Re: Barracuda Networks is at it again: Any Suggestions as to an Alternative?

[William Warren <hescominsoon () emmanuelcomputerconsulting com>]

On 4/9/2011 12:46 PM, Marc Runkel wrote:
> Ok, shameless plug here, but I invite you to check out our product @  www.untangle.com<http://www.untangle.com>.  Base 
> product (including anti-spam) is free.   If you want support/web filtering/ or better spam rules they are available as 
> premium add-ons.
>
> Marc Runkel
> Untangle, Inc.
> Director, Technical Operations
>
> (650) 425-3333 direct
> (650) 345-3788 fax
>
> On Apr 8, 2011, at 8:51 PM, John Palmer (NANOG Acct) wrote:
>
> OK, its been a year since my Barracuda subscription expired. The unit still stops some spam. I figured that I would go 
> and see what
> they would do if I tried to renew my subscription EXACTLY one year after it expired. Would their renewal website say 
> "Oh, you are at
> your anniversary date", and renew me for a year?
>
> No such luck: They want me to PAY FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR for which I did NOT receive service and then for the current 
> (upcoming year).
> Sorry - I don't allow myself to be ripped off like that. Sorry Barracuda - you get no money from me and I'll tell 
> everyone I know
> about this policy of yours.
>
> I posted an article about this unscrupulous practice on my blog last year at http://www.john-palmer.net/wordpress/?p=46
>
> My question is - does anyone have any suggestions for another e-mail appliance like the Barracuda Spam Firewall that 
> doesn't try to
> charge their customers for time not used. I should be able to shut off the unit for a year or whatever and simply renew 
> from the
> point that I re-activate the unit instead of having to pay for back-years that I didn't use.
>
> Thanks
Untangle's free version...isn't worth the bandwidth.  The paid version 
is ok..but it's a resource hog.