Hi Jim...

I dealt with 4+ years ago when VFP 3 came out. He was'nt going to have a visual version of the product. I ported his product to VFP 3.0, and GAVE him the code. I rec'd what amounts to a lifetime subscription to the product. In that regard, he kept his word. Then again, now that Word has more robust automation capabilities, I tend to lean toward automation for spell checking. FoxSpell is a decent product. However, I don't like the idea of maintining different dictionarys. If you take time to maintin the one in Word, that is the one you should have access to.

OK, here is some hardball advice....

The facts as I understand them are:

1. You purchased a license to the software
2. You were told you could get a refund within 60 days
3. You excercised the option for a refund within the 60 day period
4. SE is now telling you to sign some sort of desstruction certification
5. You are still without your money...

Dave Lewis has been in the game long enough to know that Demos avoid the problem. It would not be hard for him to do that. Therefore, it is reasonable for him to do this.

My advice to you is DON"T SIGN THAT DOCUMENT. Check your licsense to see if that is a requirement for a refund. Having the software provides you with some leverage. If you sign and return the doc, you need to destroy the software. If nothing is stated in explicit terms about the refund, you have the verbal agreement of Dave Lewis to go on. However, you really need to get that stuff in writing if you have reservations about the whole thing in the beginning. Oh well, 20/20 hindsight there...

As for the credit card company, I think too much time has lapsed. Although, you should explore that route. However if that leads to a road block, I think it is time to play hard ball. After all, Lewis is playing hard ball with you....

If I were you, I would draft a letter to Dave Lewis explaining that it is HE, not you that is in breach of the software licsense. That said, I would tell him that unless you get your money back, you OWN the code in your possesion. After all, if he is in breach, no agreement or license exists. And, since he has your money, and is refusing to return your money, what compensation to do you have? The code of course. Does this seem unreasonable. Perhaps, depending on how you look at things. Clearly, Lewis has more that $250 worth of time in the development of the software. Then again, as a vendor, it is incumbent on him to do the right thing.

Since you OWN what is in your possession, I would tell him that as a public service, you are going to post on the web, the code you OWN. This will surely piss him off. Then again, you will get his attention. And, in the end, that is all you really wan't. And, you want it fast. Craig's idea about the attorney general is good. Then again, if you want to wait years to get your money back, that may be the way to go.

I think if you stick to your guns, do what I suggest here, Dave Lewis will give you your money back. Once he has done that, you can then do the right thing, sign his document, and send that, back to him.

HTH....