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Windows Vista delays continue to concern consumers
Consumers need not lose out if they are unable to register for their free Windows Vista upgrade before the offer ends.
For most people, this free upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system was the hook to buy a new PC for Christmas, rather than hang on until Vista was launched at the end of January.
However, thousands of people have had serious problems trying to register for the upgrade. The websites either crash, emails go unanswered or, even more worrying, the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity is not recognised.
One reader said after he had registered he was asked to pay £69.13 for the privilege - £12.03 shipping charge, and £57.10 inc VAT for the DVD. He refused but this puts him to the back of the queue again and he must try to re-register all over again.
With the cut-off date for registering now looming - for most this date is 31 March 2007 - readers have written to us, concerned that they will not be able to register in time.
Trading Standards has told us this shouldn't be an issue if people keep records.
Richard Webb, of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said to keep copies of all emails that have been sent to the retailer or distributor - for most people this will be Moduslink.
Also keep a record of phone calls and most importantly, make screen grabs of failed registration attempts.
Armed with this proof, people who have been unable to register in time because of technical glitches outside their control should be able to demand that the retailer honours their upgrade.
Because the situation could be complex it is not clear who the claim will be against. It will most probably be the retailer, but it could be the distributor if it was at fault for not handling the registration. If unsure, people should contact their local Trading Standards office for advice said Webb.
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Vista upgrade
Hi Tony - it is taking four to six weeks - allegedly - for these upgrades to come through. I agree about the administration and/or post and packaging charges that people are being charged for a free upgrade. If yours is just P&P, £12.99 is a rather hefty fee - even if it comes with postal insurance. I talked to Trading Standards about this issue as well because it has taken people totally by surprise. Most people are swallowing it but narked that these fees were not brought to their attention in the first place. If they had been it would have been perfectly reasonable. Any known charges or the possibility of charges should have been made clear at the point of sale. I don't think they can have been - most free giveaways say that you have to pay - say P&P - clearly. However, neither I nor Trading Standards has seen any of the small print of individual contracts or know if these charges were flagged up in store or if you bought online by the retailer in an email. If not Trading Standards believes consumers may have a case for misrepresentation. You could try complaining to your local TS but make sure you have all the facts and you definitely were NOT advised of the possibility of these charges. One reader who is doing this has been told he should claim around £150 - the cost of the upgrade if he was buying it. Will he be successful? I have no idea but it would be interesting to see how his case pans out and if more people complain it should at least shake retailers up and not make them so complacent in future. You could also try complaining to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Posted by Dinah Greek, 15 Mar 2007
vista upgrade
we registered for our upgrade and sent proof of purchace to upgradeaweb. they did not acknowledge this for 4 weeks and are charging us £12.90 for p&p. we were told this was a free upgrade by our retailer comet.
Posted by tony smith, 14 Mar 2007
I gave up
After countless calls and e-mails both to Dell and Moduslink I have admitted defeat, and am now resigned to not getting my vista upgrade. As an exercise in alienating customers the whole exercise has been an object lesson.
Posted by Neil Dunford, 12 Jul 2007
I gave up as well!
I got a confirmation of purchase from Moduslink after the unexpected need to purchase exorbitant ?postage?. Many weeks later, close to the cut off date, I got an email saying my order had been cancelled as they could not charge my card (probably out of date by then!). It was not possible to re-purchase as the website no longer had my vendor (Mesh) on it which was necessary to proceed. Several weeks later after lots of delays and BS in emails and on the phone to Moduslink, Mesh and Microsoft it came down to Microsoft saying it was up to Mesh, Mesh saying it was up to Moduslink and Moduslink saying tough you missed the deadline. Life is too short to take this any further (except remember next time I need a computer!!). The only compensation is that the Vista experience seems not worth having even for free!!
Posted by Graham Martin, 14 Jul 2007