Intuit Quicken Quickbooks Pro 2008 Quickbooks Pro 2008 Blackmail Quickbooks Pro 2008 Rip Off Mountain Viev California

A little blog about how Quicken Quickbooks rips off and blackmails their customers with Quickbooks 2008 forced upgrades.

I purchased Intuit Quickbooks 2005 Pro in 2005 for my business and paid, as I recall, over $300. The software does everything I need and needs no additional functionality or features.

Recently I received a notice from Intuit Quickbooks 2008 stating that after 5-31-08 certain features of my software will no longer function. I use Quickbooks to download data from my bank to enter into my general ledger. This function will no longer work after 5-31-08 I have been informed.

I can understand Quickbooks ceasing support for software or services they have provided. However, this is a transaction that apparently takes place between me and my bank with no Intuit intervention. So apparently my software was delivered with the intention that key features no longer function after a certain date. Here is a quote from the letter I received from Quickbooks:

"If you do not plan on accessing any of the discontinued services in the future, your Quickbooks 2005 software will continue to work as it has. Discontinued services for Quickbooks 2005 will include:"

Bill pay
Credit card downloader
Employee organizer
Merchant service
Online banking
Online billing
Standard payroll
Enhanced payroll
Assisted payroll
Support plans and services

"In order to access these services in the future you will need to call 1-866-676-9670 to upgrade to Quickbooks 2008 software (paraphrased)"

These are all key features of the software.

I have worked in the auto industry for 25 years and can only laugh at the analogies. Suppose you purchased a 2005 automobile and three years later the manufacture decided to discontinue "support and services" for your vehicle. Imagine receiving a letter like this:

"If you do not plan on using any of the discontinued features of your vehicle in the future, your vehicle will continue to work as it has. Discontinued features of your vehicle include:

Ability to start the vehicle
Brakes
Radio
Windshield wipers
You get the idea

In order to access these features in the future you will need to go to your new car dealership and buy a new vehicle."

Buy a new vehicle? Yes! The analogy holds true. Quicken Quickbooks is NOT an upgrade of Quickbooks 2005. I need to "upgrade" at a cost of $169.95. I can buy a full install of Quickbooks Pro 2008 all day long at that price.

Chris
Somewhere, Michigan
U.S.A.