Warning About Norton

[#1]

I was prompted to check for the auto renew staus for the Norton software provided by PN. To my shock it was set to auto renew at £73.99 per annum.

I selected the option to remove this and the page disappeared.

Going back to recheck the status, I am unable to select any of the "My Account" options, hence I am unable to tell if I am still set to renew at this crippling rate.

A) Why is PN pushing this bad deal on its customers with no obvious mention of the consequences?

B) This appears to be another instance of the sharp practice companies use, where it is very difficult to unsubscribe. Why is PN pushing a company that uses these tackics on its customers?

I would advise anyone who has taken up this deal to check their position before it's too late.

I guess I will now have the hassle of finding out what's actually happing regards Norton.

Can PN justify what's going regarding the Norton "perk"?

Regards.

[#2]

@Archer Personally, I would never install Norton - the pre-installed 'Windows Defender' is perfectly adequate for most, if not all, home users. To be honest, I wouldn't install any 'free' program offered by an ISP - they are usually more trouble than they are worth, and as you have found out, usually a severe pain to uninstall.

With regard to the 'My Account' options, at what point are you unable to access them - declining Norton shouldn't break your Member Centre?

Following your reply, I will flag this to one or more, of the Super Users and/or the PN technical guru.

[#3]

@Archer  Just get rid of Norton and use Windows Defender or Security, whatever it's called these days. Does the job for me,

[#4]

As the OP appears to have logged out without answering, I'm going to flag this to @MisterW  / @Townman / @pjmarsh  / @bobpullen  anyway. Any comments, gentlemen?

[#5]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Broadband to Everything Else

[#6]

I guess the AV companies are finding it a hard sell now that Windows Security is perfectly adequate for all but the most inveterate 'random clickers'.

[#7]

Wouldn't know, @198kHz  - being a Linux user, I've not looked at Windows-centric stuff for quite a while.

[#8]

@Archer 

I thought Norton AV was managed through Add-Ons.

I find it very confusing as in Add-Ons it showing as being free, but in reality it is free for 12 Months, looking at the unhelpful pages I have found

If you don't want to use Plusnet Protect anymore, you can remove it from your account by going to the Add-Ons section of your account. To remove the software you'll need to uninstall it from all your devices. You will also need to cancel your contract with Norton, more information can be found on the NortonLifeLock Cancellation and Refund Policy

HTH

[#9]

The product was offered for "free" with Unlimited Fibre Extra for two years and then on subscription (renewal) terms thereafter.

All of the AV providers act in a manner similar to insurance providers - renewal is always more expensive than new purchase.

See https://community.plus.net/t5/Everything-else/The-Change-From-Mcafee-to-Norton/m-p/1875053#M28882

Answer is simple, do not renew, but buy the same product again from a supplier of your choice.

[#10]

@Townman I agree with what you are saying above - however, I was was more concerned about the OP's apparent lack of access to his 'My Account' functions on the Members Centre.

[#11]

John,

The OP does not explain in what way they cannot access whatever.

The options are not there.

There is a change in account details block.

Selecting the options does nothing.

[#12]

I thought they said 'Going back to recheck the status, I am unable to select any of the "My Account" options, hence I am unable to tell if I am still set to renew at this crippling rate' - which suggests - to me - that they were able to access them prior to doing whatever they did to 'deselect' Norton. 

As they have not been back since the original post, I think we can call this a dead duck, anyway.

[#13]

An update:

I have gone back to check again. It appears that selecting an option in Norton My Account prevents you selecting another unless you close the first. However, having got around that my renewal staus is now shown as "inactive" which is encouraging. Hopefully removal did work

Also it dawned on me that any charge would have to come through PN, as Norton do not have any charging information. Would be interesting to know if PN has ever done this.

For wider interest EE charge for their Norton offering at £34.99 per annum after an intro period, but this is stated up front.

BT also charge but for the cost you are refered to the BT price Guide, in which i was unable to find the relevant cost.

So I would recommend the advice given by my fellow PN users here: Leave this stuff alone.

Thanks to all.