Legal Question in Technology Law in California

Re: Anti virus scam

Probably nothing, and I don't see why you call it a scam. Neither Norton nor HP guarantees that a service call will successfully resolve your problem -- especially when the problem was not caused by their own software.

If you pay a doctor and he doesn't cure you, do you think you've been scammed? Is it a scam if you pay a lawyer and still lose your case?

You didn't pay for a cure; you paid for a service and you got it. You have not been wronged as far as I can tell.

Re: Anti virus scam

1. Find a computer expert in your locality to come and have a look at your machine in person. Usually technical support hotlines are not much help (and it is not their job to teach you how to use a computer). Also, in my experience some free programs such as Ad-Aware, or the free virus scan at trendmicro.com , are better at removing alleged viruses and other malware than is Norton AntiVirus.

2. With regard to your $40, you might try contacting consumer advocate Ed Foster at gripe2ed.com .

Re: Anti virus scam

Building on Mr. Hoffman's answer ...

If the $40 service includes a guarantee that the virus will be removed, then attempt to contact Norton and/or HP again for assistance. If this fails and the $40 was guaranteed to solve the problem, then dispute the charge with your credit card company. If no guarantee was provided, then I agree with Mr. Hoffman, the service for which you paid has been rendered.