I just wasted THREE hours with Intuit support. I'm trying to finally do my 2002 taxes.
After lots of runaround by the online chat support, they gave me a code to get phone support. Without that code it's $20 per call for technical support.
Of course they didn't solve the problem.
The problem:
When I went to install the CD I got this error:
"This Intuit Product is no longer available
Please call 1-800-333-2917 and we will assist you over the phone"
I called the number and was unable to get any assistance, it was automated hell.
I went to their site and did the "chat" support. The first guy told me to copy it to the drive and install from there.
Did that. Same error.
The 2nd guy finally gave me the code for the free tech support call.
Was told to reset the computer date by a year, and that got me to an Internet Library Error:
Security certificate date expired."
I asked the guy why they would do something like that and he made some snide remarks about most people doing their 2002 taxes in 2003. Very much the attitude of the IRS.
I asked for his supervisor, and got to speak to Dave Rich - Intuit Performance Coach.
He had this same attitude! The bottom line:
Because I purchased the product on Ebay, he won't send me a working CD. The software was a marketing gimmick called myturbotax.com and it was designed to work only in 2003.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with the fact that this is nowhere disclosed on the box.
He implied that the product I purchased was a bootleg. I asked whether he would like me to send him the scans of the box, but he didn't care.
They don't care when people pirate their products?
He told me I was welcome to assemble the documentation for them. Hah!
He didn't even want to research whether the product had been registered by someone else. I'm very sure that this is not a bootleg, it came in the box with the Product Key and all the rebates and quickstart. I read through it, there's no mention that the software expires.
Well, I'm very glad that I told my neighbors last year not to buy TurboTax due to the printing issue, which I was aware of. It was the first time they prepared their taxes on the computer and they own real estate and had a real property sale in 2002. They got TaxCut and were happy with it.
What was I thinking when I bought TurboTax again? Having used it since the 80's, I was just so used to it.
I certainly will NEVER buy TurboTax again.
I still don't know WHY they would make tax preparation software expire, it's way up on the list of STUPID things to do.
The only way to top this is to not send me a functioning CD.
Not disclosing the limited functionality on the box is just downright illegal. I never had this type of problem with any other software. Even if it was disclosed inside, which it's not, it would still have to be on the box because NOBODY accepts returns for opened software!
Why YOU should not buy TurboTax:
You get a virus or for some reason have to format your drive, you get a new hard drive or a new computer, you diligently saved your data files, you need to print a copy of your return, look something up or amend the return, and you will NOT be able to install the software you PURCHASED!
To the morons at Intuit:
I'll never buy Quicken or TurboTax again, from now on it's bootlegs.
c: e-mailed to public_relations@intuit.com
Posted by Christine at March 9, 2004 02:26 PMThis person is a moron, you purchase a used copy of the disk and expect it to work. Stupid, stupid woman. returns print just fine, sounds like your computer is screwed if it does not work. no virus is put on computer from disk, if you had a virus you downloaded it from internet or email you fool.why would you be sent a free copy because you purchased of ebay and did not make yourself aware of what you were purchasing. Do you buy a car of internet just because someone said it was a great car? oh, and myturbotax.com is only a website to store your tax return safely for future reference. Stop badmouthing a product because you were to stupid and bought it off ebay.
Posted by: steve at April 15, 2004 08:09 AM