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I was testing AVG antivirus and it also loaded AVG Tune Up. I tried the one time registry clean, etc. Computer totally locked up; could not access the web, reboot, shutdown except hard start, could not uninstall AVG Tune Up. Using smart phone contacted AVG tech support. That sent me to guruaid with Indian reps. Received a hard sell that my machine had deep malware infections that no registry cleaner can fix. Only their tech level 2 person could manually examine registry lines and repair my machine. Assured me the problem was not AVG Tune Up;however, my machine ran perfectly and very fast before installing and using the AVG Tune Up product. I was faced with a decision; do I just hard boot in safe mode and try to remove the problem software, or accept the man's assurance that my registry was seriously corrupted? I have over 30 years computer experience and an associate degree in computer science. I trusted the guy.

After a 15 minute wait, the tech II came on and performed some basic command line functions: %temp% and cleanmgr. Since I keep my files tidy he found very little to remove - mostly junk the first guy loaded onto my machine. Yeah, I saw that. He then checked under the hood to find a 3.8GHz quad processor, running 8 Gb RAM with a terabyte HDD. Then he reviews my programs, and saw I work in html, css, c, c++, SQL, JS and Java, Python, Ruby, and use Photoshop and Dreamweaver with a total library of Adobe software.

Next he did a disappearing act and the chat box vanished for about 10 minutes. I watched the task manager for excessive activity and of course since he was linked to my machine online he knew I was watching his activity. He did nothing. Zilch. Finally he came back online and told me we had to reboot the machine for his repairs to complete and we rebooted and reconnected. Next he wanted to remove Superantispyware and I said ok. He claimed it conflicted with AVG. So for time being I played his game. Next he asked if I wanted anything else removed and I said AVG Tune Up and AVG Web Tune Up. He removed that.

Next I was instructed to test my machine and judge the performance. It acted the same as it did before this AVG Tune Up problem happened. Except I'm lighter by $100 to get it off my computer. I asked for the manual registry analysis and repair of the registry code. I said it was ok to just 'x' out a line of bad code to disable it instead of totally removing each line. He said the registry repair was already done. Well, I did not see it, and I saw no activity on the Registry in the Task Manager during his time offline. At best he used the automatic registry cleaner of AVG Tune Up.

In a very professional manner I described how he only did some very basic commands to clean out very few files, and claimed to repair a registry that was not broken before AVG Tune Up was activated. That in fact he was the AVG tech, and at best he unlocked the software freeze and claimed to have improved my computer's performance. I'm reminded of the old saying: "don't *** on my leg and tell me it's raining". I have the experience and education to know beyond a reasonable doubt, that this is a software scam. Why should I ask AVG tech support to repair their product's problem and have to pay $100 to get this done? And they wanted to sell me a year of tech support for an additional $80. I know how to code and I've built computers from scratch many times. The command line is not hard to use. I politely insisted that I deserved a refund since the manual code repair of the registry was not done as promised by the first technician who answered my call. I'm rusty on Windows code and know nothing of Windows 10. So dumb me thought I needed the expert in this situation. After what little he did, I'm feeling pretty *** for trusting these guys about now.

You can tell how fluent they are in English when they get mad. The chat box with my Tech II lite up with typos as he tried to maintain a professional demeanor and deny my right to a refund. I told him he was a good tech, and that my problem was with AVG Tune Up and not him personally. At one point I even had to ask him to calm down. But I stuck to my guns and insisted on a refund or said I'll just cancel the charge with Amex in a dispute claim. He said that the customer service department would call me in 24-48 hours to handle a refund. I was instructed to not contact my credit card company before giving them a chance to remedy the matter. I agreed to do it. Time will soon tell if they refund promised occurs.

In conclusion:

AVG is wrong charging consumers to repair their product problems even if the result is from a trial version. Very bad PR in my opinion.

Guruaid only showed basic technical skills, and no doubt to this techie, only unlocked a malware loaded on my machine by AVG Tune Up. They first tried to sell to me that the program is good, and ended trying to sell me more of their tech support.

I'll get my refund or I'll dispute the charge with Amex, and then in my spare time it will be a personal mission to light up every geek chat room I can find online with my story. Now saved for future postings.

Had I done a web search for guruaid I would have learned how they are a well know scam operation. AVG is crazy to use them since it will reflect on their company.

A 100 won't make me miss a meal but it's the principal of the thing.

I don't enjoy being negative, but this experience needs to be shared.

I hate to get ripped off worse.

~Bob in Texas

Reason of review: Not as described/ advertised.

Monetary Loss: $100.

Preferred solution: Full refund.

GuruAid Cons: Charged to fix avg product by avg techs, Missrepresentation of technical performance, Lack of total sight of techs work online.

Location: Arlington, Texas

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Guruaid are just another scam company ripping off people, they install their own hidden software including "screen connector" and Toolbars and kwap that hides.

They also turn on remote support so they can put malware on your PC then tell you that you have a problem, usually a two stage rip off to fix a problem you never had before they got their grubby little hands on your PC.

If you see a Google ad showing them report it to Google and ask that they cease taking ads for this sham outfit.

Saleemah Vkb

Money refunded.

Saleemah Vkb

Regarding posting:

" I asked for the manual registry analysis and repair of the registry code. I said it was ok to just 'x' out a line of bad code to disable it instead of totally removing each line."

I said it was ok to place an x at the end of a line of bad code to render it harmless without having to remove each line.

This is a coding practice should you have to restore a line in the registry without having to totally replace the registry file from Windows media. If you write code this makes more sense.

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