>This message describes the problems we've had trying to get a 60-day money back refund from Strategic Edge Software (FoxSpell Checker). This product is sold direct form Strategic Edge and by Hallogram Publishing. While we don't like airing issues like this in public, we also don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap we have.
>
>In early January of this year, a client asked if we could add spell checking to a FP app for them. Since we've never needed spell checking in an app, we decided to investigate all of the choices. We started by downloading demos of all the spell checking OCX's we could find and then we ran into FoxSpell by David Lewis Elliot of Strategic Edge Software. (Also sold by Hallogram Publishing). I emailed David and asked if a demo version was available. He said no but assured me that his product came with a 60-day money back guarantee.
>
>I explained to David that we were only interested in evaluating it and that we planned to look at several before making a final decision. I also expressed my concern at having to purchase a product just to demo it. He assured me again that his product came with a 60-day money back guarantee and that if we did not like his software he would promptly refund our money.
>
>A portion of the email I received From David Lewis Elliot of Strategic Edge Software.
>>Dear Jim
>
>>Yes, Foxpsell Checker works with VFP 6.
>
>>While we don't have an evaluation or demo version of
>>Foxpsell, we do take the risk out by offering a 60
>>day money back guarantee. We have been in business
>>since 1985 and have survived this long by making good
>>on our promises.
>
>Taking him at his word, we decided to purchase a copy to evaluate. We created a simple app that included all of the various spell checkers we found and allowed the client to test it for a few days. They decided not to go with FoxSpell since they found it awkward.
>
>A few days later I contacted David and asked for a refund. After a few questions about why we decided not to use his software he agreed to refund our money.
>
>From David:
>>I did receive your e-mailed question regarding
>>receiving a refund for Foxspell Checker. I do
>>plan to issue a refund.
>
>Keep in mind that we purchased the product January 17 1999 and asked for a refund a few days later.
>
>Since I generally take people at their word, I did not think about it until I received our credit card statement a month later. A credit for the purchase price did not show up on our account.
>
>I called David on the phone and asked why. He said I needed to fill out and return a LETTER OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DESTRUCTION. Why he did not tell us this when we first asked for a refund I don't know. We promptly did this and again I did not think much about it until the following month when the credit still did not show up on our account.
>
>I contacted him again. He said he was running short of funds and that he might be able to refund our money in a few days. Ok, I can handle this. We've all been short of funds a time or two and a few more days won't kill us. However, this last month when I received our statement the credit still had not shown up. (It's been over three months now).
>
>I called him again and asked when he planned to issue a refund.
>He said he would check into it.
>I asked if he would check into it and call me right back.
>He said no since he did not have the time or resources to make return calls. He rudely said he did not have anything further to say on the matter and hung up.
>
>David has been stalling us for over three months now. We still have not received a refund and after the last phone call I don't expect to.
>
>If you are thinking about buying anything from Strategic Edge and David Lewis Elliot, think twice. It cost us 254.00 just to demo his software.
>
>As a note:
>After the last phone call to David, I contacted Hallogram Publishing just to let them know the experiences we've had with David and that they may want to check into the type of businesses they were dealing with. They said a few polite words but since we had purchased direct from David, it was not their problem.
>
>Let the buyer beware.

You might also try the Better Business Bureau at:
http://www.bbb.org/
good luck.