Lots of problems - regsitered last year for this offer - expected it to be shipped for the launch date, but hey no show...

Have been checking on and off have been told 4 to 6 weeks evently after they replied by email.

Occasionally when I have checked it has said my order isn't in the system.

This inspires confidence...

Me two been waiting now for 3 weeks since i applied.

my status has shown COA and POP Validated but nothing else.

Wish i did not bother buying a new laptop because it is an headache waiting now.

Also i get the same sometimes that it says my order isn't in the system.

Contacted them 3 days on i get the following:

Thank you for contacting the Upgrade Redemption Center for Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007.

Your email has been received, and will usually be processed within 1 business day.

The following is provided for your information:

To place an order, obtain manufacturer-specific pricing, or see if you are qualified to purchase an upgrade, please visit https://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/vista/default.aspx.

If you have attempted to place an order and experienced any difficulty, our response will help you to continue the order.

FAQ:

COA Problems:
The Upgrade Redemption Center has been made aware of an issue affecting Certificate Of Authenticity or (COA) numbers used when placing orders via the Upgrade web site. We are now informed that this issue has been resolved.

Due to a high volume of contacts, we have been unable to respond timely to some of you who contacted the Upgrade Redemption Center, and we apologize for the delay.

The root cause of the COA issue for a majority of customers is a “locking” mechanism designed to restrict duplicate use of COAs and is intended to protect COA owners. In effect, if a customer’s order session timed out or a customer navigated away from the web site, the COA would be locked and require a reset by the Upgrade Redemption Center. Your COA will be reset within 24 hours of it being locked. If your email relates to this issue, please allow 3 hours to pass and then return to the web and place your order.

My COA had been locked. What i want to know is how do i go about resetting it and starting over. How do i contact the "Upgrade Redemption Center" to reset my COA?

Hi,

As in the automated email i received this is part of what it said which is in my above post.

"The root cause of the COA issue for a majority of customers is a “locking” mechanism designed to restrict duplicate use of COAs and is intended to protect COA owners. In effect, if a customer’s order session timed out or a customer navigated away from the web site, the COA would be locked and require a reset by the Upgrade Redemption Center. Your COA will be reset within 24 hours of it being locked. If your email relates to this issue, please allow 3 hours to pass and then return to the web and place your order."

Another words it will unlock in it's own time.

I have been trying for days to get my free Vista upgrade but have been passed or directed to a dozen sites, telephone numbers etc, including a few for techguys, with no success. I thing the whole thing is an absolute shambles

I have had a problem ordering vista upgrade, it will not accept my COA number, and on the one occasion I managed to get passed that, it would not accept my credit card details, been trying now for 5 solid days. I think the customer service is abysmal.

Been trying for several days will not accept my coa number and on the one occasion it did would not accept my credit card details, was told to contact Customer Service, what a joke, when all they do is ignore you I think everyone should get together and go to the press the service is abysmal, dont think I will ever get it, why have a Customer Service Department, when all they do is ignore you.

Dosen't anyone have a working contact number for this "Update redemption center" ? I've been waiting for 2 days now for my COA number to "unlock"

Same story here, i have an acer laptop bought for me for christmas, and this upgrade site won't validate my COA either. Emailed Customer Services, and no reply as yet. It's pathetic, and if I dont get the upgrade i'm entitled to then I wont be buying it from a shop because Microsoft's pricing is appalling.

Just thought I'd update you - found a good link with lots of references to the problems

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=98906&highlight=vista

btw I still have recieved my copy - ordered it Nov 14!

First I kept getting "credit card failed" and so I kept trying until I gave up. I sent an email and got an answer about 24 hours later. Too bad the email was canned and didn't address my specific question. It did make me think to look at my account, and voila! I got charged 4 times!!! So much for the "failure!" So, I went to the site again and tried to see what to do now. I put in my COA and email (don't have an order number because my order supposedly "failed") and was told I don't exist. So, another email, this one just a tad bit nastier.

3 words: Class Action Lawsuit.

Hi,

Anyone in the UK needs to contact Moduslink for any queries on 00800 666 44 666.

There email address is: MSTUPVISTAEMEA@moduslink.com

There Address to send Proof of Purchase (invoice etc) is:

Technical Upgrade Program Vista
P.O. Box 252
7300 AG Apeldoorn
The Netherlands

======================

I redeemed my upgrade for Vista Home Premium a few weeks ago, about 7 days later it said COA/POP Validated. I contacted Moduslink via email to ask when i will get my disc and a few days later they replied saying my "COS IS INVALID" but online it was showing "COA/POP VALIDATED"

REASON: When i made my order and if you are in the UK Moduslink said many peoples Debit Cards are being rejectd by the system and you can only pay by Credit Card.

So i contacted Modulink on 00800 783 6414 (United Kingdom) and they said i will need make a new order as my debit card was declined.

So now i have had Moduslink release my "COA" (Certificate of Authencity) and i made my new order. (I was told i am best off doing a wire transfer so this is what i choose and done)

BUT ....

The Account details the Moduslink site gives you correct but because it is international etc.. UK sortcode is only 6 digits long but on the Moduslink confirmation page it shows 8 digits. So after arond 15 calls i managed to get it sorted.

So anyone who at the time only seen credit card as an option to pay but still gave your debit card details (YOUR ORDER STILL WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH) and your COA/POP show validated but if you think you are in the same boat ring Moduslink as if i did not then i would never have known about this problem as of course online it was showing COA/POP validated which meant my order is great and that just wait for disc to be sent out. Another words you wil not be told there is a problem with your card details as online it all shows ok and even when i phoned moduslink they said it was all ok until i said i had an email to say it was invalid. SO MAKE SURE YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IF IT IS SHOWING ON THERE SIDE AS VALID

Reason i am letting people know this is because i have spent a fortune ringing my bank and hours getting through to moduslink and to think of someone else having to do the same sends shivers down my back as i have never felt so depressed in my life trying to sort a silly problem out.

So anyone in the UK are best off doing it by "Wire Transfer" and validating your COA/POP via email as you can now do that.

=======================

MY NIGHTMARE HAS GOT WORSE:

To send your proof via email;

you need to send an email with your order number to: MSTUPVISTAEMEA@moduslink.com

YOU MUST ALSO .... Scan your invoice,receipt etc ... and save it as PDF (many programs that come with your printer/scanner can do this.

Once it scans and saves it as PDF. attach to an email (Make sure you put your order number in the email)

Best thing is to put your name address etc in email aswell.

and send to the email address i put above.

To do a wire transfer these are the details you need (for uk only)

Account holder: moduslink bv

Account Number - 00062103

SORT-CODE: 405030

Bank Name: ABN-AMRO

Bank Location: lONDON

THE BANK WILL ASK WHAT REFERENCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE TRANSFER SO THEY KNOW WHO THE MONEY IS OFF

YOU MUST TELL THE BANK TO ADD YOUR ORDER NUMBER AS THE REFERENCE NUMBER OTHERWISE MODUSLINK WILL NOT KNOW WHO/WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM.

As the site is for international users i had to take off 2 numbers (00) from off the sortcode. This is fine as Moduslink told me that for UK.

Why the site does not mind i dont know.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one having this problem. I'm in the States and tried to submit my Vista Upgrade Certificate a week ago. I got through the entire process successfully except for the end when it was time to pay. The system kept saying my credit card failed so I gave up. Now when I log back into the system to check my order status, it says it has been cancelled. However, my credit card has been charged FOUR TIMES!!! This is utterly inexcusable for a company as big as Microsoft to allow this to happen to so many people. What a joke!!!

I emailed them and they said to call so they could resolve the problem over the phone. So, when I called they said a Supervisor would call me back within 24 hours (this was three days ago and still no call).

Utterly ridiculous!!!

i purchased a evesham pc oct/nov 2006 with free upgrade to vista ordered upgrade last year checked order status order confirmed even gave order number checked after release date order cancelled rang evesham moduslink microsoft just pushed from one to other re-ordered again coa confirmed issued with another order number waiting for dvd to arrive system not working well at all very disappoited

What a total Balls U*
Moduslink are totally out of there depth with this.

you put your order in " after numerous attempts" only to find you have to send all the details off again to some unknown company WHY WHY WHY it is absolutely ridiculous !

I purchased a PC from PC world and part of my perches agreement was that I could upgrade to Vista.
As it has been impossible to register with Moduslink for Vista, I contacted PC world and informed them that they had broken my perches agreement with myself and therefore I wonted a refund or a replacement PC preloded with Vista.

May I suggest other people also do this as it will put pressure on Moduslink and Microsoft.
However I do feel that these company's are deliberately stalling the process so that not many " if any" register before the cut off date in March.

I registered my order 2 weeks ago for my free upgrade. I had to apply online several times before my order was accepted. Status shows as COA accepted but not POP even though I sent the POP immediately and have sent resent a week ago. I have emailed Moduslink twice but get no reply. Judging by the press on this issue Microsoft are aware of this problem and should be able to use their clout to get the problems sorted. This reflects badly on Microsoft but I doubt if they care.

What a frigging Joke.

Been screwed...again !

Ordered, approved, COP Valid then COA failed, order canceled and now TOD 1 to 2 weeks. What? HP said to call Moduslink and not to call them any more. Moduslink non-responsive. I parted out two computers so as to buy a new HP early because I WAS PROMISED BY HP A FREE UPGRADE. Moduslink made no such promise to me, Microsoft made no promise to me. It is the responsibility of the company that made the promise to you. What ever was promised by other companies to the company you purchased your computer from is none of your affair. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY THAT SOLD THE COMPUTER, AS AN INCENTIVE TO BUY EARLY PROMISING THE FREE UPGRADE TO VISTA, TO MAKE GOOD THE PROMISE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

i think this is crap i ordered as soon as i bought at xmas and it was ok then i check and my order is gone so im ringing everyon getting passed round like a bag of chips and then i phone currys and they say you'll have to go in store nd sort the order out or try to get a laptop of the same make with vista premium on so thats hat im doin and then from there if nothing happens the old lawers will have a new case on their hands!

weird i just decided to have one more go and went the modus website throught hp and now my order is ready for shipping at beginning of march with standard delivery hope they send otherwise ill be real pissed!

I am acually kind of "locked", Buying my PC from USA, I didn't get the coupon. Now I am in the UK , and when I try to apply for the upgrade, they can only deliver upgrade in the USA only cz I bought it from there and do not allow it to be delivered at the UK. Now that there's nobody I know in the US who can receive it for me, my redemption has gone useless.

The Moduslink redemption upgrade is a complete shambles. I have tried for almost three weeks for the Vista upgrade and after countless emails and complying with every request that Moduslink have made, I am still in the same situation as I was when I first applied. Emailed Evesham the PC vendor who have not had the decency to reply and even the Moduslink employee who I have spoken to is totally exasperated with the fiasco. It is time Microsoft sorted out this complete shambles. The are treating everyone as criminals and in all honesty I do not expect to ever see the upgrade in my possession.

At PCW we've been following this story with interest since there seems to be a multitude of problems with the upgrades.

We've published Moduslink's response, denying that delays are its fault and offering some insight into the ordering process, here:

http://labs.pcw.co.uk/2007/02/moduslink_respo.html

Moduslink or whoever it is that I'm supposed to be getting my "free" upgrade with 2 new laptops I bought seem to be non-existent. I filled out all the information mumbo, I was given a confirmation number for each order, then was told I needed to fax or email them my proof of purchase. So I did this, waited 2 weeks never heard anything back. So I emailed them and was told they needed my proof of purchase to complete my order. (this was a generic email by the way because everytime I have emailed them no matter what I asked I always got this same reply) I have since faxed my proof of purchase 8 times and it's been 3 months but I still have no product. I've asked for a phone number which they only respond with the same email saying they need me to send in my proof of purchase. What can you do?????

From what I read in the above comments, this whole situation seems to be a sham. Is there really a FREE UPGRADE? Is Microsoft so 'broke' that they won't fulfill their obligations to their consumers? I would like an honest and direct answer to this situation. I can't even get into the site you quoted me to place my FREE order, so how in the world can I get an order number? I would like to get what I've been promised. You said you already received my proof of purchase. What's the problem?????

Is Microsoft going bust!!!! with all the upgrades they promised, it must run into many millions of dollars from all around the world. in fact In my estimate it would be in the Regen of approximately 2.2 billion dollars this is calculated on the estimated number of PC sold around the world in the past 11 months before vista was launched.

And Moduslink I suspect are deliberately stalling the upgrade process.

Like Matt, cant get into site either, no end of phone calls, i thought it was me? Im quite a novice at using a computer, less than a year, and after reading all the above comments you have really helped me more than all the hrs trying to get my FREE upgrade info, with no joy. I think there will be alot of people that are going to miss out on this so called FREE upgrade.Im starting to think, like so many of these FREE offers, if something seems to good to be true, then usually it is. Hope not in this case? You have all given me confidence to carry on as i thought it was my lack of experience with computer skills, Good Luck to you all.

f
upgrade

Robert H you are 100% right
the company that sold you your computer is 100% responsible for any compensation for the non appearance of your Vista upgrade. I have taken legal advice, and have been told that the company you purchased the computer from is responsible. they will then have to take legal steps to recover any compensation paid from Microsoft.

So take your PC back to your supplier and just say you have broken your purchase agreement with me " what are you going to do about it! legally they are obliged to ether refund your money or give you a Vista upgrade themselves.

What a joke trying to get this upgrade is such a hassle. I think Bill Gates should handle this himself what a disgrace this is to Microsoft and for all those who work there.

On speaking to Microsoft UK
yesterday and reading between the lines of what they said too me.

Moduslink have been given an ultimatum! sort this mess out in the next four weeks or they will en cure penalty payments for breach of contract.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!

I have been trying to get my free Vista upgrade but now I've got a letter that says "Order not found" and told me to go their web site and get a order number. However I couldn't found the web site. And there isn't any phone number to contact with them. I thing the whole thing is an absolute shambles

Hi All

Well I wrote to wave 105 a UK radio station regarding the fiasco with Vista.

They broadcast it and also spoke to Moduslink, and PC World. As they said on the air the procedure for registering for Vista is totally unacceptable.

They spoke to the trading standards in London who categorically said that what ever company you purchased your PC from is solely responsible under the trading standards law for applying and getting your Vista upgrade.

Therefore contact the retailer that sold you your PC and put the ball in their court and they must apply for your Vista upgrade, If this is not forth coming the COMPANY MUST UP GRADE YOU TOO VISTA THEMSELVES.

I hope this sorts the problem out for all of you in the UK.

I finally submitted my vista upgrade order on 19th December after trying for a month. I got an email with an order confirmation on that date. I chose to submit payment by wire transfer as I could not get my credit card accepted.

I emailed them my upgrade form and proof or purchase on December 20th and made the payment on January 2nd. I after recieving no confirmation from moduslink of the reciept of payment and POP I emailed them on January 8th asking them to confirm I got this email back on Jan 15th

Thank you for contacting the Upgrade Redemption Support Center.

We would like to inform you that due to the great amount of Proof of Purchases we have received, we will first send a confirmation email after we have shipped your order.

For any inconvenience this may cause we apologize.

Order says COA vaildated.

I'm in the US what phone number are you calling to actually get to a live rep at moduslink?

On an email I got from moduslink it listed all the numbers to contact them on the one for US and Canada was 800-817-5602.

Not sure how many people in the US have posted here, but I honestly feel that we should all just band together and form a Class Action lawsuit.

You know, after all the crap I've gone through, I think I'm just going to send it snail mail. On the upside, I'm not the only person having the problem, but on the down side, this seems like a mass conspiracy to frustrate users to the point of just giving up on their "free" copy of Vista. I hate Microsoft and Moduslink, and everyone involved in this scam. You can believe that my snail-mail will be certified. What a mess!

I agree with the person who said we need to band together and file a class action lawsuit. This is ridiculous. This is what I have been through tryng to get my "free" upgrade:

I bought my new Gateway laptop from Home Shopping Network and I was promised that the computer was supposed to come with a free upgrade to Windows Vista when it was released in early February. I was told to go to a website to do the express upgrade and then I would be sent the disk when it was available. I went to the website in early January and tried to upgrade. Several times I tried and everytime I got an error messsage saying that my Certificate of Authenticity (COA) number was invalid. So I called Gateway to ask about how I could upgrade. They told me to try the website again in two weeks. So two weeks later (1/31) I tried again and it still would not work. So again I called Gateway. They told me to call Microsoft. I called Microsoft and they told me I needed to call another number to make sure my software was not pirated. Which of course it wasn't since it came new with the computer. So I called them they verified it was legal and they transferred me to another number at Microsoft. They referred me back to Gateway. I called Gateway again and they told me they would escalate my call. Which apparently means nothing - they said it meant that a Manager would contact Microsoft and work out a solution. I was promised a call back within 2 days. Well, needless to say I did not get a call back. I waited a week and called again and they said they were working on a solution and they would call me back when they found the solution. At this point I decided maybe it was time to contact HSN since they were the ones who sold me this computer and promised that Gateway had great customer service. So I e-mailed HSN and explained the situation. They e-mailed me back but it was apparent that they didn't even read my e-mail. They told me to do exactly what I had already done. I e-mailed them again and again they couldn't help me. So again today I called Ga teway, at this point I was referred to Modus Link which is the company handling the upgrade. I got a very fast response from them telling me to go to the website that I have already tried at least 20 times in the first place. Apparently, this is a common problem becasue when I called Modus Link they had a recording saying that if you were having a problem with the webiste no accepting your COA number to e-mail them with the information. Which I did and thats when they e-mailed me back saying that I needed to go to the website.

Hi Lisa
I'm from the UK but from what I have been told the US trading law is about the same as ours in the UK.

Gatway the company you purchased your computer from should be inputting all your details and registering for Vista for you. they are solely responsible for this as the retailer that sold you your PC, YOU MUST TELL THEM THIS . its the same for any company that sold a PC with the vista upgrade included.

All UK people who are having problems registering for vista, "WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

See the company you purchased your PC from!

As I have said before as the retailer it is there responsibility to register and get you your Vista upgrade.

I informed PC World of there legal obligation.

PROBLEM SOLVED. they did all the sorting out and registered my PC for Vista.

Don't struggle on let them do it It's there responsibility.

Andy:

Thanks for your info. I have contacted Gateway - no less than 10 times to no avail. But no worries - I am no where near finished with Gateway - LOL!!! Last night I got so fed up with this I decided to contact my local TV Station to see if they can do anything to help.

Above someone said the COA issue was worked out but it has not been - as of yesterday it was still telling me that my COA (which by the way is attached to the botton of my laptop) is invalid.

I think we all need to get this information out there to as many people as we can.

Sorry, can you tell I am fired up about this :-)

Lisa

Hi Lisa

I know the feeling!!!!!!

All I can say is that legally, Microsoft or Moduslink are not legally responsible for updating your computer. Yes I know this sounds strange!

the company's that are legally responsible are the ones that sold you your computer saying that this included a free upgrade to Vista, Though I must say it isn't "FREE" there is a small charge about £16.50 don't know what that is in dollars. Anyway as I have said IT'S THE COMPANY THAT SOLD YOU THE COMPUTER THAT SHOULD BE CHASING MODUSLINK

What is needed is a unified approach by customers to the company's concerned, How this can be done I am working on at the moment.may be Personal Computer world can have a petition page so all the people having problems can sign it and then distribute it to all the relevant company's. We will see if Computer world reads any of this???

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!!!!!
Why do we have to pay postage for the "FREE" upgrade.
I purchased my Laptop through AcerNotebooks and already paid my postage and packing on top of the laptop price.
Why should I pay postage again on a so called free upgrade which was sold as part of the original aggreement as an incentive to buy early.
This was reinforced as I was told by two sales staff BEFORE making the purchase that the upgrade was "FREE" and when I asked how it was arranged as Vista had not been released they said that on release of Vista I would be upgraded over the web by DOWNLOAD.
This turned out to be total rubbish as most of you know (but I didnt at the time) as it is all done by disc, but when I rang to query I first pretended to be a new enquiring customer and was once agian told that it was free and by download and when put through to a supervisor was once again told it was by download.
Even on Acernotebooks web page it says it is a FREE upgrade ,,no mention of £14 quid of postage & packing.

Ive since spoke to Trading Standards that said this is a "misrepresentation" and a soon as my upgrade is dispatched (as it is only on dispatch of the upgrade that your card is SUPPOSED to be debited) I will then be able to claim misrepresenation to Acer NoteBooks and claim my postage plus any resonable expenses . Look forward to that after having to put up with smug Acernotebooks Supervisor on phone.
As with all these things its the having to follow up with multiple phone calls to get the matters resolved that is such a pain in the butt.

i finally got my upgrade!!!!

I'm having the same problem. I actually had similar issues, but finally got through the website to get past the order stage (if you are having credit card not accepted trouble try EXCLUDING the 3 digit code). I've sent in my paper work 2 weeks ago and still no status update. This is just another case of Microsoft screwing it's customers and not caring because they are the only game in town. If someone would come up with software even half way decent i would buy it. Thanks again Microsoft for being content with lousy products and service.

I submitted my request by E-Mail on January 8th and mailed the invoice copy on January 9th and recieved E-MAIL dated February 4th advising my validation was complete - this date is February 26th and still no sign - I thought we where supposed to get priority???? I have friends who purchased in late January that are away ahead of me when I thought I would be early in the food chain.
Thomas graham

hey just checked moduslink last night and now theyre saying they haven't got any proof of purchase which is not right because i sent it off early january and now theyve sed it wud ship march they suddenly changed mind and sed i need to send proof of purchase, this is total crap and so tomorrow im going to currys and demanding them to sort this played out shit.

I bought my pc from Staples who have been trying to help me get the vista upgrade.i have contacted moduslink and also microsoft.they are both about as much use has a chocolate fireguard.i have been in touch with my local trading standards department who have informed me it is the retailer who is responsible for suppling the upgrade,i shall let you all know if i get it or not.

going in the morning to sort this out at currys hope they dont fob me off or ill go physco on they asses lol, and will defo be chatting to management and not the sales reps who read facts of a sheet and call them selves experts lol will let you homies now how it goes

I sent my order of for the upgrade in the second week of Janurary, only good thing is it moved to COA/POP validated but its been like that for 1 month now. Tried calling but their customer service is pathetic. I want to get in touch with watchdog over how much of a disgrace this is. Why the **** was ModusLink picked to do this, wish i never bought a laptop now.

What a Mess. All the work and 10 Billion note's, invested for Windows vista and no one is anywhere near to seeing their free upgrade -
by March? What has happened to the WOW!
Shame about all us punter's that has bought new PCs/Laptops with the upgrade for Free, thinking the WOW! was in the package??? Dont seem like it! Like so many of you i have, tryed to get in to site, with no joy . Done all the ground work, with E-mails to 'Moduslink' also had a reply, and im back where i started from. Pity they! who! ever? came up with the Supermarket sweep! Buy one and get one Free? Anyone ever watch 'Click' Freeveiw ch 80, Well there is tecno for you, yet we cannot our free Package ???Good Luck!

already contacted watchdog yesterday with all details hoping to hear from them soon, and going to town now to sort vista out with currys if they do nothing my suits will take action lol

I contact moduslink again the other day about the different steps in the order status. Mine is currently COA validated. they replied with this email.

We have received your order. To further process your order we will need a photocopy or scan of the Proof of Purchase with the order number to be send to us either via mail, fax or email, if you have not yet done so.

You will receive a confirmation, once we have shipped your product.

I have replied telling them I sent them on December 20th and that I have attched new copies, I have also requested a receipt of when the email is read. Hopefully this should make things progress but I will not hold my breath.

just bin to currys they fobbed me off with how its not them and its hp and they sed moduslink is just a server not real company so i reordered and coa validated again just need to send proof of purchase and wire transfer money, does any one know how to wire transfer, do i need to goto the bank and pay before or after i send reciept, wot a mess lol

Wire transfer details for UK customers

To do a wire transfer these are the details you need

Account holder: moduslink bv

Account Number - 00062103

SORT-CODE: 405030

Bank Name: ABN-AMRO

Bank Location: LONDON

Reference for the payment will be your order number so moduslink will know which order the money is for. As for when to send the money, I sent my POP on December 20th (by email) then made the money transfer on January 2nd.

TO ALL UK CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED PCs FROM RETAILERS IN THE UK, WHO WERE INFORMED BY THE RETAILER THAT THE PC WOULD BE UPGRADED TO VISTA

Please contact CONSUMERDIRECT.GOV.UK/contact_us "in lower case"

Please be aware that your retailer is responsible for your upgrade to VISTA

All information regarding this issue is urgently needed by Consumerdirect

"Trading Standards"
your assistance will be most welcome

Watchdog are also VERY INTERESTED in the situation with the retailers NOT registering you for Vista

go on to the BBC Watchdog site and have your say!!!
this is a good collective way of putting over your grievances.

I sent in the proof of purchase, but they say they were unable to process it because order not found. I sent in everything and can't get a hold of them.If anybody has the number,please I would love to know it.

i been in touch with watchdog and consumer direct this morning and i went to currys today and the guy said sorry im afraid its nothing to do with us consumer direct "trading standards" is wrong on this so contact hp or modus link and sort it ya self which i felt was very shit i said to the man in shop so you were basically telling me lies when i was buying the laptop, he said no because the promotion wasn't out to do with them. and i am pissed coz i was assured id get vista if i bought earlier and now im having such a hard time about it.

Hi Chris

thought I ought to put this on here just in case people get the wrong impression.

As you now know! trading standards were not wrong!
and we now know that the retailers should be registering for their customers, As we now have the "proof" of this fact.

So please contact your trading standerds office and watchdog

all this mess with vista is actually making me feel unwell because no matter what we say to the retailers we cant just go in and take a copy of vista of shelve and walk out, wich if it isnt sorted soon ima go down and just bug manager till he gives in the tosser.

seriosuly p'ed off - I posted the first entry above...

I have checked on my order still no movement, i phone moduslink

00800 666 444 666

(its a bit arduos - go through as if you have to place an order)

eventually found out that they still have received my redemption form - I sent it in Novemeber...

funny thing is that in december my order said it was approved - now it says COA validated.

I have to fax my order/invocie and explanation to 0031 555433946.

I hope I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT 6 WEEKS! arrrgh

another thread on this if anyone is interested

http://forums.ebuyer.com/showthread.php?p=45513&posted=1

we are not alone.

I though by ordered in Novemeber I would have avoided this fiasco...

I am considering further action

I think people are missing the REAL reason why you not getten your upgrade disks!

If you look on your computer and see a sticker that says VISTA CAPABLE it means the oem manufactures are saying it WILL run vista!

I have been told that once you get your upgrade disk and install it the oem manufactures are responable for support on it!NOT MICROSOFT!(if anyone knows for sure if this is true please post it)It would explain alot about the delays!!!

So you see the manufactures stand to lose a ton of money from people who find out it doesnt run and DEMAND their money back for a product that they were told was COMPELETY capable of running Vista!

They didnt even have the RTM copy of Vista until NOVEMBER so how could they say for sure the drivers on the computers they were selling in OCT and on would run?

They would have told you anything to buy before xmas
so they didnt lose all that money in sales!

I bet the people who get their upgrade disks are the ones who they know for sure there isnt a problem with divers.Why else would Not send out disks on a first come basis.

Just my 2 cents!Im also from the USA

BTW I posted the same info on a dell site and a post saying that it was all manufactures not just dell and guess which post they displyed and which one didnt get posted!

I guess some people dont believe in free speach!!!

I've purchased an OEM copy with hardware - so as an System builder its down to me to support the system as per microsoft terms.

just had email from moduslink saying send pop off through email again and once vista is shipped they will debit me so i think its starting to go, what do your think

I applied for the upgrade sometime in November. No problems ordering until I received an email yesterday saying my order would be shipped within 4 weeks. It contained a link to check the order status so I put the number in and it now says "your order is no longer in our system!" Also, the link they provided to check the order is an HP branded link. I have an ACER! I emailed them and got some stupid generic response about contacting my PC manufacturer??? They are IDIOTS!

I have said this before but it looks like I will have to say it again!

If you are in the UK contact Consumers Direct.
it is clear that the retailers are sherking their responsibility's to register you for Vista, and also sold the PCs to their customers informing them that it was a "FREE upgrade which it isn't" this is contrary to the goods act 1974.

Please contact them it is to your advantage to do so!

Hello again, still not got into site, to give "my long awaiting detail's". Really this has got to a stage, where we are really being taken for a rid,YES! I am fed up with keep going all over the same palavour! and still not anywhere. I phoned "Which Magazine" who i do have their up date's. Said get intouch with Trading standards. so that is my next move, and i no what i will be told, as you all so have already stated, get involoved with the retailer's from who you purchased from? Well what this space! ??? Best of luck to you all. By the way im going to keep Tv on to see if there is anything about this, Shamble's. As one of the none upgrader's yet mentioned, about " What Dog " I shall be watching Honey!

just checking to see if youve received my receipt of purchase for my vista upgrade.however,i have sent it to a p.o. box no. and not to you on confirmation order no. 2809070.Sorry for this mistake,please help.

Hi Shane

Sorry don't understand why you sent proof of purchase here???

1/email a copy of your confirmation of order form from the moduslink site, also include a copy of your receipt that you got when you purchased your computer

2/on the email subject line
you MUST PUT "POP" and your "order number" email it to mstupvistana@moduslink.com

Unfortunately you will not get confirmation that Moduslink have received it !!!!!!! so keep a copy of the email you sent them so you can proof that you did send it to them.

Hope this helps you in this ridiculous situation regarding Vista.

Sorry
on the subject line you must put the following otherwise it will be rejected by Moduslink

UPGRADE REDEMPTION CENTER POP ORDER NUMBER **********

TRADING STANDERDS

REF: FREE UPGRADE

Trading standards have said that the use of the word FREE by the retailers who sold the PCs is a misrepresentation, therefore legal proceedings could and should be taken.

SO PLEASE KEEP ALL YOUR DOCUMENTATION REGARDING PAYMENTS FOR VISTA, and contact firstly consumas direct who will then pass your case to trading standards.

Ref:PC Compatibility for Vista.

If you have concerns that your PC is not compatible with Vista even though the manufacturers have said it is!

on the VISTA site you can download a checkout, that will check your system and tell you if all is OK for Vista

"Also, the link they provided to check the order is an HP branded link."

I received the same e-mail. I own a Sony... Anyway, I just proceeded to the usual place I check the order status (instead of following the link provided in e-mail) and everything works fine.

I was wondering has anyone who bought an OEM copy Windows get their upgrade redemption form accepted by email?

REF: THE RETAILERS

The more people that contact the retailer that sold them the PC with the free upgrade the better it will be "However don't expect them to say sorry we will do something right away as this will not happen as they would be admitting liability!!!!!

It will however put pressure on the retailers to put pressure on Moduslink to sort this complete fiasco out!

REF OEM

Please go to

http:channelregister.co.uk
for info

REF: Retailers

It has come to my notice that the retailers should have been doing the following when marketing PCs

VISTA IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE PC WHEN AVAILABLE.

As we all know this has not been the case.

MR ROBERT EPSTEIN is in charge of all UK marketing of Vista. so if you feel that the company that sold you your PC misrepresented the sale of the PC to you, FREE UPGRADE ?

Please email newswireles.net and they will pass your complaints to Mr Epstein.
I must add that Mr Epstein has criticised companies for their sales and wants to know the scale of the problem, NOW is your chance to let him know!!!

Here's something to think about !!!!

"customers who qualify for an Express Upgrade also qualify for OEM support for Windows Vista, even if their machines came with Windows XP. The last thing a Dell, Gateway, or HP wants to do is start sending out upgrades to customers who might have video cards that do not have particularly stable drivers yet (or sound cards, or RAID controllers, etc.). This could be a support disaster. So the delays appear to be driven, in part, by OEM efforts to essentially whitelist hardware components and configurations, which becomes a matter of testing."

anyone still being asked for POP send and fax and and email, I did both and received a reply today, its said
"Thank you for submitting your Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit CD/DVD OEM. Your validation is now complete and we will be processing your order. You should receive your order within 4-6 weeks and receive email confirmation when your order is shipped. At any time you may also go to https://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/vista/hp or email us at MSTUPVISTAEMEA@moduslink.com to check on your order.
If you do not receive your order within the time frame specified, please notify us prior to May 1, 2007 for English language versions of the product and June 1, 2007, for non-English language versions of the product so that we may investigate and ship your order. After those dates we may not be able to process your request."

I'll wait and see, my status has changed to POP/COA validated.

BTW The link above it wrong its for hp (as I am an OEM customer) - ORDER NOT FOUND - drop the hp on the end of the URL and its OK.

FIASCO!

just thought i would let you know that on my order it says order is approved check back in week for more details, sound lool

filled order form coa confirmed 10thfeb/coa validated12thfeb/sent proof of purchase and cheque £13-83 14thfeb /pop validated 16thfeb/great evevrything going smooth. on moduslink confirmation site pop/coa validated/ e-mailed to see how shipping date would be e-mail took 3weeks to answer said will take 4to6 weeks[ which has been ever validated] NOT MY ERROR in brackets DOES THIS MEAN THEY ARE VALIDATED OR NOT.decided to send all info by fax back to moduslink will wait and see glad I copied all info that I recieved from moduslink
bill

Here's a good read for you!

http://www.ctbarker.info/

Sorry! here's the correct page!

http://www.ctbarker.info/2007/02/moduslink-windows-vista-express-upgrade.html

well my rant was removed musta used a naughty word anyway i started the process in december sent pop on the 4thjan they validated it on the 23rd feb!!!! and today i get an email we have shipped your order on the 7th march and heres the best bit..... you will recieve you order within 3 weeks!!! its being sent from the netherlands not the moon we get things quicker from china on ebay, how can the legitimatly charge £12.90 shipping cost for a cd that takes 3 weeks!! ive paid that for next day before 1am delivery for a box full of LIVE MARINE FISH IN WATER which im sure is alot heavier than a cd!!! lets sue them for trade descriptions!!

On the last comment from ti

WATCH THIS SPACE.

I have said it before but I will say it again.

Contact Consumers Direct.

Also check out the price of the same PC you bought loded with Vista.

I would appreciate your comments!

Update 8/03/07: Microsoft has apologised for the delays customers have been experiencing over this fiasco.

In an interview with PCW Microsoft wouldn't say if Moduslink had done a good or bad job distributing Vista disks.

It is also happy about the fees retailers are charging for the 'free' upgrade.

Read more here:
http://www.pcw.co.uk/2185082

"Microsoft has apologised for the delays customers have been experiencing over this fiasco."

Microsoft could care lees about your problems! They stand to save a ton of money from all the people who gave up on getting the free upgrade!

Its 150.00 us for the upgrade and I heard its even more in the upgrade in the UK and im sure there where MILLIONS of computers sold during the offer! So you see we are talking aLOT of meony here!

And they wonder why people hate microsoft so much!!!

I cannot even get the Moduslink site to take my order. All I get is a message saying "Unable to validate COA". I have e-mailed Moduslink three times, phoned them 4 times (and my retailer has also phoned them); e-mailed Microsoft twice; e-mailed my notebook manufacturer (Acer who don't want to know)and am no nearer even placing an order never mind receiving a Vista disk. It's likely to end in the Small Claims Court at this rate!

I have been trying since 16/1/07 to register & obtain the upgrade and after many many phone calls, letters and e-mails, nearly all of which were ignored. I eventually got confirmation yesterday from Moduslink that I will get the disk hopefully in ANOTHER 4-6 WEEKS and to call them AGAIN if it isn't here by 1/5/07. So I am not holding out much hope quite honestly if what I have experianced so far is anything to go by. To see reply's like, "Due to an unexpected overwhelming demand" etc. Does not cut any ice with me at all...are they in the business or not ?

Hi! Today my status hanged to

Order Status: Order sent to Back office
Shipping Date: TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier: Standard

Someone known what does it mean "Order sent to Back office"? I'm not English.

Thanks for A!

PAW

Im sorry to tell you this but ..

"Order sent to Back office"

means they found something wrong with your order!

CALL THEM and find out what the problem is!!

@mickey

I do nothing and today my order changed again:

Order Status: Order is approved

Steel don't have a date when my order will be send.

I rely don't known what they are doing, why they have so many problems, but only what I know is that I will not sent 3th time my COA/POP to them.

And HP should known that if I don't get my Vista I will never bout anything from them. Should buy a Mac.
Thank you.

hey well my order said order is approved and then got email saying vista had been shipped to me and the money has been debited from my bank account and now i went to order page and its gone back to saying waiting for pop, lol someones goin on orders there and changing status for a laugh it must be, though i do believe vista has started shipping to us now.

This whole thing is seems like a scam in order to keep Microsoft’s PC/laptop sales going prior to Vista’s release. I have tried for weeks to submit my COA, I have sent numerous emails to MODUSLINK with either no reply or the standard “Please try again in a few days time” email. Phones are not answered and we are left cursing the day we decided to purchase our PC/laptops. My next one will be an Apple Mac for sure and I’ll say good riddens to Microsoft.

Another UK person here with big problems.

My case is a bit different - I built a set of PCs for myself and friends/family. I bought the parts and XP back before Christmas.

Signed-up on the website a few days later (it was broken before then), and then posted the vouchers/receipts off to Amsterdam.

Since then, nothing. Moduslink ignore e-mails - I've sent several, the last few including scans of the receipts. Nothing. No reply. No update to my order. Zero.

I've tried phoning Moduslink Europe - but they don't have a help line. Well, they say they do: 00800 666 44 666 - but that number is just an answering machine that tells you to contact your system builder - a fat load of good that does me when I am the system builder - or e-mail moduslink (but I wouldn't be phoning unless I'd already discovered they don't seem to accept e-mails).

So, I've no idea what to do. My friends and family want vista - and I have no idea when I am going to get their Vistas, or indeed whether the order has even been accepted. Thankfully, everyone here is patient - otherwise, I'd be substantially out of pocket if I had to buy new copies of Vista as well.

Indeed, had I known that the updates would not be sent out until late March I wouldn't have signed up. However, the documentation on the original upgrade forms seemed to suggest that you would receive your update within 4-6 weeks of submitting your order, as long as that date was after the release date of vista. I certainly did not read that as saying 4-6 weeks after the release date. Anyway - there's no way they'll be able to fulfill the orders within the 6 week limit now.

shit this is! now my order is back to pop needed and after taking money from my bank account and receiving an email saying your vista has shipped and now they saying that they haven t shipped yet and have not debited my card so i hope this does come and that the person who reply s to my emails nos shit about my order, anyway this is totally rubish

I Had Been Waiting 4 3 weeks for my vista upgrade mail but I got to wait 1 or 2-3 more weeks until it shows up. Is it coming i'm very anxious.

Starting to feel I have been done Still waiting for my upgrade as my Guarentee slowly runs out on my new P.C
I feel like taking PC back to PC World for a refund as they are not keeping there side of the deal there has to be a time limit

Please read the interview with Robert Epstein the person in charge of marketing Vista in the UK.

Find this on Emil Larsen's comments on the 8th March.

I feel it was a very good interview and answered some of the questions we all wanted to ask Microsoft!

It did make it clear that Moduslink and the retailers are the ones that will gain from the payments made from the FREE UPGRADE.

Therefore when your retailer says to you We have nothing to do with the upgrade.

THEY VERY CLEARLY HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Microsoft will receive no payments made by yourselves for the upgrade in the form of administration postage etc costs.

The retailers and Moduslink will however I suspect gain a considerable amount.
The other scenario could be that they are concerned that they are likely to lose a considerable amount,and what has been said before on the pcw site that there could be a stalling tactic going on so that lots of people are unable to claim their FREE UPGRADE, may indeed be the case.

Also remember when you purchased your PC you also paid for a now redundant XP system that the retailers and Microsoft would not have been stuck with. therefore you have already paid partly for your Vista upgrade, could it be that the payments you are making top this up so you are in fact paying for your Vista Upgrade. FREE UPGRADE is it????

I will leave that to you to ponder on.

I will be taking legal action on the grounds that FREE UPGRADE is a misrepresentation.

hey andy do you think i should send that currys letter i got from trading standards or wot i really am messed up here lol just like everyone else

Hi Chris

What have you got to lose!

But do stipulate that its the wording FREE UPGRADE that is your main grievance.

Yes I know the retailers have said you have to do all the hard work and try and register for vista, and yes I know they have said it has nothing to do with us, When it clearly has got something to do with them.

But legally from what I can understand it's the wording FREE UPGRADE that can be challenged, and with luck any other issues will come out in the wash so to speak!

PS. When you send the letter address it to the Managing Director of the company "GO to the top" also send it by recorded delivery it's about 60p.

In the letter say what your grievance is and what you expect them to do about it! eg refunds of monies and some form of compensation. an explanation why the retailer didn't register you for Vister.

Also give them a time scale for them to reply to your letter say 14 days.

However don't be too surprised if they don't reply, if this is the case just inform Trading Standards and they will take it from there.

Will Microsoft/Moduslink
extend the deadline for claiming your FREE UPGRADE due to the problems with registration, The cut off date is the 15th March

From what I can understand if you have sent your POP and your confirmation of order of to Moduslink and it is all correct to qualify for your FREE UPGRADE before the cut off date they have to honer this. So keep a copy of the email you sent them with your POP etc as proof that you did send it and that they did get it.

just thought id say money has gone for moduslink from bank and my vista has been shipped so moduslink say so ima just wait now and see what happens, anyone else received email confirming this yet.

Hi John J

Sorry My emails to you keep failing for some reason.
So Moduslink say it will be another 6-12 weeks before your Vista is shipped to you.
Not a lot I can say apart from did you know that Moduslink manufacture the Vista discs, so maybe they are all going on a long holiday as they have been working so hard!

Hi Andy

I have had an email on the 9th March saying vista has been shipped and I should receive in 3 weeks, (I think It must be coming from mars, they say if I have not received by 1st May to contat them, dont think they can count that is more like 2 months not 3 weeks.

Hi

well in a way you are one of the lucky ones. LOL
At least you have some form of delivery date.

Sounds like they are sending it on a slow boat from China, not the Netherlands.

I suspect they are hedging their bets that if they send out emails saying it's coming, it will stop people blocking their phone lines with complaints.

I wouldn't bet on that myself!!!!

Free upgrade? I got a pc from PC World,Its cost me £44.58. PC world said its the admin and shipping costs. Could of gone to Netherlands for that price and picked it up myself. Order confirmed by Email and validated tho i sent it pigeon post (cheque). Wonder if in 5 weeks time ill be pulling my hair out like evryone else. Just spent today setting up a new pc for my disabled brother complete with windows Vista installed. I should of waited 3 more weeks before buying my PC. Would of been easier and the same price lol. Good Luck everyone. Hope you all get sorted soon.

This is just an update. Moduslink have e-mailed, saying they have validated my proof of purchase.

Nice. That's 3 months since I sent it by post. And more than 2 weeks since I last sent a copy of it by e-mail.

No sign of my order shipping though.

Well folks!

I as some of you know I threatened to take PC World to court for the wording FREE UPGRADE as it clearly is a misrepresentation as it is not FREE.

I today received a full refund of payment made to Moduslink from PC World.

Now clearly this is a pay off to stop me taking this any further.

What do you think I should do?

1/ Take the money
2/ Take them to court and if they lose they would have to pay thousands if not millions back to the people that were taken in by the wording FREE UPGRADE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ????

Hi Folks
Well I have actually received my vista upgrade, but wish I had nver seen it, I am having big problems with it, I took my laptop to Currys who very kindly installed it form me, now I want to go back to my old xp, can anyone out there please tell me would I be able to run system recovery and go back to my old way, I am a novice and terrified of doing something wrong please can anyone help me I just want my xp back

Just for info

The Oxford English dictionary states the word
FREE-Without cost or payment

I think that's the definitive answer to the word FREE and can't be disputed legally.

they say that the money will only go from bank account when vista has been shipped so i think they have, so im just waiting now think it will be here dis week.

It's OFFICIAL

There should be NO CHARGE
FOR HANDLING AND SHIPPING.

As FREE must be FREE no charges are allowed to be charged by the retailers.

Confirmed by Trading Standards today.

So contact your Consumers Direct office and they will assist you on how to claim your money back..

HIP HIP HURRAY.

That will teach the retailers in the UK that they can't rip us off.

@ Andy

Could you post a link?

I live in the us but would like to read it

Thank You

REF : EXPRESS UPGRADE TO VISTA

I have Given HP/ModusLink an Ultimatame to Deliver the Vista DISKS or Face Legal Action.

I Have already Obtained the forms to set the wheels in motion against Hewlet Packard in the Small Claims Court.

If you Purchased your Computer because you were told you would get an Express upgrade to Vista and you have Complied with the Procedure set out by your Computer Manufacture.

You Can take Legal Action, as it is now 6 weeks after release of vista.

Grounds for Legal Action.

(1) Miss Sold - Vista O/S

(2) Not Fit For the Purpose intended - Vista O/S

(3) Faulse Advertising

I will Report back when i have had my day in Court against Hewlet Packard U.K

Hi Andrew W

Yes you are 100% correct.

I can't help feeling though that especially on the misrepresentation eg FREE UPGRADE, that the company's concerned MUST have known that this would be challenged, but thought it was worth it as the number of people who will bother to claim their money back will probably be negligible compared with the amount of money they will make!

All I can do is encourage everybody to put a claim in
to Consumers Direct.

As the company's themselves I suspect will not contact all the customers concerned to inform them that they are due a refund.

Mickey 1987

Sorry I can't do a link as it was confirmed verbally but I'm sure it will be plastered all over in a few week.

It is very simple they advertised it as a FREE UPGRADE.

I can only say how the UK law works and the word FREE means legally WITHOUT COST OR PAYMENT.

it doesnt matter if they put in small print some ware saying post and packing shipping payments to be paid.

If they have used the word FREE, legally they can't charge one penny or one cent.

As I said to the Managing Director of PC World if they had said, this PC comes with Vista included in the price " when it is released" legally this would have been OK but to use the word FREE was a misrepresentation and contrary to the sales of goods act in the UK.

Other companies have tried the same thing in the past and have been challenged in the courts and the definition of FREE in the Oxford English Dictionary has been used on every occasion FREE: WITHOUT COST OR PAYMENT therefore a president has been set, so no challenge to this would win.

Also if you go onto the website BEST BUY
you will see an official Microsoft advert for the FREE VISTA EXPRESS UPGRADE.

It clearly states NO SHIPPING FEES for windows Vista.
So I suspect some heads will roll at Microsoft's head office.

@Andy

Great Job!
Nice to see there's still some people who will FIGHT for what they paid for!!!

Too many people just give up!

The fact of the matter is if the public didnt buy those computers and had waited for vista too come out the manufactures and Micorsoft would have lost a ton om money.

They should be thanking us NOT hte other way around!!

It would be interesting to see how many people bother to contact Consumers Direct to put a claim in for a refund and possible compensation, from the retailers.

If you do PLEASE could you leave a YES message on here.

I have been told that all though their has been a huge volume of complaints regarding the FREE VISTA UPGRADE, they suspect that only a minimal amount of people will actually put in a claim.

It's the English apathy syndrome, I was told!

if this is the case this is just what the retailers would have discussed in their damage limitation meetings on whether to advertise the offer as FREE.

SO DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!!!!

If you do put a claim in. please put a YES i have on here, then we will have at least some idea of the numbers.

Thanks Andy

Hi Andy

I would like to put a claim in for Vista, I have received it, but it cost me £16.50, Please can you tell me how I go about it.
Thanks
S.Wilkes

Hi S wilkes

To claim your money back you will need to contact Consumers Direct.

Go to their website and you will see a drop-down list of areas of the UK click on your area eg south west etc

you will then see a page that you will need to fill in regarding what your complaint is.and what company you bought your computer from etc.

there is a box to explain what your complaint is!

you need to say that the retailer sold you a PC and the advertising said FREE UPGRADE to Vista, and this is a MISREPRESENTATION as you had to pay £16.50 for administration and shipping costs.

Consumers Direct will then contact you, usually by phone ask you a few questions just to clarify what you have stated on the website.

they will then ask you to write a letter to the retailer that sold you your PC.and send this to the Managing Director.

in the letter you MUST state the reason for requesting a refund and the reason is the wording FREE UPGRADE, as it is a MISREPRESENTATION as you had to pay £16.50

also state that the word FREE as defined by the oxford English Dictionary and also used by the courts to define the word FREE is WITHOUT COST OR PAYMENTS.

let me know how you get on

Do remember though that this will not be a quick fix, as legal processes never are!
But you will have put in your claim for a refund.

Sorry forgot to mention

On your letter also state that as the retailer you are solely responsible for all advertising in your stores and therefor the use of the word FREE is a misrepresentation and therefore a breach of the sales of goods act.

If you can keep the letter short and to the point with what your grievance is, FREE UPGRADE. and what you expect from them eg a refund of the £16.50

also at the bottom of your letter put.

Trading Standards
Case ref: and the number that Consumers Direct will give you.

If you can find out what the name is of the Managing Director, also it is important that you send the letter by registered post this will cost about 60p
this is your proof that you sent it, and they can't say they didn't get it.

or8 ppl im dead happy vista came dis mornin and got everythin up and running just got to get webcam workin, and now gonna dual boot with xp and all my developer software works os yea its gud stuf lol, hope u all get urs soon

Hi Chris

Glad you got your Vista

I know Five people that have got it and every one of them is having problems with it!

apparently it wont accept that they are the administrator, and wont let them save or change things.

Hope you don't have this problem!

hey andy cheers and is it when these people log off and shutdown are in windows it doesnt apply settings, at first it was not looking so good but once i did all required updates from hp disc and tht it was ok, now im just waiting on my security software, and even connects to my wireless network so im happy lol

oh and andy did u get ur copy yet??

Not yet but I got my money back, so i'm not too bothered.

their vistas keep saying you can't change this and that as you ARE NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR,
two of them took their PC back today and it looks like who ever loaded the PC as they were preloaded. did something? or not,and now you can't change the administrator.

whether this is a problem with Vista I don't know

Exhausted after reading all this,can someone summarise
Is it totally free inc p/p,
should pc world who sold it install it free.
I kept the leaflet with free on it when i purchased the computer.
It appears there are a lot of complaints.
Has anyone had any positive
answers from the companys that can resolve this.
Surely pc world etc should now step in and resolve this in store.

Hi Rocky

You would think so wouldn't you!

All I can say is that Trading Standards confirmed 100% that the retailers that sold PC,S and stated that the Vista upgrade was FREE, contravened the sales of goods act. when they charged for shipping etc.

Now it would appear that it is up to the customers to claim this money back at the moment, through Consumers Direct.

Why the retailers aren't doing it themselves I don't know.

I will contact Consumers Direct today to find out why!

I assume it is a legal requirement that each case must be challenged individually, Eg you are putting a claim in for a refund.

Also I expect it will take some time for Trading Standards to take legal proceedings against these company's.

I put mine in and got the refund after just one letter to the managing Director of PC World. with my case ref number on it from Trading Standards.

So clearly the retailers are aware that they are on a legal mine field at the moment. and if you think how much money they are likely to have to pay out it's not surprising that they are not advertising the fact that they have made a boob.

thanks for all that info. I have six PC's with a "free" upgrade of XP to Vista and Office2003 to Office 2007 - total shipping ~£150.(from D**l) - can anyone clarify - are we claiming a refund on the software already purchased, or pursuing a free DVD of vista / office?

I am aware that time is running out (31st March for mine) to obtain our "free" upgrades through the advertised channels.

Hi it should be the same if it was advertised as FREE, if you have already paid for it you should get your money back,

If you haven't paid yet as your Vista is still being processed by Moduslink, the same applies, as they have your banking details so they will debit your account for the amount stated on your order form.

This is what I did as I still have not had the money debited from my account, but I claimed it back anyway before they did.

I would speak to Consumers Direct and they will tell you what to do.

I must point out that from the first time I spoke to Consumers Direct they categorically stated that the wording Free and then a charge being asked for was a breach of the sales of goods act.

So legally the retailers have no way of getting the law changed or challenging it in court.

So all I can tell you is what Consumers Direct told me, and that is at the moment you have to put a claim in under the sales of goods act for a refund of your money.

About the vista administrator business.

On previous versions of windows - the default setup would be to make all users 'administrator'. This is basically what happened out of the box, and if you just chose the defaults while setting up.

On pretty much every other computer system on the planet, the default would be that users wouldn't be administrators - and would only log-in using the admin password when installing or configuring stuff. This is part of the reason why Windows has been plagued with viruses and spyware far more than any other system. As soon as anyone loads anything, that program has free reign.

In Vista this has changed - the standard is that user passwords are limited and cannot make certain changes or install new programs. Instead, you must log-in using the administrator password. In fact, even using the admin login, you have to frequently retype your password to confirm actions that could potentially compromise the system.

Vista telling the users they 'are not the administrator' is the correct behaviour. The computer retailer should have provided instructions regarding this, including the administrator username and password.

Hi Mark

that is very interesting even more so as PC world took the two PC back and gave them a refund.

saying they were faulty or corrupted.

remember this