Bitdefender
Reviews and Complaints

they wont send me a license key or how to hook up the syatem they charge me for/24.95. I'm cancelling my charge card/and getting a new one.

I have been trying to cancel my security with them for about a year but they keep billing me please cancel my securtiy with bitdefender as I do not have their any more let me know how you make out before I go to the better business ###.service
Thank you Dave

BitDefender was a memory hog, support was non-existent, the program began blocking Google.com. It continues to block Google even though I've uninstalled the program. Do not buy!

I just paid $60.00 for Bitdefender software. They never gave me a license key. Downloading is a nightmare! Big mistake buying this product!

BitDefender would not install

BitDefender support non existant

Extra CD not delivered

Avangate support not available

This is all for 2009

Now they want to autonew for 2010

Total SCAM!

This product quits working and support is non-existent. I have used many ant-virus programs but this is the worst! Do not waste your money on this product. This company has no interest in you other than getting your money.

Worst customer service.

Dear prasannakumar Maidam,

Please note that in order to benefit of the advertised discounted pricing you were required to use a discount coupon inside the billing form. The discount coupon offered to you was BLACKFRIDAY75, since you did not use it the total price billed to your account was the standard one (2499.95 INR).
Given the current situation, we advise you to contact the Software Publisher directly in order to ask for a partial refund in the amount equal to the one which would have been normally discounted during the promotional offer. Please note you can use the following contact coordinates in order to reach the Software Publisher:

Support URL: http://www.bitdefender.com/contactform
Support Phone: [protected] (US); [protected] (CA)

Should you require more information on this subject, please contact us directly via the contact details provided here http://www.avangate.com/shopper-support/ or simply reply in this thread.

Best regards,
Avangate Support Team
www.avangate.com

Dear PGA 2012,

We're sorry to hear about the problem you have encountered with BitDefender's security solution. We've reviewed your order history and we see that our representatives provided you with BitDefender's contact information after you called us regarding your issue, and even though the physical location of BitDefender's customer support representative is Romania, the number provided to you was a US number. Even though the number is not a toll-free number, the charges for your conversation will be the same as the charges for an interstate conversation. Moreover, you can find all of the localized BitDefender phone numbers on their website: http://www.bitdefender.com/support/consumer-phone.html

Regarding the refund request, it is up to the software publisher to decide if the request is valid or not. The Avangate representative you have spoken to on the phone correctly directed you to BitDefender's support, who, from our understanding from the complaint, said that your order will be cancelled and the money will be refunded. We have taken the liberty to contact BitDefender on your behalf and request a refund for your purchase. If BitDefender agrees to the refund you will have to contact your issuing bank and close the dispute so that we can process your refund. As we have just sent the refund request, please give this up to 2 business days - if there is still no contact from the software publisher, do contact us either by phone or email and we will do our best in assisting you with this issue.

Kind regards,
Avangate Support Team
www.avangate.com

I only wish I had found these complaints BEFORE I purchased Bitdefender and then decided to add insult to injury and purchase their loosely-termed "Premium VPN" that has not worked since Day 1. I have screen shots, copies of emails, ticket initiations, and anytime I DID receive an email from them, they said I had not replied, that they were going to close the ticket due to my not answering them. WHAT?! I replied immediately every single time within minutes, provided them with screen shots, etc., ad nauseum, and so finally I opened a dispute via PayPal. I find it very interesting how FAST Bitdefender answered to PayPal inquiry - and their response is STELLAR! They gave me their support weblink 'contact us' form which, again, is what I did in the first place, and by following THEIR instructions on their website. I am uninstalling all things Bitdefender and will be posting my review to all social media. Buyer beware!

On Monday, 12/08/14 @ 2:55 pm I received a call from phone #[protected]. I did not understand the gentlemen's name but his broken English was like from New Delia. For 43 minutes this person said he was from Biddefender and that my Microsoft had been compromised. He wanted permission to enter & I gave permission to show me Windows Task Manager and event viewer, ran cmd & showed csrss.exe. Then he started sales pitch for $299.99 then quoted prices for 2 yr & then 5 yr. Told him I had 36 more days left and since he found a trojan(s) to get rid of it. But he would not let go of his sales pitch. Then I started getting suspicious that he was a "hacker". I canceled the phone call, turned off my computer. Eleven seconds later I called the phone number & it said "call could not be completed as dialed". I turned my computer back on and the following is missing:
1 - no internet
2 - no sound
3 - screen has darkened & cannot brighted it up
I then called Bitdefender sales office which gave me another number to call. I call Bitdefender support and they said could not help me because I did not know who had contacted me.
Now, I need assistance to get my computer back working like it was before (without problems). On 12/15/14 is the third e-mail sent to no avail.

My story is to long to type. All I can say is, do not by this product. Customer service is the worst I have experienced in my life. Transfer, transfer, transfer, the person you need to talk to is not in the office. I will have them call you back. Repeat... They charged me three times for their service and I can't get a refund. STAY AWAY FROM BITDEFENDER.

Yes, Bitdefender can be awarded as the Product with worst Customer service and they keep the product rated by paying to the reviewer to publish false reviews

"DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT UNLESS YOU LIKE PROBLEMS AND THROWING MONEY AWAY.."
Amen to that ! I would however like to point out a mistake people make when they complain about Bitdefender's poor customer (no) support. To start with, you have to receive some measure of support for you to be able to complain about. Their customer support is sooooooo slooooooow we are talking glacial (weeks and/or months) movement here. Count yourself lucky if to hear from them two weeks or a month after logging your problem, then it is mostly of no use mostly anyway.
So to end with, I would not say Bitdefender has bad support, I would say they have NO support. AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!
I have to remind myself, less than a year to go. O and what I've read on the net, watch out for their automatic renewal ! It is a bugger to get undone if they catch you.

I bought and installed Bitdefender antivirus plus 2013 after 3 attempts. Bitdefender software is full of bugs and missing modules eg the firewall did not load and left me unknowingly using the MS firewall.

It screws up Firefox repeatedly freezing, particularly on Flash videos and in most cases requiring a Task Master process to terminate Firefox or worse still a reboot if Firefox goes into Safe Mode. The 'product' is nowhere remotely intuitive and the Help File is woefully lacking in content.

Bitdefender support is non-existent, they just ignore requests for assistance, possibly hoping you just give up. The so called reviewers who rate this product No.1 either do not really review or are in the pay of Bitdefender.

This is more like scamware than an AV product. A costly experience both financially and timewise

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT UNLESS YOU LIKE PROBLEMS AND THROWING MONEY AWAY..

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware

both FREE and just as effective as any paid service out there, and they won't bog down your computer with tons of useless junk like the bloated pay ones as well.

Actually paying for antivirus programs is absolutely unnecessary these days.

bitdefender is too lazyyyyyyyyyy to load web pages.

Microsoft Security Essentials is free. Why are you paying for any AV software?

Hi lostinpok,

Sorry for the inconvenience. Please write us at our special support e-mail address bitsy@bitdefender.com explaining your issue, add also the name and e-mail you used when you bought the software.

Best,
Rudi Bedy
Bitdefender

I renewed my anti-virus for iMac protection with Bitfender via an email offer with a discount if I renewed early. One month later and their auto-renewal kicked in and they took monies from my Paypal account for the same service. One would assume they would have updated my account to reflect the early payment but from what I have read online this appears to be something they do on a regular basis.

I requested a refund and they replied to my email that if I let them keep the monies instead they would apply it to my account and extend my service. I declined and requested the refund.

In the meantime, I opened a claim with Paypal because I sensed getting my money back from Bitdefender through Avangate ( their servicing company and a company I had never heard of until all of this happened) was going to be difficult at best.

After providing Paypal with their correspondence acknowledging they owed me money, Paypal ruled my case in Bitdefenders favor because the "duplicate" payment amounts didn't match. Of course they didn't match! One was discounted. So now I have paid Bitdefender twice for a one year subscription renewal.

I suspect I have lost my monies but I will continue to pursue a refund. In the meantime, I urge readers not to use Bitdefender's services. A legit, professional company would have acknowledged their error and immediately issued a refund. Instead they are playing games, which appears to be a game they play on a regular basis.

I canceled Bitdefender over a year ago after they canceled on me saying I had not paid and the service was canceled by them, they suddenly here they come and charge to my Visa account, but still say it is canceled, then they charge me a second time - then I cancel them! A year later, here they come with a charge to my account for something I no longer even want or have. I canceled with my bank. If they charge it again, I cancel with my bank again. This can continue until they get it through their thick skulls I am no paying them...

I too had been ripped by these guys. Last year I subscribed to it because there was an offer. Today I was shocked to see an unauthorised charge on my debit card. This is ridiculous, they are shamelessly storing our card information without our consent just to rip off the customers who trusted them. Thieves and card fraudsters are no different from them. What if all vendors and pos starts storing our cards like they do. This is a serious issue. This is against the morals and against pci compliance. Not a good business.I have sent mails and is yet to get a reply. still waiting. I have raised a complaint in my bank. what a cheap way to earn money.

To Customer Service :
I paid for one Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 for 3 PCs, 1 year. :
29$, online order #
The same thing happen to me, .BUT, I am being charged for an authomatic renewal for $118. This is too much and illegal.
Please cancel my order immediately.

XXXX
XXXX
To Customer Service :
I paid for one Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 for 3 PCs, 1 year. :
29$, online order #
BUT, I am being charged also for installing (One intervention) and
setup…which I never authorized or wanted
38.60$ # Please cancel all order now.

This is the same old story; you will be stuck for a very long time so be prepared! 90% of the people quit and this is what they want !
.Is it possible to take legal action against these companies?

This is a stereotyped letter that you will receive over and over !
Center)
XXXXX
Dear XXXX,
Thank you for reaching Avangate.
We manage the eStore for Bitdefender, com, as well as for other Software & Online Services companies. Refunds are approved directly by the Software Publisher.
We have sent a refund notification to Bitdefender on your behalf and they will contact you in the shortest time possible. If you want to follow-up up on the status of your request, we recommend contacting their Support Center (phone numbers can be found below):
http://www.bitdefender.com/support/consumer-phone.html
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXX.
Customer Service Representative Avangate Support

I am so glad I came to this website and read the reviews on Avangate. I almost ordered something by credit card from these guys. I am glad for the people who took the time to write a complaint. This awful that such a company as this is allowed to continue doing business. I have and will not order anything from these scammers. Thanks out there folks!

Bitdefender charged my visa card without my authorization a few days ago. I contacted them via http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/support/i-do-not-want-the-automatic-renewal-542.html and they offered my 6 months free of charge product and claimimg, we just want to protect your data, thats why we use auto-renewal function...
I am not interested in any business with a company that charges my visa card without my authorization. People call that a ### company/business.
Is there anyway we can make a legal suite against this company?

They did this to me as well, absolutely outrageous response from them via e-mail saying that I was past their thirty day refund policy. It helps if you actually know in time that you have had your money taken! I have tried to recover my money via the bank. They will never have me as a customer again and i will make sure that anyone i know who needs an antivirus program and was thinking of using their products knows what they are like. It will cost them more than they will make out of me i will make sure.

Bitdefender just did the same thing to me. They said they sent emails they were going to charge me. Lie, lie, lie. They charged me on 2/16//13 for an order (they said) on 2/17/13. How is that they can charge before the order. I did not have auto renew. I have emailed and contacted them by phone and they just keep trying to keep my money. I have filed an unauthorized transaction through PayPal. I have to say buyer beware when dealing with this terrible terrible company.

antivirus software rendered useless after it failed to detect a virus at the end of February. unable to contact customer service initially; however, Bitdefender's claimed third-party IT vendor 'offered' to fix problem for $400. had computer scrubbed locally for $200 instead. in response to my complaint, Bitdefender finally provided 2012 update, but has stubbornly refused to issue prorated refund, even though they were negligent in not timely providing update.

I'm having the same problem. I switched my antivirus service and decided to let my Bitdefender subscription wither on the vine til the end. I kept getting notices that my subscription was about to expire but did not respond. Next thing I know, my checking account was debited $59.95 by Avengate. When I sent an e-mail to Avengate, they told me that I needed to call Bitdefender customer support.. I called and spoke to "Nate" (funny how all these support people with Indian accents have American names). He asked me for the order number which was in the e-mail I received on Dec 6th from Avengate. He insisted that since I had an order number that I had to have ordered the product. When I insisted that I didn't, he said that he would have to send it to someone else to research and they'll get back with me. I checked my browser history for December 6th and no one had accessed Bitdefender website on that day.

I purchased Bit Defender 2 yrs ago and installed it on 2 computers. I didn't notice any problems for the first year. Then around May 2013, both computers started having all kinds of problems. Bit Defender blocked Internet Explorer and allowed only Google for web browsing. The computers crushed frequently, common programs became unusable. I contacted Bit Defender. They sent me a program to do a full scan of my computer and return the scan results to them. The prescriptions they gave me to fix the program after receiving the scan results didn't work. I spent a lot of time trying to contact their support and resolve the problem to no avail. Finally, I had to do a clean install of my operating system before the computers worked correctly again. I purchased a different Internet Security and I haven't had any problems since. All these happened in May 2013.
During the set up of Bit Defender when I first bought it, I MADE SURE that box by I checked the Do not Renew Automatically. Regardless of this, Bit Defender charged by Credit Card one year after I stopped using their product. I did not even use all of what I paid for in the first place! I called BIT DEFENDER to refund my money because I don't use their product anymore and I DID NOT authorize them to renew a product that is of NO USE TO ME. The Indian guy told me that he has to take remote control of my computer before they can issue me a refund! I told him he is insane and hanged up. THIS IS ROBBERY. If you and I rob someone, we will go to jail. WHY DO OUR CONGRESSMEN ALLOW FRAUDULENT companies to rod us? Is it because they are getting a share of the loot? STAY AWAY FROM BIT DEFENDER. THEY ARE ROBBERS.

BitDefender hides this auto-renewal clause in their Terms and Conditions, which they are fully aware that nobody reads, when it should be a visible feature on the purchase page. Also, there is no option in the my account page to disable this.

They charged my Paypal account with this without my knowledge and now they are delaying and postponing the refund for a product I didn't buy!

They are worst than the scums from which they pretend to protect you!