# Academic eligibility software????
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 9, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110 "2010-11-09T23:32:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/1 "2010-11-09T23:32:44Z")
So dopers do I have to pay for this?
I tried to buy a bit of software and went thru the whole purchase process and then discovered that I had to submit a photo copy of my faculty ID or drivers license and a paystub to verify that I was indeed a real faculty member. Well there’s no way in hell I’m sending a software company a copy of my paystub so I aborted the purchase process.
The software company subsequently sent me an email saying I didn’t have to provide eligibility proof and hey, we’re sending you the software. Good says me. However when I get the software and try to load it, it’s only good for a 30 day free trial without eligibiltiy verification, lather rinse repeat on the paystub. So now I’ve paid $90 for software that can’t be used for more than 30 days.
What to do?
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/2 "2010-11-09T23:35:32Z")
Talk to them. Sounds like a bait and switch. Maybe complain to the company who wrote the software (Microsoft? Adobe?) Or file a chargeback if you paid with a credit card.
Next time deal with more reputable companies.
But FYI, they DO need to verify your status somehow… some companies ask for an .edu address, some ask for ID, and well, I guess some ask for all that and more.
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/3 "2010-11-09T23:43:13Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> Talk to them. Sounds like a bait and switch. Maybe complain to the company who wrote the software (Microsoft? Adobe?) Or file a chargeback if you paid with a credit card.
>
> Next time deal with more reputable companies.
>
> But FYI, they DO need to verify your status somehow… some companies ask for an .edu address, some ask for ID, and well, I guess some ask for all that and more.
Yeah, well I do have a .edu address and if you go to it surprisingly enough you find me. That was included in my purchase and is usually enough. I have told them that I am doing a chargeback on the CC already. They are pushing back. And it is Adobe for those that wonder.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/4 "2010-11-09T23:50:24Z")
Reading the Adobe [website](http://www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/qualify.html), you shouldn’t have needed both the faculty ID card and paystub. The school ID should have been enough.
> [@](#):
>
> Teachers, faculty, and staff must provide a photocopy of a valid, current school ID that includes the educator’s name, date, and a photo. If the educator does not have such an ID, he or she must instead provide a photocopy of a valid photo ID and one of the following items:
>
> ```
> * Faculty or staff paycheck stub
> * Official letter from the registrar of the educational institution
>
> ```
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### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/5 "2010-11-10T00:11:09Z")
What disaster do you fear may befall you should you release a copy of your paystub to Adobe?
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/6 "2010-11-10T00:39:23Z")
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> What disaster do you fear may befall you should you release a copy of your paystub to Adobe?
I just don’t want to give a copy of my paystub to Adobe. Do you give copies of your paystub to anyone who asks?
> [@](#):
>
> ID that includes the educator’s name, date, and a photo
Our faculty ID’s do not include dates. I’ve been a faculty member since 1989, I think my last photo ID was taken 10 years ago. And when you get down to it I don’t think I want to give a photo representation of my faculty ID card to anyone anyway. It includes my faculty ID# which is used for insurance and other purposes. For instance my ID number without any password is used for checking out books from the library and photocopying/emailing on campus.
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/7 "2010-11-10T00:59:53Z")
Contact your school’s IT department - in my case, my school has a password of sorts for these sorts of things that students (and I assume faculty) can ask for in order to get free/reduced price licenses to software the school already has licenses to. They might be able to help you with an institutional code that Adobe or wherever would accept.
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### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/8 "2010-11-10T01:03:23Z")
> [@sinjin](#):
>
> I just don’t want to give a copy of my paystub to Adobe. Do you give copies of your paystub to anyone who asks?
No, it depends on who asks.
A complete stranger? I suspect conspiracy, (why me in particular, after all?,) so, fearing disaster, don’t give it to them.
My wife? Sure, I hand it right over.
Adobe? I can’t see much reason to think anything bad could plausibly come of handing over a copy to them. But that’s why I asked you. Maybe you know something I don’t.
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/9 "2010-11-10T01:18:44Z")
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> No, it depends on who asks.
>
> A complete stranger? I suspect conspiracy, (why me in particular, after all?,) so, fearing disaster, don’t give it to them.
>
> My wife? Sure, I hand it right over.
>
> Adobe? I can’t see much reason to think anything bad could plausibly come of handing over a copy to them. But that’s why I asked you. Maybe you know something I don’t.
I don’t give a copy of my paystub to anybody online, of course YMMV. If I had known what was required I would not have started the purchase process in the first place. When I stopped the purchase process I was sent an email that said I did not have to provide a paystub to get the software. When I received the software, after they took my money, I was told after installation, that without the paystub and ID copy I could not use the software after the 30 day trial period.
They have my money I have nothing but a 30 day free trial.
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/10 "2010-11-10T01:21:09Z")
Adobe is notorious for making you jump through hoops. But I can see the need for a paystub as it has a date to prove at least you still were employed as of two weeks ago.
So just take your pay stub photocopy it and blank out what you don’t want them to see, like your SS# or whatever you are objecting to sending them
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/11 "2010-11-10T01:32:53Z")
> [@Markxxx](#):
>
> Adobe is notorious for making you jump through hoops. But I can see the need for a paystub as it has a date to prove at least you still were employed as of two weeks ago.
>
> So just take your pay stub photocopy it and blank out what you don’t want them to see, like your SS# or whatever you are objecting to sending them
Well that’s all well and good. However I decided I didn’t want to do that and aborted the purchase. THEY said fine we don’t need that info, here’s the software. Then after they took my money they changed the rules. I don’t want the software that bad. It was photo-processing stuff I thought would be fun, but not essential. So all I have is a 30 day free trial that is costing me almost a hundred bucks. I
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/12 "2010-11-10T01:33:49Z")
The website offers the alternative of getting a letter from the registrar. Have you tried that?
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### Author:  [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/13 "2010-11-10T01:42:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> The website offers the alternative of getting a letter from the registrar. Have you tried that?
No I didn’t because I decided during the purchase process that it was too much of a pain in the ass. I only accepted the software because they sent me an email before it was sent that said I didn’t have to do that. It was only after I tried to install it that I discovered they lied. This pissed me off to no end and I no longer want the software at all.
Copy of email sent to me:
> [@](#):
>
> We have verified that your order will not require academic eligibility, and
> will be released for processing. Please be aware that future orders may
> require academic eligibility depending on the products selected and the
> manufacturer’s requirements.
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### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/14 "2010-11-10T02:43:53Z")
> [@sinjin](#):
>
> Well that’s all well and good. However I decided I didn’t want to do that and aborted the purchase. THEY said fine we don’t need that info, here’s the software. Then after they took my money they changed the rules. I don’t want the software that bad. It was photo-processing stuff I thought would be fun, but not essential. So all I have is a 30 day free trial that is costing me almost a hundred bucks. I
I agree that what you’ve described is an unfair practice.
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### Author:  [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/15 "2010-11-10T02:45:48Z")
I’ve never had to do something like that, but I’ve never purchased Adobe, just some other software. My faculty email address has always been more than enough.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/16 "2010-11-10T02:53:21Z")
So you ordered this from Adobe direct? Have you tried contacting their customer service, just in case it was a mistake?
It seems bizarre to me that they’d email saying it’s fine but then have the software be a trial version. Adobe is too big to have to resort to tactics like that… hmm.
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### Author:  [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/17 "2010-11-10T03:01:59Z")
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> Adobe? I can’t see much reason to think anything bad could plausibly come of handing over a copy to them. But that’s why I asked you. Maybe you know something I don’t.
Yeah, it’s not like they’ve been an infosuck lately. Adobe is one of the largest breach-mommas around lately (I’m referring to flaws in their software, not their business practices).
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### Author:  [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/18 "2010-11-10T22:08:52Z")
Several posters have provided you with solutions to getting the software at the academic rate, yet you refuse to use any of them because you are angry. You won’t even be paying the $90 because your credit card company will issue a charge back. What else do you want?
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/academic-eligibility-software/560110/19 "2010-11-11T06:16:14Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#):
>
> Several posters have provided you with solutions to getting the software at the academic rate, yet you refuse to use any of them because you are angry. You won’t even be paying the $90 because your credit card company will issue a charge back. What else do you want?
No, he refuses them because **That was not his question!** He’s already decided he no longer wants the software.
His question was what to do with them charging him for software they didn’t actually send him. Some dopers offered him help with that, while others apparently did not actually read for comprehension, and just saw the words “educational version” and gave unsolicited advice.
Of course he’s not going to listen to said advice. This is GQ, not “What software should you purchase?”