How do recurring charges work on software?

Community Forums/General Help/How do recurring charges work on software?

puki(Posted 2010) [#1]
Here is a good example of what I am talking about:

The cost of the product is £26.93.

https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=2592980





So, basically, they want £26.93 PER YEAR.

But there are no terms to this. So how does it work?

I seriously don't get it. The only place they mention recurring charges is on the payment page. HOWEVER, the payment page is a THIRD PARTY - ie - Plimus. So who the hell is the contract with and who can enforce it?

Surely they cannot be seriously asking for £26.93 per year for the rest of your life?


It relates to this:
http://www.systweak.com/ADR/

They sell other software with this mysterious recurring charge:
https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=2592982

http://www.systweak.com/ADO/


Shambler(Posted 2010) [#2]
It doesn't mention your life, they want £26.93 for ever, whether you are alive or not!


Ross C(Posted 2010) [#3]
That's nonsense. So in ten years you will have paid £269.30. You surely could get another piece of software for less than that?


xlsior(Posted 2010) [#4]
Most likely, it'll 'just' stop working after one year unless you pay up for another year... you're essentially renting it for a year at a time.

That's pretty much how most of the commercial anti-virus companies operate -- an outdated virusscanner is almost as useless as not having one at all, after all.

And it's just a sign of things to come Microsoft too has indicated on numerous occasions that their long-term goal is be rental model for products like Office and even Windows itself... Yay future. :-/


Matthew Smith(Posted 2010) [#5]
I'd be wary if they auto-charged you. As long as you are in control of the payments.


*(Posted 2010) [#6]
they are legally abliged to notify you when its within one month of expiry giving you an option to cancel


puki(Posted 2010) [#7]
I have an official response (God, I am great - like a machine):

Regarding your query, please note plimus is our payment processor. Also note some of our products are now subscription based since there are many modules and components in our products that need constant updates and there are many teams who work hard to get these updates. We provide your users with both the option to purchase the product under One Year Protection and Continuous Upgrade Protection. WE suggest you to get back to us with the name of the product you wish to purchase so that if you have any problem we will provide you with the purchase link.

Under 1 Year Upgrade Protection you will need to pay for one year only and will get all upgrades up to one year for free.

Under Continuous Upgrade Protection, the upgrades will be free for the entire duration of your continuous subscription.

The advantage of the continuous protection is that you will receive all major and minor upgrades free of charge, irrespective of the price of the product during the subscription period. Additionally, automatic renewal process makes the purchase easier and hassle free.

If you wish to purchase the product at a onetime fee only, please select 1 Year Upgrade Protection, otherwise, choose Continuous Upgrade Protection

Additionally, please note you can purchase the product and get back to us with the order number we will cancel automatic renewal from our end and you will receive confirmation mail for the same.

This should help.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you have further queries.