Update on Quickbooks Sucks
A few weeks ago, I posted my opinion on Intuit and QuickBooks on this blog. Essentially the company created a program to get people to sign up for a monthly technical support plan costing $39, and then when that plan was canceled, still billed for the service.
I signed up for this plan knowing I’d never use it and I would cancel the service immediately. I only signed up because it offered me a lower price on the QuickBooks 2009 software I needed to buy. But after going through the cancellation process twice (I wanted to make sure it “took”), I was still billed a monthly fee.
I hate traps like this. Think about it: If Intuit can do this to 1 million people, and have them not complain about one fraudulent monthly charge, they’re $39 million ahead. And many people won’t demand their money back. Some might not even realize for several months that they’re being charged.
This kind of program is one of the several tactics I identified in that original post that Intuit/QuickBooks uses to generate additional revenue from customers. And I’m certainly not the only person who hates QuickBooks.
The day that I published that article, I was immediately contacted by QuickBooks personnel who wanted to resolve the situation for me. I worked with two people behind the scenes to get the erroneous charge to my credit card reversed and cancel the subscription. Of course, I was told that it looked like I “tried” to cancel the subscription but I didn’t complete the process. Uh huh. I completed it. Twice.
The kind people at QuickBooks even gave me a free copy of the $399 QuickBooks 2009 Accountants Edition. That’s pretty nice of them, right? Sure it is. Especially since this expensive version of the software begins to address one of my big complaints about QuickBooks – - the inability to open files with different annual versions of the software. (i.e. In order for me to open a client’s QB 2007 file, I must be running QB 2007.) This version of QuickBooks begins to have some backwards compatibility, so this is a step in the right direction.
I was happy to get such a good response from the QuickBooks people. They were nice to me and treated me well. Unfortunately, I’m well aware that the only reason they did that is because I have a fairly popular blog with a decent-sized audience. Look for this post to rank high in Google for the phrase “QuickBooks sucks” in a day or two. This kind of public relations material is not what QuickBooks wants people to see.
If I was any old customer, I’d probably still be getting the runaround. I would have had to spend a bunch of time going through automated menus in the phone system, entering my phone number and license number multiple times, probably starting over a few times after getting disconnected, but ultimately ending up in the same place: “customer service” in India. And at that point, I’d have about a 50/50 shot of getting my money back.
So what’s the bottom line? Thank you QuickBooks for solving my problem and giving me free software. I only wish you’d do that for each and every person that you’ve improperly taken $39 (or more) from.
I HATE QUICK BOOKS EVERYTHING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN THE LAST ARTICLE IS SO TRUE! THEY ARE SCAMERS AND CROOKS AND I HATE HATE HATE THEM!!
I also hate Quickbooks. Pro 2007 is supposedly Vista compatable, but my Vista is 64 bit. Finally got it to work, then messed up and installed an update today and now I cant reconcile my accounts, the first thing I tried to do since the update. Who knows what else wont work. Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions for Accounting software that actually works? I really hate the fact that I’ve spent a decent amount of money on a product that has been a pain from day one.
I have three 2006 vers of QB pro. I have been using the software without a problem and now all of a sudden no warning the emailing of invoices stopped working. I get a warning that this function is not being supported any longer. I will have to upgrade to a new version for this function to work again. I called and I logged onto QB web site and chatted with someone telling me that how great the upgrade would be and there are many new functions I would love but I must upgrade. I feel like I am being black mailed. I don’t want or need the new functions or I would have already upgraded. they have put a bomb in the software and it is also in the new versions. In two to three years several functions that you paid for will stop working. “Because they are no longer supported.” Baloney, this is just another way to force you into upgrading. Then the rep told me they were not the only company that is doing this. What a defense, “Your honor I am not the only crook yes I sold the software and didn’t tell my customer certain functions would stop working because we wanted to get more money out of them but like I said I am not the only blackmailing software company.” Well you heard from me and I am not a new QB customer. And I bet you are right that I never hear from them. Placing a bomb inside software that stops it’s functions so they have to upgrade is blackmail. I hope a smart lawyer out there gets them on a class action suite. I didn’t purchase this software with the understanding that it was only good for 3 years. This is not aggressive marketing it its blackmail marketing. And I hope this new term sticks to intuit.
I am a longtime Quickbooks user (>15 years). Just upgraded to QB Pro 2009 in May by purchasing it directly from (a human being at) Intuit. Not a word was mentioned during the sales transaction about monthly support plans or the like. I wouldn’t have agreed anyway, I am quite comfortable using the program.
Suddenly, yesterday, I see a $39 charge from Intuit on my credit card. I phoned today to find out that it is a monthly fee for support. The customer service was quick, polite and they say they’ll be refunding my $39 and not billing any more. That’s fine…..BUT…
I did not ask for the support plan, I wasn’t told about it and I NEVER agreed to any $39/month being subtracted from my credit card account!!
My opinion is that this is a deliberate practice, designed to trap customers into paying more. I agree with the comments above… $39 multiplied a million times ends up being a lot of money. They are willing to gamble that customers won’t notice, won’t care, won’t act and won’t take their business elsewhere.
Not only do I feel like they’re taking advantage of me, I’m self-employed and it took me about 1/2 hour to research, phone, interract with the Intuit customer service folks to get it reversed.
Beware!
I bought quickbooks pro with payroll for 243 at sams club. I had to remove my virus software just to get it to install (nightmare). Now as im installing payroll online I realize the version I have is only for three employees. If I need more than that I need to pay 100 more. What a fing scam. I’m going with peachtree i think I don’t want to be stuck with this crap. Monthly fees, designed to fail, no free support, and I went through the noncompatability with previous versions (years) nightmare with turbotax. Anyone want to buy it?
Double Rip Off
So Bought 2008 (full price) in late 2008, paying the monthly payroll subscription which is fair…now mid 2009 and QB is forcing me to purchase a new full price software package in order to get my july payroll update.
Now that is Bait and Switch under the Canadian Competition Beaureau guidelines….
And even more interesting is that the tax table update is no different than what is already installed.
So what is with that?
Their update and monthly services are simply hooks for them to get into our systems, block current ability to service and force us to pay more for continued use.
No where in my purchase agreement did QB advise me my program would only be good for 8 months!!!
Buyer beware I guess.
I own a business that handles clients’ money in a trust fund. I also have a general operating account. I initially purchased quickbooks simple start. It was inadequate. I purchased quickbooks pro to manage my accounts. I’ve found that quickbooks is worthless. It is very user unfriendly. Intuits lousy program should come with a tutor.
Hehe – Intuit wants you to buy some “support” from them. What you need can easily be done in QB. There are people who do QB training and you can probably find someone local to you. Or you could have your CPA or tax person help you set it up and show you the basics.
I bought 2009 pro, not an upgrade. I wanted to give my 2007 pro to a friend who is out of work. I suggested they learn it because a lot of small businesse like me could use someone that we would not have to pay full time to take care of all or financial junk…
We cannot transfer a license to someone else as we are “buying a non-transeferrable right to use their software”. Their licensing group said it is federal law (I hate liars). Sheesh, even ADOBE lets you deactivate and install on a different computer. I hate them, I hate Intuit, I disdain their business practices. ripped off by intuit dot com is all for this.
As a QB user since 2000 I have watched Intuit degenerate from customer focused to what feels like complete disdain. In the late 1990’s, business school cases were taught about Intuit’s single minded attention to all the details that make up great customer product experiences. In the early 2000’s, I remember long helpful discussions with real live American based customer service EXPERTS able to solve any QB issue. Now, the abomination of QB 2009 forced on anyone who uses QB for payroll or other services that require updates, is compounded by the “customer service” circle jerk that they call “community”. What a mess.
Yup, QuickBooks strikes again. Last Feb they called and insisted that I needed to upgrade to the Multicurrency edition. To my surprise I was send the 2008 Multicurrency, instead of 2009, the current QB. When I complained, they told me that 2009 didn’t have multicurrency so I had no choice. Now, a few months later, they come out with 2010 with multicurrency. I feel like they’ve played a dirty trick on us, but what can we do? Furthermore, the new 2010 edition costs less than what we paid for the 2008 edition. QuickBooks sucks.
I recently was unable to open my Quickbooks and was told that I could not get a good confirmation code because it would cuorrupt my computer files. They forced me to purchase QB 2010. I am so very angry at them and have told 3 new businesses that I would not recommend QB for their accounting needs. At the time of upgrading I told the representative that I DID NOT want the free 30 day Monthly Support at all. It surprised me that the CSR would not actually speak the words “I will remove this from your invoice”. She just kept saying “I hear you”. I just received information in the mail saying that it was added on seperately! I am at a loss. I am looking for the proper number to call to cancel this service and pray that I get this resolved!
Depending on how many employees you have, it is often cheaper and more accurate to outsource your payroll to a local payroll service, rather than pay to have it integrated into Quickbooks or Peachtree (although Peachtree includes a free payroll module if you can figure out how to use it). I think small businesses would also be better off to separate the inventory part of their accounting, too. Just make journal entries concerning payroll and inventory, rather than integrate the whole thing into one program. You’ll save many headaches. I used Quickbooks for the 8 years I had a business. My books were messed up bigtime. That was the ‘99 version. I think the program is much worse, now.