

Member Name: Mr. Davis

Product:	RegNow.com
Date:	27/08/08 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Sell "non" software and obfuscate during the "refund" process

RegNow.com act as an umbrella site for small software companies and authors, maybe some big ones too.

I've bought software from RegNow.com before and because the software worked OK, I've never had to deal with them much.

I recently bought some software through RegNow.com that claimed to work under Windows me and would allow me to connect all the web cams I have that work under Windows me and upload the images to a server so I could keep an eye on my property from any computer connected to the internet. I'm not reviewing the software I bought so, to cut a long story short, I installed it, it sems it wasn't even the software I'd agreed to buy and didn't work or whatever information I needed to get it going wasn't included and it seemed to do nothing at all. I uninstalled the software (even THAT left bits of the software that still installs itself when I boot up the PC). I thought using my old Windows me laptop to watch over my house was better than dumping it.

I was annoyed I'd wasted my time and was left with a previously great PC with bits of software in it I couldn't get rid of (now is a good time for me to say that windows me (Millenium Edition), on the right PC and all the updates never gives me any bother but it's reputation is terrible. Just don't connect it to the internet without a bullet proof firewall and anti-virus since it hasn't been supported by Microsoft for about 2 years and it probably has lots of security holes in it by now).

I contacted RegNow.com's customer service / support telling them of my problems and that I'd like a refund. This was within about 3 hours of buying and downloading the software and trying to get it working with the software constantly making a very stable PC crash all the time.

I received an email from ReNow.com (an automated one I presume) telling me where I could download the software again. Nowhere in my email to them did I suggest I wanted to download this software again. They seem to answer questions you don't ask and ignore those you do. I immediately replied with an email titled "I want a refund!".

My nagging suspicions I hadn't been refunded by RegNow.com were confirmed when, in July 08, I went through my credit card records and saw payment had been deducted and no refund made. Their web site tells you to monitor your credit card bills for some months after the purchase looking for your refund since the credit card companies may take some time to credit your card.

I contacted RegNow.com again who claim to have sent copies of my emails to them asking the software author to contact me. I've NEVER heard from the author, even when I asked how I was supposed to get this software working on my PC.

This software was bought about March 30th and as of August 26th., I still haven't received a refund from RegNow.com. Their response to you asking for a refund is to say they will ask the author to contact you. When the author doesn't contact you, you complain again to RegNow.com and they say they will ask the author to contact you and so it goes on ...

If RegNow.com is selling some software you REALLY need and you KNOW works and you can't get it anywhere else, using them MAY be worth the risk but I'd rather pay more and deal direct with a reputable software vendor or purchase software from a shop. The value of the time I've spent on this is far more than the value of the software (£16.95 if I remember correctly) but I hate being ripped off. You may be directed to RegNow.com's site from a software author's / vendor's web site. Just be aware that if my experience is anything to go by, there IS no refund option with RegNow.com regardless about what their web site says. I strongly get the impression some of the "software" they are selling is merely a vehicle for getting you to part with your money. Someone with basic computing knowledge can take some existing software and edit the commands and messages making t appear to be their own.

Once RegNow.com have your money, a combination of their accidental incompetance and a lack of co-operation on the part of the software vendor is the pretext for you not being refunded. I find it hard to call what I downloaded software since, as far as I can see, the only function it performs is wasting my time and being a vehicle for someone, somewhere to have nearly £17 of what once was my money.

Remember. I wouldn't have bought this software if it hadn't said it worked under Windows me. I checked all the specifications of the software carefully.

Summary: Buying "boxes" of software from shops on CD & DVD makes more sense.