VPNSecure.me terminated a "lifetime" license: Difference between revisions
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''In May 2025, Ars Technica reported their research into this issue, as more complaints started coming in; "In March, complaints started appearing online about lifetime subscriptions to VPNSecure no longer working".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=12 May 2025 |title=VPN firm says it didn't know customers had lifetime subscriptions, cancels them |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpn-firm-says-it-didnt-know-customers-had-lifetime-subscriptions-cancels-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513003807/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/vpn-firm-says-it-didnt-know-customers-had-lifetime-subscriptions-cancels-them/ |archive-date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>'' | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
The license was purchased in 2018 through StackSocial. The full name of the item was "VPNSecure: Lifetime Subscription". For a | The license was purchased in 2018 through StackSocial. The full name of the item was "VPNSecure: Lifetime Subscription". For a period of time the VPN worked as expected. | ||
==Company acquisition and deactivation== | |||
In May 2023, VPN Secure was acquired by new owners. According to their email to customers, they acquired "the technology, domain, and customer database — but not the liabilities." On April 28, 2025, all lifetime deal accounts were deactivated. | |||
The new owners claim they were unaware of the lifetime subscriptions when they made the acquisition, stating: "Unfortunately, the previous owner did not disclose that thousands of Lifetime Deals (LTDs) had been sold through platforms like StackSocial." | |||
==Adding active logins as a requirement== | ==Adding active logins as a requirement== | ||
The VPN service hadn't been used in a while and then at the beginning of 2025 any attempt to connect to any servers was failing. Also the server list on the members page is showing following message: "INFORMATION: You will need to purchase a valid VPN membership to view server information. Select Buy Now from the menu" even though the profile page shows 2263 days of 7300 used (don't ask about why a LIFETIME Subscription equals to 7300 days). | The VPN service hadn't been used in a while and then at the beginning of 2025 any attempt to connect to any servers was failing. Also the server list on the members page is showing following message: "INFORMATION: You will need to purchase a valid VPN membership to view server information. Select Buy Now from the menu" even though the profile page shows 2263 days of 7300 used (don't ask about why a LIFETIME Subscription equals to 7300 days). | ||
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====Inactive Account Policy==== | ====Inactive Account Policy==== | ||
''' | '''The''' following policy was introduced in May 2024 - substantially after the user's purchase. See Internet Archive from April 2024 where the policy is not yet in place: https://web.archive.org/web/20240418204008/https://www.vpnsecure.me/terms-of-service/ | ||
This is a case of changing the terms of purchase after the fact.<blockquote>To maintain the integrity and efficiency of our services, any account with no active login for a period of six months will be automatically erased. Please note that this includes accounts with lifetime deal access.[[File:VPN Secure email to customers.png|thumb|VPNSecure's email to customers which has the template appearance of having been written by chatgpt <ref>{{Cite web |title=reddit |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/vpns/comments/1ka40gh/vpn_secure_deactivated_all_lifetime_deal_accounts/#lightbox}}</ref>]]If you have purchased a lifetime deal but fail to connect to your account within the specified six-month period, you will lose access to the lifetime deal. It is essential to log in at least once every six months to keep your account and lifetime deal active. | |||
If you have purchased a lifetime deal but fail to connect to your account within the specified six-month period, you will lose access to the lifetime deal. It is essential to log in at least once every six months to keep your account and lifetime deal active. | |||
We encourage all users to maintain regular activity on their accounts to avoid deactivation. | We encourage all users to maintain regular activity on their accounts to avoid deactivation. | ||
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===VPNSecure's response=== | ===VPNSecure's response=== | ||
Company hasn't responded to a support ticket asking to clarify the issue. | |||
Company hasn't responded to a support ticket asking to clarify the issue. However, affected customers report receiving emails claiming the new owners had provided "two additional years at no cost" as a "gesture of goodwill" and offering discounted renewal rates ($55 for 3 years, $19 for 1 year, or $1.87/month billed annually). | |||
The company states they cannot issue refunds and directs customers seeking compensation to contact StackSocial or "the previous VPN Secure owner based in Australia." | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||