Software problems

We’re a smaller business [12 PCs] and there was a good deal on some Microsoft Software which we bought. It looks just like ordinary software but we’re having problems with it and the company we bought it from don’t take our calls. What can we do?

This sounds like a case of fake software. A growing industry in this country and across Europe is the distribution of illegal software. It looks like the real thing until you need to do something and suddenly it stops working.

If you are buying any Microsoft operating system you should check your supplier as two Midlands companies have been fined for selling illegal office software. These were both national companies.

It’s really difficult to spot fakes. They look the same and seem to operate in the same way, it’s only when you need to download or update that everything starts to go wrong.

The only options open to you right now are to take legal advice, but the company may disappear before this time and contact your local Trading Standards office as there is a chance they may already be aware of this company or the people involved.


Checklist to avoid fake software

• Make sure companies selected for software purchases are recognised with Microsoft
• Find out how long the company has been trading
• Are they a Microsoft Gold Partner?
• What support options do they offer?
• Who are the directors and can you meet them?