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NZ Desktop users (NOT hosted) who purchased their software are now being charged an annual licence fee, which contravenes the NZ Fair Trading Act (Sections 7, 8 and 9). In brief, Reckon cannot force us (by serious threats or pressure) to accept a new annual contract, when we originally purchased a perpetual licence. Their threat of disabling our software and removing our access is duress, which is not allowed. The Fair Trading Act also covers unfair contract terms, where the supplier varies the services provided, without the customer's agreement. I doubt if anyone has willingly agreed to pay an annual fee to use software which we purchased outright.

We are being forced to make payment because we need access to our software, but we can do the following:

1. Notify Reckon that you are making payment under duress (in response to their threat to disable the software).
2. Notify Reckon that you do NOT accept their new terms and conditions.
3. Remind Reckon that you purchased software without an expiry date and you are entitled to use it.

Then you can apply to the Small Claims Court for a refund of the annual licence fee(s) that you have been forced to pay. Please do this, it's cheap and easy.

You can also make a complaint to the Commerce Commission, about Reckon's threats and unfair terms. I hope that everyone will do this, too. It's the Commission's job to protect consumers when we are powerless to prevent a supplier from changing the terms of a contract.

Please note that the IRD requires us to keep records for 7 years, yet Reckon's new terms disallow "read only" access unless we pay an annual fee. That means that we would have to keep paying licence fees for 7 years after we stop using Reckon, just to access our own records. I have asked Reckon for clarification on this but they have not replied, so I believe I am correct in this assumption. That's why we must fight to retain our perpetual licences.

Australian users: I am sure that you have robust customer protection legislation similar to our Fair Trading Act (and hopefully a Small Claims Court so you can also obtain a refund of your fees).

You need to clarify whether the access to the data file is being done concurrently by the multiple people or if they are simply taking turns.

Are there 3 computers (Desktop PC/Laptop) on which you want to install the Reckon software or will there be 5 computers?

Where will the data file be stored?

• on one of the PC's only
• on any one of the 3 to 5 computers
• on a single separate computer that is a 'server'?

You must have a licence for every business data file and a licensed PC for every concurrent user, and each PC may only access one file at a time.

Below is an example scenario where there are 3 PC's and a server that you can take a look at to see if it matches your situation.

Environment

• 5 separate businesses
  • Each business has its own company data file (File 1 to File 5).
  • From a licensing perspective, each business requires its own licence, even if its data file is not accessed simultaneously.
• 3 PCs (PC1, PC2, PC3)
  • Each PC has one installed software licence.
  • These installed licences are what allow concurrent access to data files.
• 1 Server
  • Hosts a single mapped network drive.
  • All 5 company data files are stored on this network location.

Licensing model (key rules)

1. One licence per business (data file)
   • There must be 5 licences total, one assigned to each company data file, to remain compliant.
   • These licences exist even if they are not directly installed on a PC.
2. One installed licence per PC
   • Each of the 3 PCs consumes one installed licence.
   • These licences control how many PCs can be connected at the same time.
3. Concurrent access depends on PC licences, not on business count
   • With 3 licensed PCs, up to 3 concurrent connections are possible.

Data file access rules

Single-user mode

• A data file in single-user mode can be opened by:
  • Any one person on PC1, PC2, or PC3.
• While open:
  • No other PC can access that same data file.

Multi-user mode

• A data file in multi-user mode can be accessed:
  • Simultaneously by users on PC1, PC2, and PC3.
• Each logged-in user still occupies one licensed PC.

User behaviour limitation

• A user on any PC:
  • Can be logged into only one company data file at a time.
  • Must log out of the current file before opening another file (for example, switching from File 1 to File 3).

Thanks for the help, didnt realise that I had resolved it as I hadnt looked back to see what if… next time I tried…Thanks anyway..