Versacheck G7 Productivity Software Bait and switch, crippled software, scam, fraud, mislead, false advertising Denver, Colorado

I have purchased various versions of the Versacheck check writing and accounting software since version 2000. (Gold) Since that time I've owned at least 5 different release/versions. 2004 was the last good version - then I bought 2008,.. I mean, I was forced into 2008.

Apparently the makers of Versacheck have changed owners twice now? It was one company when I got it originally, then G7PS got them around 2005-ish? and just a few months back from the time of this report, VersaCheck is now owned by Versacheck.com? Hrmm. Interesting. It's hard to tell because the company is supposedly in San Diego, CA but the website says Denver CO? When you street view the address in San Diego, there's nothing to indicate that there is any software company at this location - hard to tell though - it just stinks is all.

Anyway, when I got the software, I purchased SOFTWARE, not a "service".. however, who ever owns the company has changed the rules of the game several times, and has also offered NO notice what so ever. (For the record, my software has been registered and I have a valid email address with them - again, NO notices at all.)

Since I got the software, the address correction module stopped functioning.. again, no notice and their support department seriously lacks "quality customer service" (that the phone recording claims they're trying to provide while letting you know the calls may be recorded)

The software is not really just software you're buying. You buy the software and you MUST purchase THEIR supplies which includes ink and check blanks. (No where is this stated on the box, or anything on the outside that you can read PRIOR to opening the box which invalidates your ability to return the software for a refund. Nice huh?) They claim that using their products will guarantee quality..  it doesn't. In fact, it's not just that they recommend you use their products (as if the checks *I* print matters to them) but the software simply won't work unless you enter a validation code from their supplies. IE, you get X amount of checks to print with their check blanks and only so many print jobs from their ink. In other words, they didn't tell you that you have to pay PER CHECK as well. The software simply won't print unless you've got validation codes..

.. Speaking of validation codes, they tend to get "corrupted" for no reason. This generates the frustrating and humiliating process of the technical support experience. Call them and let them know you have an error (which leads to no help on their "support" website) and you sit on hold often for hours on end. When you get someone on the phone, finally, they're rude, nasty, hang up on you if you ask more questions to their responses that were never to a question you even asked them. (Nice huh? There's more! And trust me, this isn't just a review, this is a rip-off report)

For no apparent reason my software simply stopped working. All the sudden I was getting the following errors at launch.. "No connectivity" ... "error, package already exists" and "an update is available do you want to download it?" First of all, WHY does my software "phone home" at every start up? .. and why was it constantly failing? Second of all, "package already exists" was explained to me that my software was installed on another computer - what crap! NEVER was! They invalidated my key and made me reactivate my software. Further, my supply keys had "corrupted" because as they said "windows o/s corrupts them all the time. After a fight, I got new keys, at no charge, which they were trying to charge me for, you know, to continue using my software that I paid for. Well, let's get to the "there is an update"...

The software advised me that there was an update and asked if I wanted to install it. If I said "no" which I did, the software just closed and wouldn't run. The ONLY way to start the software was to install the update,.. again, nice huh? Guess what? It completely changed the functionality of my software. I was once able to print check drafts from customers who paid by check-by-phone. Well, the ONLY way you can do this now is to go to yet ANOTHER one of their new company ventures, GVerified.com, and give up your banking information. In order to "validate" that you have access to your account, they happily take 1 penny from your account - this leaves a check number that you need to enter to validate your account to continue using your software, even though it was working fine for 3 years.

Giving up your checking account information is meant to provide you with extra-security! Well, when has giving up your checking account information providing you extra-security?  So let's sum this up. In order to use the software that I purchased to write my checks and keep my books, I must also now buy their supply to print my checks at a per check charge, buy their ink (more on ink in a minute) use all their stuff, they change the basic functions of the software, don't notify you and cripple you in the process. You also must give up your checking account information to use the print-check function for my own security which does not matter ONE BIT because when the check in printed is by NO means reflects on the checks. WOW! Just WOW! And when has giving your checking information to a 3rd party every provided anyone with extra security? .. last I checked it just exposes you to more risk! (Something I just got done cleaning up because, you know, some other company says "trust us, we're secure!")

So, I am sitting here with a software package I paid $99.99 for, their blank check stock and the software barely functions AT ALL like it used to. Remember, I purchased software with a set of features, not a "service"...

Because they also didn't notify anyone of these changes, in order to keep using my software, it will take 3 days to verify my account, you know for extra-security, and I was unable to print checks, yet again, and has caused damage to my business and my reputation as I'm now held up from being able to serve my clients.

As for their ink and their printer bundle scams - I found out how bad their support department was when I went to print checks one day, again right before end of day and I needed the checks to deposit), and the software errored out and would no longer print ANYTHING. A painful 3 hour call into support and I was told that since my DEFAULT PRINTER IN WINDOWS was not set to their check printer (which happens to have their $39 ink cartridge that requires a $16 shipping charge, nice huh?) that the software won't work - GUESS WHY!? .. "...it's for added security, Sir!" Having extensive knowledge in the IT field, there's nothing that's going to make printing a check more secure by having that printer set to default.. but what it WILL do is catch the ignorant user off guard and ensure that the expensive magnetic ink printer gets used more, and faster requiring more purchases.

Further, when they discontinue a printer, they no longer sell ink. GUESS WHAT!!!! .. "you need a new printer Sir!" Well, the reason I needed more ink was because I had a fresh $39+16 in shipping cartridge waiting on my shelf.. it had been there for about 45 days.. why? because I am smart and ordered another ink cartridge when the printer said I was getting low. Now, I only print about 10, maybe 15 checks a month. But, I know when I'm running low that's the time to order. (maybe not such a good idea) They warranty the ink 30-days from THE DATE OF PURCHASE. Now let's not forget that the $16 shipping is UPS Ground. (Must be some heavy ink in that $39 cartridge that yields about 200 pages, or MUCH less)

Well, the ink arrives, sits on the shelf for a couple weeks after the week it took to ship to me. I finally ran out of the other ink, replaced it, got a few checks out of it and the cartridge fails! This is when I'm told that my printer was discontinued and they no longer supply the ink, BUT, for $139.99, plus $20 in shipping (must be a light printer because it only costs $4 more to ship along with the ink) they'll send me a new printer and ink.  Greeeeat.. however, I got the new HP printer and guess what.. ink done gone bad after about 20 checks.. yes, 6 weeks later.. wow! Out of warranty! Call in, another 2 hour hold time, got greeted by THE most polite person (not really, he was a complete jerk!) I was told that the ink carts are rebuilt, non-oem and that they fill these themselves.. I'm even told that the printers are not technically "new" because they've been opened by G7PS (and they are, then resealed) so basically these printers are not even being sold by an "authorized dealer" either. (sigh) So when I called back in, I'm told by the NEXT rep "the ink jet printers really are not that good, we sell them as a low cost solution" (well, if I get about 20 to 50 checks out of a printer, at $139.99+$20, that's about $3.19 a check! Cheap huh? Anyway, I'm told that I really should buy the laser printer - a $350+ purchase, plus toner.

So really guys, what's the story there? Are you selling us software? or are you selling supplies? A service? (to which you should then be giving the software away, really..) or what? What's the deal? You've continually changed the basic functionality of the software and crippled it. You've also put your fingers on my computer and my data and god only knows what you're spying on.

To top this all off, on 9/27/2011, I called in and spoke to several people.. why several? Because the first lady hung up on me TWICE! First time because she kept interrupting me before I could even tell her the problem (and the phone connection was HORRIBLE on their end; constantly breaking up - bad voip I guess)  I'm sure they were SOOO busy, because when I got hung up on by her, I called back in, waited about 10 minutes on hold (I'll admit the fasted time ever) and it was her again. I asked for a supervisor and got another guy. (Was the same guy's voice I talked to about 3 months back actually and he wasn't no supervisor because i had to ask HIM for HIS supervisor back then as well and was transferred to someone else. So, during the supervisor moment, he asked me for "your code".. I asked him where I got this code; which code are you wanting? (there are a few codes) and I can't remember his exact words, but it was something to the tune of "if you don't know what your code is then I'm not helping you" and hung up. Nice huh? The support department that gets irritated when you ask them to help you, help them? The guy needs to seek employment elsewhere! .. like the unemployment line. This is NOT how you threat your customers!

I'm beginning to really believe that this company is not just shady, but incredibly small, unable to support it's customers - nor cares to - and that it's just out to build a model out of new ways to charge customers. I mean, hey, if you want to move FORWARD and reduce functions, add them as additional costs, etc. then fine by me! But, to retroactively go back and change software already sold via means of crippling, forced updates, invalidating codes and forcing your customers to buy updated software, then you're a crooked operation and should not be allowed to operate as a company. You should NOT be able to have the PRIVILEGED of operating a business, something that is a right granted by the state you reside in.

I've rolled with a few changes from the past as they were not all THAT important to me, but the reason I got the software packages in the first place was to write checks. The core functionality has been changed far more than I'd say 50%, maybe more like 80% and this isn't right. Further, ANY VERSION of the software purchased, with a VALID KEY CODE/LICENSE should be able to be installed on a single machine/cpu at ANYTIME and the company should be required to get out of the way and allow the software to operate with out them sticking their hands in it. If they're going to revoke your ability to use the software, then they should be required to give a FULL REFUND! That's being nice, because when they do cripple, on purpose and with out notice, the core functionality of the software and disallow their customer to use the service and it damages their business, then they should pay for those costs as well.

I have NOTHING good to say about this operation at all. I believe this company should be put out of business.

One more thing to put into this. PRIOR to them demanding validation codes to print checks, I had purchased 1500 check blanks at office depot, on clearance (as they were no longer going to carry their products any more.. hmmmmmm wonder why?!) Well, those checks came with no validation codes because at the time they hadn't demanded the extortion fee to use the software. Well, they're VersaCheck brand checks.. it's THEIR OFFICIAL PRODUCT, but GUESS WHAT?! I need to buy validation codes in order to print on THEIR BRANDED OFFICIAL PRODUCT. If THAT is not a rip-off, I don't know what is.

Seriously..  what can someone do but speak their voice! I am glad that my rip-off report will remain forever on this site for all to see.  I'm always fair in my views and give the benefit of the doubt, but this remains beyond belief.