I paid for and downloaded quicktime in error! Refund pls!

I clicked on "download" for 7.3.l Quicktime and they asked for a payment of 3 years, 2 years, or 1 year. I didn't realize I could get it free and picked the best deal - the 3 year offer of $11.?? a year. What can I do?

Cnet's official download website is www.download.com, not www.mydownloads.com, which, if I'm not mistaken, was a fraudulent website before Cnet took control of the domain and redirected it to the official download.com. Thus, I have a couple more questions:

1.) Was this website or this website (look at the websites themselves, not the URLs) the one you visited or was it another?
2.) If you can access your credit card/bank statements online or have received one in the mail, what company (and address/phone number/URL, if applicable) is listed as selling you the software?
3.) What was the date of the purchase?

If it was indeed the freeware version of Quicktime you received I'd contact the bank/credit card company and see what protections they offer towards scams such as as that and if they can remove the charge.

John

Did you read my update in that I found out that I actually bought Quicktime Player Pro, was charged for it, and it was never downloaded on my computer? To answer two of your questions, I was sent to CNET website (the first one you highlighted), and the date on my card was 1/1/08. I will call my bank tomorrow (I used a debit card from my checking account) to see if they have more info. on the seller such as address, etc.

Thanks so much for you help. Please stay with me if you can.

Julie

Everything thus far points to Cnet, but there are a few pieces that don't add up:

1.) "mydownloads.com" simply redirects to download.com, and the site is marketed solely as download.com, so I'm wondering why you identified the website as the former rather than the latter.

2.) download.com doesn't actually sell software. There are occasionally "Buy it Now" links, but they redirect off-site to whichever marketplace the developer has chosen to use for sales, including those which Cnet has partnered with.

3.) I can't find QuickTime Player Pro. anywhere in the download.com listings, only the standard, freeware version of QuickTime.

Thus, I'm hoping that purchase information will shed some light on what happened behind the scenes, so to speak. I'll also be forwarding your thread to the Cnet Community Manager, who in turn can see that it may be addressed by the proper individuals.

Let us know.
John

Julie,

At the top and bottom of every download.com page there is a set of three "Sponsored Results" with download/purchase links. Could you have clicked one of them instead of a link from the table with user ratings, download counts, etc?

John

I don't know what you mean by "why you identified the former rather than the latter" (sometimes I'm numb). Here are my steps: Maybe you can follow me on your computer....
1. I typed in www.mydownloads.com
2. On this page I chose the first one "Free software downloads"
3. At the top of CNET page in the Search box I typed in "Quicktime player" (software) amd hit GO.
4. At the bottom "From our sponsors" I clicked on the 2nd choice "Quicktime 2007 Download" (because it looked like the most up-to-date one to me).
5. I followed their steps by typing in my email, name, etc.

Update - I checked the address on my account and it was D/C Settlement Freedownloadzone.com.loc. Then I called my bank and they had a phone number. I just called the number and stated that I never got the software nor any emails from them and wanted a full refund. They tried to change my mind with different offers and then said there was a $9.95 fee for processessing which I flatly refused to accept. I asked for a manager and she waived the fee! She said in 5-10 business days I will get a full refund. She also said I should have gone to a different site to get the download! They did not direct me at all when I paid, nor did I get any emails from them since I paid them!! Let's see if I get a refund. If not, I'll call them again.

I guess, my friend, that means this issue is somewhat resolved after everything I put you through! Thank you again, John, for your help. I felt so lost until you started helping. I never would have thought to call the bank.

Julie

The "From our sponsors" and "Sponsored results" links are generated by Google Syndication (one of Google's advertising arms) and displayed based on key words you type in. The results are not reviewed or filtered by Cnet, and Google has a very lax policy. Thus, those ads are frequently for fraudulent websites that scam Cnet users yet go unchecked. This an an ongoing problem, and one the advertising/marketing department has refused to address. You're not the first one to report such an incident, though I hope you do become one of the few to receive a full refund. Let us know if they fulfill their promise of a refund and I'll be sure to pass along your experience in hopes of chancing the current advertising policy.

My sincere apologies for all the trouble you have gone through.
John

John, I was refunded the full amount (with God's Grace I'm sure)! Thanks again for your help. If it will help others, please pass this on.

Julie