Buyers Beware. I have had trouble contacting Bitdefender, leaving message after message after failed chat links. I get Avangate in India instead.
Google search shows many negative comments on Avangate, and similar experience to mine. My BitDefender Total Security 2015 would not install on
my upgrade to Windows 10 official release, and instead installed 2016 which was not registered. It worked but was not registered and I could not
find a link to the download. The file I previously downloaded was not compatible on Windows 10 preview which I was testing and when I tried to
install it on Win10 official version it installed non registered 2016 version, prompting my call. I paid for BitDefender Total Security 2015. I
looked for a toll free number on Google for BitDefender and got Avangate in India, who remoted in and told me I needed a $200 cleanup of my pc in
order for them to correct the problem. They brought up a windows services list, sorted the list so services not running were on top and told me
the problem was with my pc. Only they could correct it for $200 charge. I asked for a download link for my paid version, and that I'd wipe my
hard drive and start with a fresh copy of Windows 10 and they repeated that would not work, only they could install it remotely and they'd still
have to 'clean' my pc. They constantly spoke over me and said I was yelling. I wasn't yelling and told them I had to raise my voice because they
were trying to charge me for a product I already paid for and that they were speaking over me. I already paid for the product and just wanted a
link to the correct software, version 2015. They repeatedly said they could and would not, and would only install remotely after $200 'cleanup'
and they'd give me a 'courtesy' credit of $50 so it'd 'only' be $150. I hung up, and called a different toll free number after searching Google
again for BitDefender and again got Avangate in India. I asked for a USA phone number.
I was told BitDefender wasn't in the US and was an Indian company and only they could help me and there was no way I could install the software
myself, only they could do it remotely after 'cleanup' on my pc. Again, the 2016 version was working but had a button to register it, and that
was the only reason I called, because I wanted the version I paid for, Bit Defender Total Security 2015. I believe I paid about $60 for it and
paid for a prior version in 2014 as well. I looked at Bitdefenders website and found management pictures and all seem to be American.
I found complaints on the Better Business site in California about Avangate. I lodged one myself. I suspect BitDefender may be working through
Avangate, or at least was. Someone is trying to rip off customers and has, according to my research, may times, done so with a similar $200 scam,
which some have paid, so again, beware, and stay clear of this product, or at least anything to do with Avangate. I will update this if I finally
get a reply from BitDefender confirming Avangate has no ties with BitDefender. Currently, Bitdefender web chat link for tech support numerous
times resulted in saying it was connecting me, then prompting me to leave a message, which I typed in, and I still haven't heard back from
anyone. I've tried during both normal business hours, later and earlier, and the chat never seems to succeed in connecting me after a long delay.
It then prompts to send my message by clicking a Send button, and I get an email confirmation it was received within a few minutes, but no call
back after 24 hours so far.
I hope pcworld includes my experience and other similar ones I've seen on numerous review and complaint sites in their review of the product. It
appears to be a top rated product feature wise everywhere I searched, but it's not worth it if you cannot get support and are ripped off for
hundreds of dollars to 'fix' something which isn't broken. Hope this helps potential buyers and I hope the review people here can be of some
assistance as well.