Past Imperfect

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Nothing is Easy

Aside

All I wanted to do was renew and upgrade my anti virus thingy. It has taken over two weeks and involved long complicated emails and phone calls - the cost of which I don't like to think about. It used to be fairly straghtforward- I have been doing it since 2004, but apparently the system is 'very sensitive to small discrepancies' which resulted in them having difficulty with the expiry date of my credit card. There was nothing wrong with any of my details. I followed complicated instructions to clear cookies and still it didn't work.

Finally I had to give in and do it by phone, with all the difficulties that involves. At least no credit card problems this time and I received an apology for the hassle. Actually down loading it was a nightmare and took up to midnight last night. If I use them again I shall go to the store (30 miles away) and buy the disc.

Next time maybe I'll listen to Keith, John G and # 1 son.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...: Glad it worked in the end. There should be a law against premium rate phonecalls for technical help - or, at least a discount for non-technical people like you and me. It would have cost 70euros if I'd booked someone to come and install my first internet provider when we came to France but I didn't think to ask at the time and then it was too late. Coping with instructions in French computerspeak cost well over 100 euros because I had to keep asking them to repeat things.; 7:47 AM
Pat said...: sablonneuse: I invariably get someone who is obviously foreign - like yesterday and whilst he was sweet - unusually - he didn't hear me easily, so both of us were slightly deaf, with hilarious results if one wasn't involved oneself.; 8:20 AM
Eryl Shields said...: Perhaps you should treat yourself to a Macintosh computer as, apparently, they don't get viruses so you don't need anti-virus stuff for them. One less thing to worry about.; 1:00 PM
Pat said...: Eryl: I'm hoping to avoid the expense for some time to come # 2 son reckons that, as I don't play games and am the sole user of my puter it should last a long time. When the time comes I shall give a Mac serious thought but the idea of changing everything doesn't thrill me. Just an old stick in the mud!; 1:36 PM
Anonymous said...: I decided a long time ago to just buy the darn disc and update. It saves a lot of hassle.

Cheers.; 2:58 PM
Pat said...: Yes Randall - it's worth the round trip. We can always combine it with seeing a film.; 3:27 PM
Unknown said...: AVG, you were advised!; 3:46 PM
Anonymous said...: Mac's are definitely worth it!

PI, off topic, but can you help?

I'm trying to remember the name of a TV series, 1970s, which had an old man who would cycle through fields to his shed, I think he had a fishing hat on, and then talk gently about various country crafts and hobbies like reed weaving or canal boat painting.

I *think* his name was Jack something, and the title was a one word term like 'Relax' or 'Repose' or 'Interlude'.

I can remember the theme tune too, it was gentle and played on a xylophone/ glockenspiel mostly.; 4:13 PM
Pat said...: John you're not going to rub it in are you? Not bloody likely!; 4:19 PM
Pat said...: TRT: Jack Hargreaves - 'Out of Town'
altogether now:-
'Say what you will, the countryside is still, the only place where I could settle down.'
I remember it well!
Hope that is the one you mean.; 4:32 PM
zoe said...: i didn't realise that you'd already been advised to download AVG - i'd do it - it works a treat and is free!; 5:58 PM
Pat said...: zoe: alas too late - this time:(; 6:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Hiss boo for bad phonecalls to service companies on the premium rate numbers. Just to update them or to check details...

Have you tried say no to 0870? Do you at least have x amount of days to cancel the payment so maybe you could transfer onto a free AVGs?; 9:37 PM
Z said...: I'm so glad I chose a Mac, all those years ago (I'm now on my third, not that any of them ever broke down). I've never bothered with any anti-virus stuff.; 10:35 PM
Pat said...: Sim:that looks like a useful web site - I can't get it at present but thank you. Next year I'll do the right thing.

Z: all Mac owners say the same thing. Hopefully I won't need one for some time but I need to do more research and computers are not jaw-droppingly fascinating to an air-head like moi!; 11:08 PM
FOUR DINNERS said...: Complained about me anti virus thingy to the manufacturer. They sent me a mail saying I was like a human virus myself. Some'at to do with tellin' some manager he was a complete w*nk*r when he said it was my daughters fault it didn't work properly 'cause MySpace causes problems. How to win friends and influence people eh?; 10:03 PM
Pat said...: 4d: a lot of blogging friends speak highly of an anti-virus that is free.
Next year Norton - just you wait!; 11:36 PM
Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...: Mac owners never seem to have any problems. My husband did the last virus shield install for me 'cos it's just been such a headache in the past. Even he had problems though - there were irritating niggles for a few days but everything got back to normal eventually.; 12:44 AM
granny p said...: Can only add to cries - get a MAC. Used to spend entire time (it seemed) downloading anti-virus/getting rid of viruses. Now no software beyond what's provided and not one little bug in over two years. Bliss.; 11:29 AM
Pat said...: Thanks Penny. I expect I'll be joining you when I have to replace.; 12:20 PM
neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...: McAfee Pat, that's what I swear by!; 3:08 PM
Pat said...: GG: I googled it. It certainly gets good write ups. I can, hopefully relax for a year.; 4:32 PM