Have I been scammed?

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ADKM

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#245046 15-Jan-2019 20:54

Anyone had any dealings with "Digital Software Planet" in Aussie (I think).

They just sold me a pirated copy of Office 2010 that won't activate. I confirmed it was bad with Microsoft.

Their website is very legit-looking claiming to be an authorised Microsoft Seller. They offer a link

"https://setup.office.com" to check a keys validity. I wonder if this is genuine? Of course you can't check a key

until you have it and have paid them.

Maybe they made a mistake and will come good... but it's hard to know at this point and as I paid by cc I guess there's no comeback anyhow?

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#2161767 15-Jan-2019 21:05

Complaint to Microsoft and do a credit card chargeback with your bank. Good chance you will get the money back from your bank.

Do whatever you want to do man.

timmmay

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#2161768 15-Jan-2019 21:05

You can do a credit card chargeback. Call your credit card company.

k1w1k1d

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#2161783 15-Jan-2019 21:44

Have you tried to contact them to advise them of the problem?

ADKM

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#2161805 15-Jan-2019 23:48

Yes, I did advise them and got a very quick reply.

That had given me a previously used key by mistake, and the replacement worked fine. Whew!

lNomNoml

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#2161808 15-Jan-2019 23:55

Yeah they are not legit and use volume licenses last time I looked.

hio77

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#2161810 16-Jan-2019 00:07

ADKM:

Yes, I did advise them and got a very quick reply.

That had given me a previously used key by mistake, and the replacement worked fine. Whew!

Looking at their history, this is what they do if questioned.

They do seem to be doing the dodgy based off aus based forums.

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Andib

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#2161823 16-Jan-2019 07:20

There is no legit way for anyone to resell Office Professional Plus. It is volume license only software. You either have been sold a MSDN (Developer Key) or a corporate Multi Activate Key, Both of these have license conditions that clearly state they are not for retail.

Looking at the site, If you paid $100+ for Office 2010 you've been ripped off. These same keys are all over dodgy key sites & ebay for $5-10.

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sbiddle

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#2161824 16-Jan-2019 07:28

Andib:

Looking at the site, If you paid $100+ for Office 2010 you've been ripped off. These same keys are all over dodgy key sites & ebay for $5-10.

My thoughts exactly. The going rate for a dodgy (and I use the word dodgy because these are legit keys, but should not be sold the way people are selling them) version off eBay is no more than NZ$5 for Office 2016, or NZ$10 for O365 with OneDrive.

ADKM

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#2161825 16-Jan-2019 07:28

OK, now I'm worried again. But I can check the key with Microsoft and confirm it is good, bad or whatever.

This is the 2nd time I've bought Office 2010 over the net (not from the same place though!). Last time it activated

fine until a re-install, when it wouldn't activate again, and MS confirmed it was a "MSDN" key. So if this is the same I'll try for a refund

or the cc "Cash Back" if Kiwibank will oblige.

sbiddle

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#2161826 16-Jan-2019 07:35

ADKM:

OK, now I'm worried again. But I can check the key with Microsoft and confirm it is good, bad or whatever.

This is the 2nd time I've bought Office 2010 over the net (not from the same place though!). Last time it activated

fine until a re-install, when it wouldn't activate again, and MS confirmed it was a "MSDN" key. So if this is the same I'll try for a refund

or the cc "Cash Back" if Kiwibank will oblige.

The only thing that is guaranteed is that your key will be a OEM / MSDN / corporate key and there are no guarantees at all that it will continue to work indefinitely into the future.

They supplied you with the product and it works. I don't think you have any legitimate recourse with anybody at present to ask for your money back. You certainly won't get anywhere with a CC chargeback if you have a working product.

If people are going to buy from dubious sources incl this site and eBay you need to accept that you have a product that works but that it's not a totally legit source. It may work forever, it may not.

ADKM

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#2161863 16-Jan-2019 08:34

I'm not convinced I agree with sbiddle. I feel I've ben duped if this key isn't legit and have every right to redress.

However things are very murky.. if interested read below. This is chat session from Microsoft. It doesn't seem to resolve

anything satisfactorily. The key is good, but I shouldn't use it and shouldn't have been sold it.

Hasmitha B has joined the chat

Microsoft Answer Tech

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Support. I am Hasmitha B. How can I help you today?

Please be aware that if you switch apps or change focus to another window while working with us, you may get disconnected from your chat session. To ensure the best support experience, please stay active in this chat window.

Hi, how are you doing today?

Hello, a year ago I purchased Office 2010 online

Alright!

May I know the issue you are facing with Office 2010 now?

it worked ok to start with but then would not activate after a reinstall. I spoke to microsoft yesterday and found it was a "MSDN: key
So I deleted it and bought another one. But others now tell me I have anther dodgy product although this DID activate ok

Alright!

Can i confirm i have a legit key / product now

Sure, are you facing any activation issues while using the new kay?

key*?

no, it worked fine BUT so did the last one initially, But then did not - so i dont want to find myself in that position again

Alright!

I had lost the details of that first purchase so could not challenge the seller about it - but I can this time ! (it's from a different place)

Can you please help me with the new Product key so that I can validate it for you? I will help you with the file transfer link to upload the key.

sure I can paste in here ?

I'm not using the computer with Office installed

it is beside me though

Since it is confidential information you are not suppose to share the Product key.

even with you ? Okay I will follow your instructions

Thank you.

Allow me a minute while I help you with the file transfer link.

ok thanks

You are most welcome.

Here is the link: File Transfer - Case 1457168190

Please use the above link and upload the Product key.

Please let me know once you are done.

Sure. Thank you.

File transfer complete

Please allow me 2-3 minutes, while I validate the key for you.

sure

Thank you for waiting.

May I know when was the key purchased?

yesterday

Alright! May I know from where did you purchase Office key?

Digital Software Planet in Australia

I have a link url

Thank you for the information.

Let me tell you one thing, that the retailer is not suppose to send a MSDN key. However you have already purchased the key from third party, I suggest you to replace this key and get a refund for the key and purchase a retail key Office 2010 key other than MSDN key.

so this key is no good ?

I do not recommend you to use this key since it is MSDN key.

OK where can i get a proper key from. Do you have an address?

We do not sell Office 2010 on Microsoft store, but you can purchase Office 2010 retail key from third party either than the MSDN key or Volume license key.

Because some of the MSDN keys will block after activating it once. So I recommend you to use Office 2010 retail key than the MSDN keys.

Meanwhile, I have created a case number for this chat session: 1457168190 and it is valid for the next 30 days.

I hope I was able to help you with the relevant information regarding the Office key.

The problem I've found is Office 2010 seems to be available only from people selling these "MSDN" keys. How do i know where to get retail one?

You will retail get the retail one in the stores, before purchasing it please ask the customer to provide the retail keys instead of MSDN keys. If you still want to use this in future we do have a dedicated MSDN support team who will help you with the installation and activation of MSDN keys.

I can help you with the contact number for the dedicated MSDN team if you are okay with it.

You seems to be giving me conflicting info. Is the key good or bad? It can be made ok if I contact MSDN team ?

I recommend not use the MSDN key, since the retailer is not suppose to sell the MSDN key. The key is good. If you are okay to use MSDN key I can help you with the MSDN team contact number so that you can contact them fix the issue you are facing the activation. Because I am not trained on working on MSDN keys. I am from Office consumer support team.

OK could you give me their number please?

Sure.

May I know the country you are contacting from?

New Zealand

Thank you.

Let me provide you the contact number.

Here is the contact number: 64 (9) 357-5800.

Please save this contact number for future use as well.

right thank you I'll call them now

Our dedicated MSDN team will provide you the necessary actions plans regrading the issue you are facing with Office.

You are welcome.

xpd

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#2161911 16-Jan-2019 10:34

For a user in your situation the key is not right. You should have a consumer/retail key. Yes, the MSDN one will work, but no guarantees for how long. MS wont help because MSDN ones arent for retail sale, so therefore the store you purchased it from has breached the T&C of MSDN.

Personally Id be asking for my money back but doubt that will happen.

Take it as a life lesson and head to a retail store for a proper version.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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sbiddle

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#2161965 16-Jan-2019 12:37

Just be aware if you go down the attempt at a Credit Card chargeback you'll a) have to pay for this and b) I'd pick have very little chance of success - at the end of the day you got exactly what you paid for.

ADKM

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#2161977 16-Jan-2019 13:10

Some of you have a pretty weird idea of what good and proper business practices should.be, to say the least.
You think it's ok to be rip folk off and put it down to 'life experiences' ?

Take a look at this Australian Digital Planet website, they pass themselves off as proper MS dealers, guaranteed 100% etc You can't buy Office 2010 from MS anymore - you have get it on line.

There's possibly a case for saying MS are also to blame, by allowing these keys to be used at all, they're legitimising them. (And facilitating their sale.)

What was that saying - all it takes for the rise of evil is for good men to do nothing.

I'm not one of them! I'll politely ask for a refund, then if necessary see what other options there are.

sbiddle

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#2161979 16-Jan-2019 13:27

ADKM:

Some of you have a pretty weird idea of what good and proper business practices should.be, to say the least.
You think it's ok to be rip folk off and put it down to 'life experiences' ?

The Internet is *not* a safe place. People get scammed every day because they unwillingly buy things from dodgy sites or retailers of which have flooded the Internet.

You got exactly what you paid for and it works. That is not a valid reason for a credit card charge back. I would doubt the company would refund you because you've now got their working key and they have no way to revoke it without impacting everybody else that has that key.

I'm not quite sure what else to say..The world is not a fair place and sometimes people simply need to accept things as a life experience.

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