Windows Tax - Can You Really Get A Refund?
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Yesterday I was making the rounds on the Internet and ran into an interesting story about a person getting a Windows tax refund for a Dell system purchased in the Netherlands. The story stated that the person bought a Dell 530 desktop system which came with Vista preinstalled. Seems that the 530 is not available with Linux. Anyway the story states that after rejecting the EULA the computer was reformatted and Linux was installed on it.
Here is where the story gets interesting. The person than emails Dell asking for a Windows tax refund. Dell at first says no, than changes their mind and issues a refund. Though I vaguely recalled some articles in the past claiming people are entitled o what is referred as the Windows tax, this story of an actual refund being sent was the first I read for Vista.
In doing a Google there are all kinds of stories in which some folks are stating that we consumers are in fact officially eligible for a refund. I was able to find this 1999 CNN article in which it was stated that in the EULA it stated:
If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, PC manufacturer and Microsoft are unwilling to license the software product to you. In such an event … you should promptly contact PC manufacturer for instructions on a return of the unused product(s) for a refund.
I guess my question is this. Has anyone REALLY received a refund after rejecting the Windows EULA?
Comments are welcome.
CNN article is here.
[tags] eula, windows, refund, tax, microsoft, [/tags]
7 Comments
Alex
January 29th, 2008
at 4:27am
Yes, the refund is possible and here, in Italy, many people did legal actions with the consumer association and now the seller (Dell or the seller) give a refund on “rejected” pre-installed copies of Windows.
The most important thing is to NOT open the windows CD package (if available) and to NOT accept the EULA when the computer starts the first time.
Dell refunded here 120 euros for Windows XP Pro + bundled software.
It’s not simple but it can be done.
Dell or other suppliers currently refund less now (like 70-80 euros) but the EULA still applies.
I don’t know if the actual Vista pre-installations have the EULA modified to avoid the refund… i’d have to check.
Bye!
Jack
January 29th, 2008
at 11:46am
My suggestion: Buy a MAC and don’t bother with the whole Windows mess.
kiko
January 29th, 2008
at 4:31pm
ditto
Equiliberate
July 20th, 2008
at 7:28pm
I just got a refund for windows vista - 200 usd - and it was not easy, but it IS possible. Whole story is here:
http://digg.com/microsoft/How_I_got_a_Windows_Vista_refund_from_HP
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December 9th, 2008
at 7:38am
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billy
December 29th, 2008
at 2:50pm
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7040
he shows alot of the legalities behind it. If they give you less than you think you could buy it for ask them for proof that the amount you got is the market value for the software. If it is not, you are entitled for a additional refund.
Paolo Del Bene
August 19th, 2009
at 10:50am
starting from 23 Dec 2005 i began to work to Italian Windows Refund Day, and now is possible to have pc without windows, or to have a refund of windows or to buy pc with GNU/linux or any other operating system
unix-like.
paolodelbene.blogspot.com