Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery False Advertising, Inferior Software, Inferior Customer Service India Internet

After searching the internet for a data recovery software to recover deleted photos from an SD card, i selected Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery. They advertised a "free download" which i proceeded to process. After about an hour the screen indicated that the only way i could recover and view my "recovered" photos was to fully complete a purchase transaction at $39.99. 

After being issued a "license" via the purchase, I again attempted to open my deleted files without success. The files mysteriously appeared with a PGM extension. No matter what i tried, i could not open the "recovered" files. Desperate to recover my precious photos I found anothe website that offered a free download which i proceeded to download. Within 20 minutes i was able to view all 500 photos. I willingly purchased this software for less than the Stellar product which dd not work.

The next few days were spent communicating with Stellar Phoenix letting them know that I was unable to open the PGM files. They asked for a screen shot of the message that indicated my files were not able to be opened. After three attempts to send them a screen shot response, i gave up. Stellar's reply to me each time was that they could not see the screen shot at their end which was very suspicious because I clearly could see it at my end. 

After many emails letting them know that obviously since their software was unable to open my corrupt files,I was requesting a refund. I continued to get messages from two different divisions of Stellar who appeared to not be aware of my original complaint. Their statement was that their policy is to ensure customer satisfaction with the software.

Frustrated that they were obviously scheming to string me along, i contacted my Visa card carrier to voice a complaint. she contacted Stellar on my behalf and they gave her the same runaround.

I then came across your website and found others with my same complaint so I proceeded to send Stellar a final ultimatum. And that was that while their company was based in India, i would file a complaint with the BBB and any and all websites that reports scams if they did not immediately refund my money. 

Today, i got an email from them that they would indeed issue a refund. Time will tell and i feel a lot better. Thank you for your website. It provides an invaluable service!